Norwich bulletin., 1912-06-15
CWratten Specially For The Bulletin. )

(Wrdtten Specially For The Bulletin.)
 Every spring time brings us it's mar vellous revelations of beauty to cheer us after the long desolation of New England winters. and to every one the time of apple blossoms is a season of delight. We are sure each year that the trees grow lovelier and fuller in bloom, and many ride is planned on trolley, in carriage or automobile for no other reason than to see and Rd- mire the apple orchards now in culti- walton, and many. 8 party come home laden with branches broken from wild apple trees whose fruit no one claims, or that mark tho site of an abandoned farm, the trees still clinging to the old place, though their former owners have no longer & residence there Per haps the trees would seek new home, if they could, but as they can not, they fulfil their duty by doing their best to render others happy, and carry out their mission to help beau tify and gladden. the face of nature with each returning spring.
 Of all the farms in Leonardsville none could outdo those owned and oc- cupied by Nathan Brink and Samuel Crawford whose families had lived side by side for more than one gen eration. Which excelled the other in skilful, up-to-dat farming, none could determine. They were equally prosperous and thrifty and dwelt in apparent comfort and content in their commodious homes, each surrounded by a happy group of children in ap- parent neighborly peace.
 But this last was only in seeming, for though there was no open warfare upon each other, every one in the vi- ntr1 Il f,r- 1fap agreed to disagree, as had their fathers and grandfathers before them. Down South it would have been called a feud and, perhaps, included blood shed, but in the colder climate of New England it only caused the comment, "Oh, they don't hitch horses" Two generations previous old Nathan and Samuel had Quarrelled over a boundary line beween the two farms, and when l the law settled 1t and gave to Nathan an apple tree which Samuel had plant l ed, the decision was accepted as final | by the Crawfords but there came an end to all neighborly cordiality, and as | the names were inherited from father | to son and grandson, so was also per | petuated the i'll feeling between the
 two families. Meanwhile the apple
 tree so much in dispute continued to bloom and bear fruit each year, and very choice fruit it was, too, much en- | joyed by the Frinks, much coveted by | the Crawfords, though the Crawford l children protested they had plenty of
 apples equally good in other parts of
 their farm.
 In other things than apples the two families contended for the mastery | Did Samuel Crawford's oldest boy l Harold go to Harvard, so surely did Mildred Frink find 1t necessary to at-
 tend Smiths College, We're the Frinh
 boys trained at the 'Teck, certainly
 the Crawford girls had the best train
 ing in music and art which could be l furnished for them, Even the village
 church gained by their disagreement
 for each family feared the other would out distance them in generous contri- button to good causes, and so eacf gave lavishly whenever a plea Wal
 made for any desirable purpose.
 So time went on until SamuePs old
 est son had reached manhood, and aft CT leaving Harvard had become