The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-08-08
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FARMER GRIGSBY'S LAWSUIT.
BY HELEN WHITLEY CLARK.
From Golden Days.

BY HELEN WHITLEY CLARK.
From Golden Days.
"I won't be trampled on by Seth
Stubblefcld no longer T. sputtered
Farmer Grigsby, in towering rage.
"I'll hev the law of him, that's what
I'll do -
Mrs. Grigsby was washing clothes
in the back yard, where bent and
gnarled old apple tree made a shady
spot for her tub.
"What has Seth Stubblefeld been
a-doin' now, Hiram p she asked in a
querulous voice.
"What's he been adding p snatch
ed the farmer. CANT his COWS been
tromplin my cornfeld again, an runia-
ted more n a acre of corn ? Pretty nigh
ready for the second plowin', it was,
too But I'll put stop to it afore
long. Human natur' can't stand
everything, an if he don't fix up his
end Of the division fence, or keep his
cattle out O. my field, I'll sue him !!
I'll sue him fer damages as sure as
eggs is eggsP'
"It's no more'n you'd ought to a
done long ago." asscnted Mrs. Grigs-
by, clapping a handful Of soft soap on
a homespun sheet, and rubbing it
vigorously on the wooden washboard.
"You've been too easy with him,
Hiram"
"I shan't be easy with him no lon
GER" asserted Hiram, aggressively.
II shall go an see Squire Barnacle
this very day.
And, striding to the stable, he sad
died the sorrel cob, and proceeded to
put his threat into execution, while
his anger was still at fever heat.
Tt was !. not very long, since the
Grigsbys and Stubblefeldss had been
the best Of friends and neighbors
Scarcely a week elapsed without a
visit between ,the3two families.
Hiram Grigsby and Seth Stubble-
field exchanged work at corn planting
and harvest-time, and their wives con-
suited each other on such momentous
questions as soft soap or apple butter
making, and the relative merits OF
Plymouth Rock and Black Spanish
fowls as layers and settlers.
Tom Grigsby and Seth Stubblefeld,
well.grown lads of sixteen and seven
teen years of age, had been cbums
ever since they were ''little chicks"
They attended "deestrict school,
together in winter, and went cunning
or fishing, and helped each other pile
shocks in the harvest field in summer.
The daughters Of the two families
were also on the best of terms. They
exchanged patchwork scraps and bas-
que patterns confded important secrets
to one another, and were, in fact,
kindred spirits in every respect.
This friendly intercourse continued
until the feud broke out, and all neigh
borly feeling was at an end.
How the trouble began, or which
party was most to blame, it would be
hard to say. Doubtless there was
some fault on both sides.
At all events, the hatchet was dug
up, and hostilities were carried on,
until, from sympathizing friends, the
two families became relentless enc
mics.
A system of "mark and reprisal''
was soon established, which caused
the breach to grow wider and wider
a sort Of
sTit for tat, butter is fat, .
If you kill my dog, I'll kill your cat
arrangement, sometimes INDUCED IN
by 'sgrown-up" folks as well as chill
dren.
Father Grigsby fenced up the little
pool which ran from his spring, and
from which his neighbor's stock had
been wont to quench their thirst for
years gone by.
Farmer Stubblefield at once retalia-
ted by blocking the private road
through his woods pasture, thereby
forcing the Grigsbys to drive two miles
further around in hauling cord wood,
or taking their garden truck to mar
ket.
The well-trodden footpath across
lots was neglected and grassgrown,
and when the rival factions met at
church meetings, or basket pic MICS
and other rural gatherings, they turn
ed their heads aside, or glared at one
another with uncompromising hos
tility.
So the feud kept growing, until at
last it eliminated in a lawsuit.
"He'll sue me, will he ?" clustered
Farmer Stubblefeld, red with anger.
s'Let him go ahead, I say. He'll find
out two kin play that game. l don't
care if my cattle did tromp down his
CROWN corn. What d he turn his
pigs inter my medder fur p
7'I'd make him smoke fur it yet, if
I was you, Seth,' put in Mrs. Stub
ble6eld. !. Gle lows he kin scare You
by goin' to law
'SThat' what I know, replied Seth,
grumpily. "But he'll haul in his
horns before I'm through with him.
I'll show him whose old hog eat up
the grindstone.
It was early in the spring-time when
the suit was brought, but owing to the
laws delays it was still unsettled when
harvest time came on.
Farmer Grigsby's crops had turned
out we'll that year.
His hay was put up in long racks in
the barnyard, where his wheat was
also stacked, awaiting the coming
"thrasher.
On a certain Saturday Mrs. Grigsby
and her daughters were busy with the
weeks baking. Half a dozen pigs, a
gallon jar Of seed-cookies, and agoodly
supply Of light rolls and crusty brown
loaves had already been drawn from
the oven and set on the wide pantry
shelf to cool.
A home-cured ham was gently sim
mering over the stove, and the IL
o'clock dinner was under way.
Farmer Grigsby sat moodily await
ing the coming meal, when Tom
Grigsby dashed into the house.