Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-03-16
The Dividing
Fence
By JULIA TRUITT BISHOP


shaped farms joined at one place for
distance of so yards, and when they ha
grown prosperous enough to build ney
houses, some 20 years back, they ha
built them near this dividing line, AM
had moved the barns and other out
building 10 correspond. They wer
rather lonely old men, except for thei
friendship for one another Abner ha'
never married. and for years his hous'
had been kept by widowed sister, who's
children were all married and gone
Joshua's wife was growing old; and ter
years before the great quarrel she haG
died, leaving him to the companionshil
of Sim, the hired man, who was silent
and grim and did not make a very en-
livening companion.
What on earth they wanted to quarrel
for" said Alonzo Reed, one Of the neigh
bors further down the road when dis
cussing the feud with any chance conner
lis moren / can see What difference
did 1t make about that little bit O. fence,
any way?"
Perhaps Abner and Joshua themselves
could not have told Through all these
years, now. they had consulted one an
other about seed time and harvest, and II
had always ended in Abner coming over
to Joshua's side of the question. For
years they had met in the evenings anc
compared notes on politics and the
weather, with the result that Joshua hsG
always converted Abner to his way OF
thinking. Why. then. should Abner
have flown UP" as Joshua expressed it.
over little thing?
Il am goin to turn this field mex to
you into a paster," Joshua had said on
that momentous occasion. "It'll need a
better fence than what it's got now
an while I'm laying it I'll jes' lay it four
foot further your way. Ye know. al
ways have told ye that We was too greedy
when We built that fence"
So he had, and they had TESTED over il
many a time; slapping one another's
stopped shoulders and threatening TO
'have the law on each other, with jovial
country laughter. But now. Abner's face
Redeemed under the wrinkles.
IF ye move that fence a inch onto my
line we've got me to fight" he said.
sharply.
This was the beginning In week the
quarrel had developed to such a state
that they did not speak If they met in the
road. Joshua had the rails for the new
fence hauled and laid in neat piles alone
the line; but when Sim and the other
man hired for the occasion went out to
begin work Abner was there with an ole
shotgun. which, he took care to inform
them, had been loaded with birdshot in
his fathers day, and which he was con-
fident would shoot as well as any gun
that could be found. Under these circum-
stances the hired men refused TO work;
and Joshua was compelled to withdraw
his forces until night, when the fence
was completed four feet further toward
Abner's house. The next night it was
taken down and replaced on its old
ground. Joshua rebuilt il and sat up and
watched It; but one may not sit up for
ever. and the first night it was unpro-
tected 1t was moved again. Matters grew
worse and worse; and the two old friends |
became the bitterest enemies For a
matter Of six months the fence skipped |
merrily back and forth across the four
feet OF space; and the neighborhood |
could talk of nothing else.
At last the night watching began to tell
on Joshua, and he was shut up in his |
room. a prey to rheumatism, for an en-
tire week. Sim reported progress to him |
every day. Greatly TO his establishment |
the fence had remained in its place all |
that time. At last Sim brought him the |
explanation. Abner was laid up with a |
kind o stroke" 1t might be some time |
before he could get round again, the doc
tor said; and they had sent for a grand
daughter of Abner's sister to come and
stay with the two old people
THAT must be Bessie. the one he's |
been keeping at school," said Joshua. |
with tender hand stroking his knee |
well. I'm goin' TO Bens. up in the city. |
Sim. to git treated for this rheumatics. |
an | want you to watch that fence. same |
as II was here. Ifthey move that fence. |
an you git up in the mornin' an see it's
been tempered with. you put It back be-
fore YOU set down to breakfas'. mind | |
tell ye wisht didn't have to go. Like
as not the place'll go to rack an ruin soon
as l turn my back But you look after
that fence. now. Sim"
In like manner the old man in the |
ether house beyond the orchard was Civ
ing directions with a tongue that STAN
mered little still from the effects Of the
stroke"
Look after that fence. now. Bessie"
said Abner. as well as he could. Hes |
got IL onto my land right now-cuttin
OF four feet. the whole way-an you see
that Jim an Nels get it back before mid
night amt a goin' to be run over, no
longer"
III take care Of the fence. Uncle
Ahner-don't you Worry. - said the pretty |
girl. smiling into the dim eyes. Their
she went out 10 survey her charge, the
dividing fence. From sfar she saw /
Joshua climb into the wagon and drive /
n