NEIGHBORHOOD NUISANCE 211 



mortuis nil nisi bonum" notwithstanding, I have 

 never found man, woman, or child that would 

 own to a passing regret at Cyrus's departure. 



My first meeting with Cyrus as a neighbor was 

 trying. I wanted a new fence between his place 

 and mine, and I sought him one day near the old 

 boundary fence. Cyrus met my proposition very 

 coldly. He did n't want a fence. The fence had 

 been good enough for him and my predecessor 

 for a good many years. And he didn't think 

 much of an interloper who wanted to change 

 everything over. 



In vain I argued the necessity of an up-to- 

 date wire fence. Cyrus would have none of it. 

 I finally offered to pay the entire expense. To 

 this Cyrus, who had a sharp nose for a bargain 

 and a pair of exceedingly sharp and far-sighted 

 eyes for his own interest, agreed, although very 

 grumpily. 



Having obtained his consent I lost no time in 

 buying posts and wire-fencing, and in hiring a 

 carpenter, sappers, and miners, and starting the 

 work. At this time I was called out of town for 

 a few days, and on my return found to my great 

 pleasure that my new fence had been erected and 

 the carpenter was just leaving. I went out at once 

 to view it and to rejoice in the great improvement, 

 and judge of my disgust and wrath w r hen I found 

 that the grasping old rascal had made the car- 



