Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-10-16
AND THE WATER
KEPT AGURGLING
BY DAVID HILL.

II joined together In kind of dry
hollow and were separated from each
other by a high rail fence. That
fence, as well as the hollow, ran due
east and west. To the east was Tom
Lamkin's pasture, whose land joined
ours, and whose fence ran in directly
the opposite direction. The hollow
from Lamkin's land down to the west
ern extremity Of ours was quite de-
scending; and in the lower corner, on
Johns side of the fence, was one OF the
largest, coolest and most invigorating
springs I ever saw.
1t seemed to gurgle, and bubble, and
boil up like so much liquid crystal;
and when the sunlight flashed across
it the suggestion was that of cluster
of pure diamonds in the bright glare
of an electric light.
If do say it, I always envied John
that beautiful spring, from the mo
ment I discovered it was on his land
instead of my own.
Finally an idea entered my head
that, if I dug into the ground on my
own side of the fence. just few rods
above Johns spring, l might tap the
vein that furnished the supply, and so
convert a portion of that water to my
own use.
So I went at it.
And my success was greater than
my expectations.
For, in less than four feet of soil
struck vein of water MAT boiled up
like & miniature fountain. Neither
did the force diminish, as 7 fancied it
would after a few moments. 1t rose
higher and higher, and bubbled and
gurgled, until finally it overfowed the
hole and went pouring down the in
cline like young spring freshet.
I was in ecstasies.
The elation over mygood fortune led
me to steal over to Johns spring to
see how the two compared for guam
tity and circumference.
Well, bless my soul! Judge of my
establishment when I found that
Johns spring was as dry as the table
lands of New Mexico. had cut off the
main channel connecting the water
with his land, and had converted the
whole of that magnificent spring into
one of my own.
I quickly realized there would be a
cyclone when John found it out, and
there was.
He danced fishers hornpipe on his
own side of the fence, and swore he
would have me prosecuted to the. full
est extent of the law.
/ simply continued to excavate my
new find, cleaned out the bottom,
walled up the sides, whistled "Annie
Laurie" softly to myself, and-the
water kept right on gurgling.
John said, compared with myself
and some of my contemplate acts, the
devil would make a good citizen.
1 invested $25 in cut granite, fitted
the spring up 20 the best of my ability,
and-the water kept right on gnrg-
ling.
John said he pitied my mother, but
had more genuine sympathy for the
wife who was compelled to drag out
her existence with such miserable
wretch.
1 put a stone curb on top Of the
granite, ornamented it with an iron
railing, erected sign called Crystal
Spring" which l faced toward Johns
pasture, and-the water kept right on
a gurgling
And while this was taking place Tom
Lamkin, whose land joined ours, stood
leaning over his own fence, smoking
his pipe, and watching US, and saying
nothing.
At last the same idea occurred to
| John that had occurred to me. He
went a few rods above my spring, on
his own side of the fence, of course,
and dug into the ground exactly as
had done; and when he had finished
you can use me for cancelled postage
stamp if the water in my spring didn't
refuse to ''gurgle."
He had cut off the main channel in
precisely the same manner as l had
done. and had stolen the whole Of that
spring back.
Well-or-or-this may seem funny
to some; but l could never quite real
lie Just where the fun came in.
In the first place, didn't steal Johns
spring-not. intentionally-it was a
case of pure accident. But John-why
what John done was an exemplitca'
ton of spite on the face OF It,.
And / told him sol
What did John say? Why--the-
the old cripplel He said if would
toss that iron paling and cut granite
over the fence to put around his own
spring he would give incidents for It,
Think of thati
1nsulted me right to my face. Said