Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-10-19

DAVID Smell, who had come from the
city fifteen or twenty years before,
and lived on small farm, where he
raised q great deal Of fruit and kept
q good deal OF poultry.
There was q sort OF tradition that
when Smell first came TO New Joppa
he had tried to establish friendly re-
lAtions with the people, but his ways
were queer. He went contrary to all
the advice that everybody gave him
about running his little farm, and
did the most unheaTd-of things.
He used to walk much about the
country, although he had a good
horse, and this fact gave him at once
a reputation for stinginess. He some
{ times spent half day in watching g
! toad or a tumblebuE. and this led the
/ people TO regard him as half-crazy.
/ He never borrowed any tools Of the
neighbors, and it was generally IN
I derstood that he was not entirely
/ good-natured about lending his own
tools, which were always kept very
bright and sharp.
People began TO let him alone, and
although the women al rare intervals
called TO see his sister, who kept
house for him, and who was regarded
as q pleasant little body, Smell lived
more and more by himself, and &C
cepted the rank which was accorded
him as the mean man Of the place.
He began almost TO think that it
was his duty TO deserve the reputa-
ton.
He was out in the woods and fields
q great deal, and as no one knew
what he was 6c!ng on these expedi-
tons, the younger members of the
community began 10 imagine that he
was up to some mischief, and TO glare
at him suspiciously when they net
him.
One evening in late autumn, just as
It had begun TO grow dusk, Suas
Barstow, whose farm lay just beyond
Smells, and who, with his son Walter,
was doing chores in his BARNARD,
saw man passing through the cor
ner Of hfs orchard.
who's that" asked Barstow.
Il guess its Dave Smell" said
Walter. 1t looks like him.
What's he doing"
q guess he's Just crossing through
the orchard. ! saw him just after
dinner, sitting on z stump up in the
woods.
Hum the farmer grunted in dis
satisfaction. What is he I'D to-
l wish he'd keep out Of my orchard.
Then BArstow went into the house,
and IS he went in, Prince, the shep-
herd-dog which belonged TO the Bars
tows, came snArling ont, seeing the
figure in the orchard. Walter, Weld
ing TO a passing impulse, and not
really believing that the dog would
attack Smell, Kissed, Sick himi" IN
der his breath; and away the dog
went into the orchard, and fell fierce
ly upon the man just as he was get
ting over the fence.
Siias Barstow came out and called
the dog of, but not until Smell had
been quite badly bitten. Naturally
he was indignant, and said some
sharp words. And then Barstow ez-
claimed:
We'll, what business have You in
my orchard at this time Of night"
Il was crossing from the woods"
said Smell. DO you suppose I would
do any harm TO your orchard"
Wei, ! don't know" said Bars
tow.
With strange look, but not an
other word, Smell linped away. He
took 10 steps TO obtain any redress
from BArstow for the injuries he had
received. The Barstows regarded
him now as q mortal enemy, although
he said nothing to any one about the
affair.
He'll get even with you some
how, the neighbOrs said TO Bsrstow.
Within few days a heavy Snow
fan came in New Joppa. That was
followed by another. It was harder
winter than any one remembered.
Not, indeed, until one day early in
April did Farmer Barstow, who had
& good deal OF pride in his orchard,
90 through it Then he found, to his
establishment and furious indigna-
ton, that every one Of the one hun
dred and twenty young trees-chiefy
Northern Spies, Baldwins Golden
Russets and TolmRn Sweets-had
been "girdled" not more than SIX
inches above the ground.
There Was excitement all about the
town when the news Of this discovery
spread. Now and then, once in q gen
GRAFTON, perhaps, some evil-wiIled,
dRrk-minded person in our country
districts has been known to revenge
himself upon an enemy by going into
his orchard st dead Of night and cut
ting round each tree q ring clear
through the bark. For a season the
tree lives on-perhaps it has leaves
8 second season; and then, at least,
the girdled tree dies,
A crime Of this sort ALWAYS pro
vokes indignation in the country; but
generally, although but one man can
be suspected, there is no proof
against him, and no one is punished.
BErstow and his Deighbors had but
one thought respecting the affair.
Didn't We tell you Dave Smell
would get even with YOU" they ali
said 10 him. Mean, Why, a man
that will DO that is too mean to be
hanged
BRrstow holly charged Smell with
the crime At the postofice
You girdled my trees last fan
Just as the snow cane" BRrstow de-
clRred. You mean sneak, you,
Probably you suppose ] cant prose
cute you because ! have no proof
against you; but you'll get come up
with! Youu get come up With"
When Smell heard this charge, he
looked dumfounded. and then he
grew pale. He was about TO speak.
Then be looked long and steadily at
BRrstow, and shaking his head, went
/ AWAY silently