Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1859 — Where the Laugh Came in. [ARTICLE]

Where the Laugh Came in.

Bunce’s and Sizer’s farms adjoined each other. Sizer had an unruly sheep which was in the habit of getting into Bunce’s field. Bunce expostulated with Sizer several times, and then told him if he did not keep his sheep at home he would fix him so he wouldn’t jump any more fences. But Bunce sooiifound the sheep back again ; so he caught him, and with a knife severed the cuticle, or skin, just beyond the gambril joint, and between the main cord and bone, then thrust the other hind leg through the aperture and put the sheep back over the fence, which went off hobbling on three legs. Sizer soon after discovered the sad plight his sheep was in, and he knew very well who was the cause of it, but he concluded to take things coolly and await some suitable opportunity to revenge himself. Presently, Bunce’s old sow broke into Sizer’s field, when he caught her, and with a sharp knife cut her mouth almost from ear to ear, and turned her back. When Bunce discovered this, he went to Sizer’s in a great rage, and demanded of him what he did that for. Sizer said, “Upon my word, neighbor Bunce, I did not do any such thing. Your old sow split her mouth laughing at my sheep through the fence.'" John Smith should, while crossing Brown’s vacant lot, happen to fall and tear his pantaloons, who is responsible for the ground rent thus created—he or Brown? and could Brown compel Smith to settle the reqt with a potato patch.