MR. EDWARD BOLTON had purchased himself a farm, and taken possessionthereof. Once, while examining the premises, before deciding to buy,he had observed a light wagon moving along on the extreme south edgeof the tract of land included in the farm, but it had occasioned noremark. It was late in the afternoon when he arrived with his familyat their new home. On the morning that followed, while Mr. Boltonstood conversing with a farm-hand who had been on the place underthe former owner, he observed the same vehicle passing across theportion of his land referred to.
"Whose wagon is that, Ben?" he asked, in the tone of a man who feltthat another had trespassed upon his rights.
"It is Mr. Halpin's," was replied.
"Halpin, who owns the next farm?"
"Yes, sir."
"He takes a liberty with my premises that I would not like to takewith his," said Mr. Bolton, who was annoyed by the circumstance."And there he is himself, as I live! riding along over my ground ascoolly as if it belonged to him. Verily, some men have the impudenceof old Nick himself!"
"They always go by that road," replied Ben; "at least, it has beenso ever since I have worked on the farm. I think I once heard Mr.Jenkins, from whom you bought, tell somebody that Mr. Halpin's farmhad the right of way across this one.
"The right of way across my farm!" exclaimed Mr. Bolton, withstrongly-marked surprise. "We'll see about that! Come! go with me. Iwant to take a look at that part of my forty acres."
And Mr. Bolton strode off, accompanied by Ben, to take moreparticular note of the extreme south edge of his beautiful tract ofland. The shape of this tract was somewhat in the form of atriangle, with the apex at the southern boundary, near the verge ofwhich ran a stream of water. Beyond this stream was a narrow stripof ground, some thirty feet wide, bounded by the fence enclosing theland belonging to another owner; its length was not more thantwo hundred feet. It was along this strip of ground that Mr. Boltonhad observed the wagon of Mr. Halpin pass. The gate opening upon hispremises was at one end, and now, for the first time, he discoveredthat there was a gate at the other end, opening from his farm tothat of Mr. Halpin, while the ground was cut up with numerouswheel-tracks.
"Upon my word, this is all very fine!" said Mr. Bolton. "The rightof way across my farm! we'll see about that! Ben, do you get fourgood rails and put them firmly into the gate-posts on Mr. Halpin'sside. Throw the gate over into his field."
Ben looked confounded at this order.
"Do you understand me?" said Mr. Bolton.
"Yes, sir; but"--
"But what?"
"There's no other way for Mr. Halpin's folks to get to the publicroad."
"That's none of my business; they've no right to make a publichighway of these premises. You heard what I said?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then let it be done."
"Obey orders, if you break owners," muttered Ben, as Mr. Boltonturned and marched away with long and hasty strides. "But if thereisn't a nice tea-party somewhere about these diggins beforeto-morrow morning, my name isn't Ben Johnson."
Before reaching his house, Mr. Bolton's excitement had cooled atrifle, and it came into his mind that possibly he might haveacted a little hastily; but the order had been given to cut offthe right of way, and he was not the man to "make back-tracks" inany thing.
"Do you see that, Edward?" said Mrs. Bolton, as her husband enteredthe house, pointing to a table on which stood a pitcher of sweetcream and two pounds of fresh butter. "Mrs. Halpin sent these over,with her compliments, this morning; isn't it kind in her?"
Mrs. Bolton's countenance was glowing with pleasure.
"I always heard that she was a neighbourly, good woman," added Mrs.Bolton.
"I don't think much of her husband," returned Mr. Bolton, coldly, ashe passed from the room after pausing there for only a moment. Hecould not look at the lumps of golden butter and the pitcher ofcream without feeling rebuked, and so he got away as quickly aspossible.
"Have you done as I directed?" said Mr. Bolton, with knit brows, onmeeting Ben, some time afterwards, returning from the part of thefarm where he had left him.
"Yes, sir," was the answer of Ben.
"What did you do with the gate?"
"I threw it into the field, as you told me."
"You didn't break it?"
"No, sir."
"Very well."
"There'll be trouble, Mr. Bolton," said Ben.
"How do you know?"
"Mr. Halpin's a very determined man."
"So am I," replied Mr. Bolton.
"Mr. Dix says the right of way belongs to Mr. Halpin, and nomistake."
"When did he say so?"
"Just now. He came down from his house, when he saw me at work, andasked what I was doing; and when I told him, he said you were wrong,and would only get yourself into trouble; that Mr. Halpin's farm hadthe right of way through yours."
"Tell Mr. Dix, when you see him again, not to meddle in my affairs,"replied Mr. Bolton. "I am entirely competent to manage them myself;I want no assistance."
As Mr. Bolton turned from Ben, on uttering this speech, he saw Mr.Dix, who owned another farm that adjoined his, approaching the placewhere he stood.
"I want none of his interference," muttered Bolton to himself. Thenforcing a smile into his face, he met his neighbour with a pleasantgreeting.
"You will excuse me," said Mr. Dix, after a few words had passedbetween them, "for a liberty I am about to take. I saw your man, alittle while ago, closing up the gate that opens from your farm intoMr. Halpin's."
"Well!" Mr. Bolton's brows contracted heavily.
"Are you aware that his farm has the right of way through yours?"
"No, sir."
"Such, however, let me assure you, is the case. Mr. Halpin has noother avenue to the public road."
"That's his misfortune; but it gives him no license to trespass onmy property."
"It is not a trespass, Mr. Bolton. He only uses a right purchasedwhen he bought his farm, and one that he can and will sustain in thecourts against you."
"Let him go to court, then. I bought this farm for my own privateuse, not as a highway; no such qualification is embraced in thedeed. The land is mine, and no one shall trespass upon it."
"But, Mr. Bolton," calmly replied the other, "in purchasing, yousecured an outlet to the public road."
"Certainly I did; but not through your farm, nor that of any oneelse."
"Halpin was not so fortunate," said Mr. Dix. "In buying his farm, hehad to take it with a guarantied right of way across this one. Therewas no other outlet."
"It was not a guarantee against my ownership," doggedly replied Mr.Bolton.
"Pardon me for saying that in this you are in error," returned theother. "Originally both farms were in one; that was subsequentlysold with a right of way across this."
"There is no such concession in the deed I hold," said Bolton.
"If you will take the trouble to make an examination in the clerk'soffice in the county court, you'll find it to be as I state."
"I don't care any thing about how it was originally," returnedBolton, with the headiness of passionate men when excited. "I lookonly to how it is now. This is my farm; I bought it with no suchconcessions, and will not yield it unless by compulsion. I wouldn'tbe the owner of a piece of land that another man had the right toenter."
"That little strip of ground," said Mr. Dix, "which is of buttrifling value, might be fenced off as a road. This would take awayall necessity for entering your ground."
"What!" said Bolton, indignantly; "vacate the property I have boughtand paid for? I am not quite so generous as that. If Mr. Halpin musthave a right of way, let him obtain his right by purchase. I'll sellhim a strip from off the south side of my farm, wide enough for aroad, if that will suit him; but he shall not use one inch of myproperty as a common thoroughfare."
Mr. Dix still tried to argue the matter with Bolton, but the latterhad permitted himself to get angry, and angry men are generally deafas an adder to the voice of reason. So the neighbour, who called inthe hope of turning the new occupant of the farm from his purpose,and thus saving trouble to both himself and Mr. Halpin, retiredwithout effecting what he wished to accomplish.
It would be doing injustice to the feelings of Mr. Bolton to say,that he did not feel some emotions of regret for his precipitateaction. But, having assumed so decided a position in the matter, hecould not think of retracing a step that he had taken. Hasty andpositive men are generally weak-minded, and this weakness usuallyshows itself in a pride of consistency. If they say a thing, theywill persevere in doing it, right or wrong, for fear that others maythink them vacillating, or, what they really are, weak-minded. Justsuch a man was Mr. Bolton.
"I've said it, and I'll do it!" That was one of his favouriteexpressions. And he repeated it to himself, now, to drive off therepentant feelings that came into his mind.
At dinner-time, when Mr. Bolton sat down to the table, he found,placed just before him, a print of the golden butter sent to hiswife on that very morning by Mrs. Halpin. The sight annoyed andreproved him. He felt that he had been hasty, unneighbourly, and, itmight be, unjust; for, as little gleams of reflection came breakingin one after another upon his mind, he saw that a right of way forMr. Halpin was indispensable, and that if his deed gave it to him,it was a right of which he could not deprive him without actingunjustly. Passion and false reasonings would, it is true, quicklydarken his mind again. But they had, in turn, to give place to morecorrect views and feelings.
"Just try some of that butter. It is delicious!" said Mrs. Bolton,soon after they were seated at the table.
"I don't care about butter at dinner-time," replied Mr. Bolton,coldly.
"But just try some of this. I want you to taste it," urged the wife."Its flavour is delightful. I must go over and see Mrs. Halpin'sdairy."
To satisfy his wife, Mr. Bolton took some of the butter on hisplate. He would rather have thrown it out of the window.
"Now try it on a piece of bread," said Mrs. Bolton. "I declare! Youact as if you were afraid of the butter. What's the matter withyou?"
There was no reason why Mr. Bolton should not do as his wifewished--at least no reason that he could give to her. It wouldn't doto say--
"I won't touch Mrs. Halpin's butter because I've cut off herhusband's right of way across my land. I have nailed up the onlyoutlet there is from his property to the public road."
No, it wouldn't do to say that. So, nothing was left for Mr. Boltonbut to taste the delicious butter.
"Isn't it very fine?" said his wife, as she saw him place it to hislips.
"Yes, it's good butter," replied Mr. Bolton, "very good butter."Though, in fact, it was far from tasting pleasant to him.
"It's more than very good," said Mrs. Bolton, impatiently. "What hascome over you? But wait a little while, and I'll give yousomething to quicken your palate. I've made some curds--you are sofond of them. If you don't praise the sweet cream Mrs. Halpin sokindly sent over this morning, when you come to eat these curds, Ishall think--I don't know what I shall think."
The dinner proceeded, and, at length, the dessert, composed of curdsand cream, was served.
"Isn't that beautiful?" said Mrs. Bolton, as she poured some of thecream received from Mrs. Halpin into a saucer of curds, which shehanded to her husband.
Bolton took the curds and ate them. Moreover, he praised the cream;for, how could he help doing so? Were not his wife's eyes on him,and her ears open? But never in his life had he found so littlepleasure in eating.
"Do you know," said Mrs. Bolton, after she had served the curds andsaid a good deal in favour of the cream, "that I promise myself muchpleasure in having such good neighbours? Mrs. Halpin I've alwaysheard spoken of in the highest terms. She's a sister of JudgeCaldwell, with whose family we were so intimate at Haddington."
"You must be in error about that."
"No. Mrs. Caldwell often spoke to me about her, and said that shehad written to her sister that we talked of buying this farm."
"I never knew this before," said Mr. Bolton.
"Didn't you! I thought I had mentioned it."
"No."
"Well it's true. And, moreover, Mrs. Caldwell told me, before weleft, that she had received a letter from her sister, in which shespoke of us, and in which she mentioned that her husband had oftenheard you spoken of by the judge, and promised himself greatpleasure in your society."
Mr. Bolton pushed back his chair from the table, and, rising, leftthe room. He could not bear to hear another word.
"Is my horse ready, Ben?" said he, as he came into the open air.
"Yes, sir," replied Ben.
"Very well. Bring him round."
"Are you going now?" asked Mrs. Bolton, coming to the door, as Benled up the horse.
"Yes. I wish to be home early, and so must start early."
And Bolton sprang into the saddle.
But for the presence of his wife, it is more than probable that hewould have quietly directed Ben to go and rehang the gate, and thusre-establish Mr. Halpin's right of way through his premises. But,this would have been an exposure of himself to his better-half thathe had not the courage to make. So he rode away. His purpose was tovisit the city, which was three miles distant, on business. As hemoved along in the direction of the gate through which he was topass on his way to the turnpike, he had to go very near the spotwhere Ben had been at work in the morning. The unhinged gate layupon the ground where, according to his directions, it had beenthrown; and the place it formerly occupied was closed up by fourstrong bars, firmly attached to the posts.
Mr. Bolton didn't like the looks of this at all. But it was done;and he was not the man to look back when he had once undertaken todo a thing.
As he was riding along, just after passing from his grounds, he metMr. Dix, who paused as Bolton came up.
"Well, neighbour," said the former in a tone of mild persuasion, "Ihope you have thought better of the matter about which we weretalking a few hours ago."
"About Halpin's right of way through my farm, you mean?"
"Yes. I hope you have concluded to reopen the gate, and let thingsremain as they have been, at least for the present. These offensivemeasures only provoke anger, and never do any good." Bolton shookhis head.
"He has no right to trespass on my premises," said he, sternly.
"As to the matter of right," replied Mr. Dix, "I think, the generalopinion will be against you. By attempting to carry out your presentpurpose, you will subject yourself to a good deal of odium; whichevery man ought to avoid, if possible. And in the end, if the mattergoes to court, you will not only have to yield this right of way,but be compelled to pay costs of suit and such damages as may beawarded against you for expense and trouble occasioned Mr. Halpin.Now let me counsel you to avoid all these consequences, ifpossible."
"Oh, you needn't suppose all this array of consequences willfrighten me," said Mr. Bolton. "I don't know what fear is. Igenerally try to do right, and then, like Crockett, 'go ahead.'"
"Still, Mr. Bolton," urged the neighbour mildly, "don't you think itwould be wiser and better to see Mr. Halpin first, and explain tohim how much you are disappointed at finding a right of way foranother farm across the one you have purchased? I am sure somearrangement, satisfactory to both, can be made. Mr. Halpin, if youtake him right, is not an unreasonable man. He'll do almost anything to oblige another. But he is very stubborn if you attempt todrive him. If he comes home and finds things as they now are, hewill feel dreadfully outraged; and you will become enemies insteadof friends."
"It can't be helped now," said Mr. Bolton. "What's done is done."
"It's not yet too late to undo the work," suggested Mr. Dix.
"Yes, it is. I'm not the man to make back-tracks. Good-day, Mr.Dix?"
And speaking to his horse, Mr. Bolton started off at a brisk trot.He did not feel very comfortable. How could he? He felt that he haddone wrong, and that trouble and mortification were before him. Buta stubborn pride would not let him retrace a few wrong steps takenfrom a wrong impulse. To the city he went, transacted his business,and then turned his face homeward, with a heavy pressure upon hisfeelings.
"Ah me!" he sighed to himself, as he rode along. "I wish I hadthought twice this morning before I acted once. I needn't have beenso precipitate. But I was provoked to think that any one claimed theright to make a public road through my farm. If I'd only known thatHalpin was a brother-in-law to Judge Caldwell! That makes the matterso much worse."
And on rode Mr. Bolton, thinking only of the trouble he had soneedlessly pulled down about his ears.
For the last mile of the way, there had been a gentleman ridingalong in advance of Mr. Bolton, and as the horse of the latter madea little the best speed, he gained on him slowly, until, just as hereached the point where the road leading to his farm left theturnpike, he came up with him.
"Mr. Bolton, I believe," said the gentleman, smiling, as both, inturning into the narrow lane, came up side by side.
"That is my name," was replied.
"And mine is Halpin," returned the other, offering his hand, whichMr. Bolton could but take, though not so cordially as would havebeen the case had the gate opening from his farm into Mr. Halpin'sbeen on its hinges. "I have often heard my brother-in-law, JudgeCaldwell, speak of you and your lady. We promise ourselves muchpleasure in having you for neighbours. Mrs. Halpin and I will take avery early opportunity to call upon you. How is all your family?"
"Quite well, I thank you," replied Mr. Bolton, trying to appearpolite and pleased, yet half averting his face from the earnest eyesof Mr. Halpin.
"We have had a beautiful day," said the latter, who perceived that,from some cause, Mr. Bolton was not at ease.
"Very beautiful," was the brief answer.
"You have been into the city," said Mr. Halpin, after a brief pause.
"Yes, I had some business that made it necessary for me to go intotown."--Another silence.
"You have a beautiful farm. One of the finest in the neighbourhood,"said Mr. Halpin.
"Yes, it is choice land," returned the unhappy Mr. Bolton.
"The place has been a little neglected since the last occupantleft," continued Mr. Halpin. "And since your purchase of it, someill-disposed persons have trespassed on the premises. Day beforeyesterday, as I was passing along the lower edge of your farm,--youknow that, through some ill-contrivance, my right of way to thepublic road is across the south edge of your premises. But we willtalk of that some other time. It's not a good arrangement at all,and cannot but be annoying to you. I shall make some proposition,before long, about purchasing a narrow strip of ground and fencingit in as a road. But of that another time. We shall not quarrelabout it. Well, as I was saying, day before yesterday, as I waspassing along the lower edge of your farm, I saw a man deliberatelybreak a large branch from a choice young plum-tree, in full blossom,near your house, that only came into bearing last year. I wasterribly vexed about it, and rode up to remonstrate with him. Atfirst, he seemed disposed to resent my interference with his rightto destroy my neighbour's property. But, seeing that I was not in atemper to be trifled with, he took himself off. I then went backhome, and sent one of my lads over, in company with a couple of gooddogs, and put the property in their charge. I found all safe when Ireturned in the evening."
"It was kind in you--very kind!" returned Mr. Bolton. He could sayno less. But, oh! how rebuked and dissatisfied he felt.
"About that right of way," he stammered out, after a brief silence,partly averting his eyes as he spoke. "I--I"--
"Oh, we'll not speak of that now," returned Mr. Halpin cheerfully."Let's get better acquainted first."
"But, Mr. Halpin--I--I"--
They were now at the gate entering upon Mr. Bolton's farm, and theneighbour pushed it open, and held it for Bolton to pass through.Then, as it swung back on its hinges, he said, touching his hatpolitely--
"Good-day! Mrs. Halpin and I will call over very soon;--perhaps thisevening, if nothing interfere to prevent. If we come, we shall do sowithout any ceremony. Make my compliments, if you please, to Mrs.Bolton."
"Thank you! Yes--yes! Mr. Halpin--I--I--Let me speak a--a"--
But Mr. Halpin had turned his horse's head, and was moving offtowards the place of entrance to his own farm.
Poor Bolton What was he to do? Never had he felt so oppressive asense of shame--such deep humiliation. He had reined up his horseafter passing through the gate, and there he still stood,undetermined, in the confusion of the moment, what to do. Brisklyrode Mr. Halpin away; and only a few moments would pass before hediscovered the outrage perpetrated against him, and that by a manfor whom he had entertained the kindest feelings in advance, andeven gone out of his way to serve.
"Oh, why did I act with such mad haste!" exclaimed Mr. Bolton, as hethought this, and saw but a moment or two intervening between himand the bitterest humiliation. He might repair the wrong, and, inhis heart, he resolved to do it. But what could restore to him thegood opinion of his neighbour? Nothing! That was gone for ever.
So troubled, oppressed, and shame-stricken was Mr. Bolton, that heremained on the spot where Mr. Halpin had left him, looking afterthe latter until he arrived at the place where an obstruction hadbeen thrown in his way. By this time, the very breath of Bolton wassuspended. Unbounded was his surprise, as he observed Mr. Halpinleap from his horse, swing open the gate, and pass through. Had heseen aright? He rubbed his eyes and looked again. Mr. Halpin hadclosed the gate, and was on the other side, in the act of mountinghis horse.
"Have I done right?" said a voice at this moment.
Bolton started, and, on looking around, saw Mr. Dix.
"Yes, you have done right!" he returned, with an emotion that hecould not conceal: "and from my heart I thank you for this kindoffice. You have saved me from the consequences of a hasty,ill-judged, ill-natured act--consequences that would have been mostpainful. Oblige me still further Mr. Dix, by letting this matterremain with yourself, at least for the present. Before it comes tothe ears of Mr. Halpin, I wish to let him see some better points inmy character."
To this, Mr. Dix pledged himself. After repeating his thanks, Mr.Bolton rode away a wiser and a better man.
When Mr. Halpin, some weeks afterwards, made reference to the rightof way across Mr. Bolton's land, and asked if he would not sell hima narrow strip on the south edge of his farm, to be fenced off for aroad, the latter said--
"No, Mr. Halpin, I will not sell you the land; but as it is oflittle or no value to me, I will cheerfully vacate it for a road, ifyou are willing to run the fence."
And thus was settled, most amicably, a matter that bid fair, in thebeginning, to result in a long and angry disputation, involving lossof money, time, and friendly relationships. Ever after, whendisposed to act from a first angry impulse, Mr. Bolton's thoughtswould turn to this right-of-way question, and he would become cooland rational in a moment.
THE END.
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