Lessons in Life, For All Who Will Read Them | Page 2

go by that road," replied Ben; "at least, it has been so

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 farm had the
right of way across this one.
"The right of way across my farm!" exclaimed Mr. Bolton, with
strongly-marked surprise. "We'll see about that! Come! go with me. I
want to take a look at that part of my forty acres."
And Mr. Bolton strode off, accompanied by Ben, to take more
particular note of the extreme south edge of his beautiful tract of land.
The shape of this tract was somewhat in the form of a triangle, with the
apex at the southern boundary, near the verge of which ran a stream of
water. Beyond this stream was a narrow strip of ground, some thirty
feet wide, bounded by the fence enclosing the land belonging to
another owner; (sic) it length was not more than two hundred feet. It
was along this strip of ground that Mr. Bolton had observed the wagon
of Mr. Halpin pass. The gate opening upon his premises was at one end,
and now, for the first time, he discovered that there was a gate at the
other end, opening from his farm to that of Mr. Halpin, while the
ground was cut up with numerous wheel-tracks.
"Upon my word, this is all very fine!" said Mr. Bolton. "The right of
way across my farm! we'll see about that! Ben, do you get four good
rails and put them firmly into the gate-posts on Mr. Halpin's side.
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 public road."
"That's none of my business; they've no right to make a public highway
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. Bolton
turned and marched away with long and hasty strides. "But if there isn't
a nice tea-party somewhere about these diggins before to-morrow
morning, my name isn't Ben Johnson."
Before reaching his house, Mr. Bolton's excitement had cooled a trifle,
and it came into his mind that possibly he might have acted a little

hastily; but the order had been given to cut off the right of way, and he
was not the man to "make back-tracks" in any thing.
"Do you see that, Edward?" said Mrs. Bolton, as her husband entered
the house, pointing to a table on which stood a pitcher of sweet cream
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, as he
passed from the room after pausing there for only a moment. He could
not look at the lumps of golden butter and the pitcher of cream without
feeling rebuked, and so he got away as quickly as possible.
"Have you done as I directed?" said Mr. Bolton, with knit brows, on
meeting Ben, some time afterwards, returning from the part of the farm
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 no mistake."
"When did he say so?"
"Just now. He came down from his house, when he saw me at work,
and asked 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
had the 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 place

where he stood.
"I want none of his interference," muttered Bolton to himself. Then
forcing a smile into his face, he met his neighbour with a pleasant
greeting.
"You will excuse me," said Mr. Dix, after a few words had passed
between them, "for a liberty I am about to take. I saw