Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-05-13
ION SUR


The facts here related took place n the
mort western part OF Maine about the
year 1885, and, although I was at that:
time very young, indeed a mere child, yet
the peculiar character of the circum-
stances, the neighborhood excitemeDt and
the sad consequences which followed made
an Impression upon my mind that seems
as. fresh today as it did more than 90
years ago. +. NJ: ~ z @4
6 q few miles from my fathers old farm
there lived two well to- do farmers whom
we will call John and Calvin. They were
related by way of marriage and were once
great friends, but at the time my story
commences they were most inveterate enc
mics. Their farms lay side by side on the
county road, some few miles from the
And1oscoggin river. For many years they
cut. their hay in silence, each one moving
down to the dividing line with the preci.
sion OF master mechanic. Each owned
100 rods, and through part of the mead
ow ran a brook, which like most meadow
brooks, was very crooked.
Now, John thought it would be an ex-
,ellent plan to ditch his 100 rods, making
the brook straight and thereby saving
aluch land and making his field more con
'venient and productive, SO he contracted
with man named Redman to dig 100
rods of ditch at 81 per rod, beginning at
the lower line of his farm and following
down the stream to Calvin's line. Red
man came, and with his two grown up
boys he went merrily to work, and John
made him rod pole for the occasion;
but, being of treacherous disposition, he
made the measure dozen inches longer
than usual, that he might get a good re-
turn. In this he did not fail.
Redman worked diligently for some
days. Calvin was interested in the opera
tion and carefully watched the proceed
ings, often asking Redman how many
rods he had accomplished and always get
ting an honest reply. One day as he leaned
upon his scythe he called:
Il say, Redman, how many rods have
you got along?"
"Eighty."
Eighty Well, you're getting along
FAST
Now, Calvin saw at once that be was
far too near his line for 80 rods, and, mus
ing upon the circumstances, he decided
there must be mistake. Knowing John
SO well, be began to suspect, as he oonsid-
cred the subject further, that John might
be trying to defraud Redman, SO, dropping
his scythe and crossing the line, he sat
down near the rod pole and took off his
hat to cool and rest himself.
II say, Redman, this is hot weather.
eyes"
=, While SO sitting he took occasion to
measure the pole which John had made,
and to his delight he found it was just one
foot too long. Now, here was fun for CAL
vim: Here was a chance to plague his enc
my. Did be go ana tell Redman2 No;
not he. He laughed quietly in his sleeve
and waited for Redman to finish his work
This was done, and the honest digger pre-
sented to John his bill for 500, received
his, money and went his way.
Very soon after this was accomplished
Calvin discovered, to his great surprise
and indignation, of course, that some one
had been trespassing on his meadow by
digging ditch about 100 feet long near
the line which separated his land from
Johns. Sending to John, he demanded
if that ditch was dug by his authority.
John, not suspecting any trouble; replied
that it was Receiving this answer, Cal
win at once started for the town and laid
his case before the village lawyer, who at
once saw that John had committed a
great wrong, known to the law as wialful-
~ trespassing on the land OF a neighbor.
A writ was accordingly made out, and the
deputy sheriff of the county, so much
dreaded in those times, soon made his ap'
pearance before John, attached his prop
erty for the damage done to Calvin's land
and summoned him to appear and show
cause. "
John was astonished. He visited the
field and saw at glance that the ditch
was far over,the line, and now for the first
time the awful thought flashed upon him
that in making his rod pole one foot too
long he had actually dug 100 feet into Cal
WINS land. He stood aghast and then
fastened to find the rod pole that he might
destroy the proof Of his guilt, but it was
not to be found. He could not understand
where it had gone, but when he appeared
in court there that ghost of a rod pole met
his astonished view. How it came there
mono but Calvin knew, and he was silent.
The case was soon tried and verdict of
guilty-was rendered, with nominal dam
age and cost of court, This with the adj
vantage of his enemy and the whitening
rebuke of tho lawyers was terrible retri
button for poor John.
But more was yet in storo. Rcdinan
saw, by the evidence at court, that he had
been cheated out of 100 feet of ditch actu-
ally dug, SO he commenced suit against
John. Again came the sheriff, again be
went to court, and again he received the
cold cuts of the attorneys and the sncer OF
the people, with the verdict of guilty and
the order Of full pay to Redman and the
costs of court.
And yet more was in store for him. The
long rod pole was still kept for another
use, the worst Of all, for now the church
OF which John had been to all outward
appearances an exemplary member took
the case In hand and expelled him from
their communion and fellowship.
= Thus did the bitter get bitten. Thus
swiftly did the retributivo Justice Of God