joy of his heart, a few inches beyond the frontier line that bounded the contiguous farms. Simeon said he

was sorry for the poor bird, and sorry because his wife and children liked the pretty creature; but otherwise it was no great matter. He had been intending to

build a poultry yard with a good high fence, that his hens might not annoy his neighbours; and now he was admonished to make haste and do it. He would build them a snug warm house to roost in; they should have plenty of gravel and oats, and room to walk back and forth, and crow and cackle to their hearts' content; there they could enjoy themselves, and be out of harm's way.

But Reuben Black had a degree of ingenuity and perseverance which might have produced great results for mankind had those qualities been devoted to some more noble purpose than provoking quarrels. A pear tree in his garden very improperly stretched an arm a little over Simeon Green's premises. It happened that the overhanging bough bore more abundant fruit, and glowed with a richer hue than the other boughs. One day little George Green, as he went whistling along, picked up a pear that had fallen into his father's garden. The instant he touched it, he felt something on the back of his neck like the sting of a wasp. It was Reuben Black's whip, followed by such a storm of angry words, that the poor child rushed into the house in an agony of terror. But this experiment failed also.

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The boy was soothed by his mother, and told not to go near the pear tree again; and there the matter ended.

This imperturbable good nature vexed Reuben more than all the tricks and taunts he met from others. Evil efforts he could understand, and repay with compound interest, but he did not know what to make of this perpetual forbearance. It seemed to him there must be something contemptuous in it. He disliked Simeon more than all the rest of the people put together, because he made him feel so uncomfortably in the wrong, and did not afford him the slightest pretext for complaint. It was annoying to see everything in his neighbour's domains looking so happy, and presenting such a bright contrast to the forlornness of his own. When their waggons passed each other on the road, it seemed as if Simeon's horse tossed his head higher and flung out his mane, as if he knew he was going by Reuben Black's old nag. He often said he supposed Green covered his house with roses and honeysuckles on purpose to shame his bare walls. But he did not care-not he! He was not going to be fool enough to rot his boards with such stuff. But no one resented his disparaging remarks, or sought to provoke him in any way. The rose smiled, the horse neighed, and the calf capered; but none of them had the least idea that they were scorned by Reuben Black. Even the dog had no malice in his heart, though he did one night chase

home his geese, and bark at them through the bars Reuben told his master the next day, and said he would bring an action against him if he did not keep that dog at home. Simeon answered very quietly that he would try to take better care of him. For several days a strict watch was kept, in hopes Towzer would worry the geese again; but they paced home undisturbed, and not a solitary bow-wow furnished excuse for a lawsuit.

The new neighbours not only declined quarrelling, but they occasionally made positive advances towards a friendly relation. Simeon's wife sent Mrs. Black a large basketful of very fine plums. Pleased with the unexpected attention, she cordially replied, "Tell your mother it was very kind of her, and I am very much obliged to her." Reuben, who sat smoking in the chimney corner, listened to this message for once without any impatience, except whiffing the smoke through his pipe a little faster and fiercer than usual. But when the boy was going out of the door, and the friendly words were repeated, he exclaimed, "Don't make a fool of yourself, Peg. They want to give us a hint to send a basket of our pears; that's the upshot of the business. You may send them a basket, when they are ripe; for I scorn to be under obligation, especially to your smooth-tongued folks." Poor Peggy, whose heart had been for the moment refreshed by a little act of kindness, admitted distrust into her bosom, and all

the pleasure she had felt on receiving her neighbour's present departed.

Not long after this advance toward good neighbourhood, some labourers employed by Simeon Green, passing over a bit of marshy ground with a heavy team, stuck fast in a bog occasioned by long continued rain. The poor oxen were unable to extricate themselves, and Simeon ventured to ask assistance from his waspish neighbour, who was working at a short distance. Reuben replied gruffly, "I've got enough to do to attend to my own business." The civil request that he might be allowed to use his oxen and chains for a few minutes being answered in this surly tone, Simeon silently walked of in search of a more obliging neighbour.

The men who had been left waiting with the patient and suffering oxen scolded about Reuben's ill nature when Simeon came back to them, and said they hoped Reuben would get stuck in the same bog himself. Their employer rejoined, "If he should, we will do our duty and help him out." "There is such a thing as being too good-natured," said they. "If Reuben Black takes the notion that people are afraid of him, it makes him trample on them worse than ever."

"Oh, wait a while," replied Green, smiling, "I will kill him before long. Wait and see if I do not kill him."

It chanced soon after, that Reuben's team did stick

fast in the same bog, as the workmen had wished. Simeon noticed it from a neighbouring field, and gave directions that the oxen and chains should be immediately conveyed to his assistance. The men laughed, shook their heads, and talked about the old hornet. They, however, cheerfully proceeded to do as their employer requested. "You are in a bad situation, neighbour," said Simeon, as he came alongside the foundered team; "but my men are coming with two yoke of oxen, and I think we shall soon manage to help you out." "You may take your oxen back again,” replied Reuben, quickly; "I want none of your help." In a very friendly tone Simeon answered, "I cannot consent to do that; for evening is coming on, and you have very little time to lose. It is a bad job at any time, but it will be still worse in the dark." "Light or dark, I do not ask your help," replied Reuben, emphatically. "I would not help you out of the bog the other day when you asked me." But his good neighbour replied, "The trouble I had in relieving my poor oxen teaches me to feel for others in the same situation. Do not let us waste words about it, neighbour. It is impossible for me to go home and leave you here in the bog, and night coming on."

The team was soon drawn out, and Simeon and his men went away, without waiting for thanks. When Reuben went home that night, he was unusually thoughtful. After smoking awhile in deep contempla