The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-10-10

nef now cOnSOlln q word o. sympathy
would be to poor old Ike I'm hts 1oneli-
Mis- Martin, an L do wish somebody
would be neighborly with EN-"
Again Sam paused, but Mrs. Martin
said nothing, and he saw that he must
speak palmer I'm order to make the i'm
preston he desired.
mis- Martin" he continued. "life
Ii powerful short, an IT people expect
TO prepare fer eternity they amt got
no time TO waste I'm useless bickerin's. |
Them as expects to be happy In the
next world can't afford to spend their
time here In contentious. Fer my
part, Mis- Martin. I'd hate to let a
cross-fence atween two farms stand
betwixt me an my neighbors, much
less betwixt me an heaven. Now fer
thirty years that cross-fence up there
has kept you uns an the Burtons apart.
maxim you enemies when you ought
to ~ been friends an neighbors, an 1t
was all on account of contentiousness.
Either family would "a made UP in a
minute IL the other would "a tuck the
fust step, but neither would bulge
OF you bein' as miserable as sin. Mis-
Martin, faint right. People as hopes
to be forgive in the next world must
forgive in this. I put it to you, now,
Mis- Martin, IL 1 amt right?"
Sam, you are right Mrs. Martin
replied. "That cross-fence trouble
has caused me many sorrowful days,
and there never has been o time when
| wouldn't gladly have buried the
strife and made friends with the Bur-
tons. But 1 thought the first advance
from Isaac. He was most to blame"
Miss Martini" said Sam. 81 don't
know who was most to blame. l amt
no call to speak of that. But this I
know: Ii q person is a true Christian,
an wants to 80 act, that person mustn't
stick at nc fine p'ints !; an in o effort to
fetch about a reconciliation he must be
wil!in' TO go more'n half way to meet
t'other party. Scriptur' says, Mis-
Martin, to do good to them that
despitefully use YOU, an as Christians
Sam spoke with deep solemnity, and
it was plain that his words had a great
effect on his auditor. Mrs. Martin
was q Christian woman and she meant
we'll, but, like many other good people,
she ouudi it hard to humble herself.
There was q long silence, during which
a conflict between duty and pride
waged within Mrs. Martins bosom.
SAM" she said at last, "do you
think Isaac would not resent my com
ing into his house ?"
promptly. "More than that, Mis- Mar.
tin, l know he'd welcome YOU"
Then I'll go Sam, an let the out
come of it be what it may, 1 know /
shall feel the better for goin'."
sam started on his way, happy in
the thought of what he had accom-
plished, and hoping hat his efforts
might lead to the burial of the diff
%ferences that had SO long kept the two
families at enpmity.
Mrs. Martin went Immediately to
Burton's and when old Isaac from his
seat on the doorstep saw her coming
up the yard-path he was more surprised
than he ever had been in all his life
However, he composed himself sui.
ticiently to give her a fitting reception
and remove from her mind all fear OF
her visit being considered an intrusion.
at first there was an air of restraint
about the that gradually died out, and
in time actions and conversation OF
both, but they became easy and natural
in their department.
The doctor came, but he could not
give Isaac any encouragement, for he
found that Indy was in q dangerous
condition, with little prospect Of i'm.
provement.
"She is very low" he said, "and
we can hope for no change for the
bctter. I'm afraid she cannot last
long"
And the doctor was right, for day by
day the sick woman sank, and after
the lapse OF a week she closed her eyes
on earth forever. All through the
week Mrs. Martin stayed by the bed
side, devoting herself to the invalid as
faithfully as ever nurse did, receiving
the blessings of her charge and heart
felt gratitude of Isaac. Then, when all
vas over, she returned to her home
happier than she had been for thirty
long years.
A year passed, and the people of
Postum Ridge began to wonder if the
cross-fence trouble was to be revived
in court again. The time for which a
stay of proceedings had been granted
had nearly expired, and at the next
sitting OF the court the case would be
called up for further action. Isaac
and Mrs. Martin had become neigh
borly, but neither of them had ever
mentioned the c~rOss-fence, and the
matter stood just as it had before
Lindy's death. People had talked a
great deal about 1t, some conjecturing
that old Isaac would dismiss the case
after Mrs. Martins kindness to his
wife, some maintaining that he would
not, and some going SO far as to predict
that Mrs. Martin, in the forgiving dis
position of her heart, would dismiss
the case herself. Sam Gross heard all
that was said, watched proceedings
quietly, and even ventured to speak to
each OF the parties separately, in the
hope of having the affair settled
a%micably. But still everything re-
manned in doubt, and but a week must
elapse before the coming on of court.
Sam shook his head sadly, feeling that,
after all, his efforts had fallen far
short of his cherished desire.
Late m afternoon old Isaac donned
his best clothing, and taking down his
cane, walked up the road to Mrs. Mar
tins. The widow received him
graciously, inviting him to O seat on
the long, rambling porch, and exert
ing herself to the utmost TO make him
feel welcome.
Mis- Martini" Isaac said, after
they had exchanged a few common
place remarks, you know, Of course,
that the crOss-fence suit Is to come up
in court next week ?"
Yes; 1 know it," the widow an
swered sadly, land / wish with all my
heart that it wasn't. I'm tired of it.b
D"So am l., Mis- Martini" Isaac said
with a slow shaking of his head. 81
wish now hat c~ross-fence had never
existed. It's been u source of sorror
to all of us, an many's the time I've
regretted deeply that the suit was ever
hInll ar h tun ,n~,ft1l "a