Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-11-16

HOW TO MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS,
An example far those .oAo haze had bad ones.

so you have bought the pleasant farm where
Mr.. Dalton used to liver said Mrs. Emery to
Mrs Austin. III is pretty place, but after all
shall not envy you, for there are the Watsons UNI
der your elbow, and worse neighbors you never
found. Watsons you know spends all he can
get for liquor and his wife is little better than
himself, indeed, some say if she was the woman
she ought to be, her husband would be better
man, and their children are the pests OF the
neighborhood, brought up to idleness and mis-
chief; they bid fan to perpetuate their parents
character
Poor Children said Mrs A. mournfully -
what better can we expect of them, than they
will perpetuate their parents characters, except
there be redeeming Influences cast around them.
Their poor mother has much to harden her
heart, She was an orphan cast out on the world
in infancy Her heart never unfolded the buds
OF affection, beneath the genial smiles Of parent
al love Everything in her that was good was
checked by the evil influences which surrounded
her How can we expect one to be good aud
kind who never knew Whit kindness was her
self? We do not know, Mrs Emery, what
we should be # cut fate had been like hers
True. TIE, replied Mrs E., but it does seem
as if she might know enough to let her neigh
bgs property alone; you know they say she
YIl steal
She does not know that she should not steal
But you and Ought to thank heaven that, strong
as we think cur principles to be, they have not
been tr ed by temptations such as hers. We do
not know what it is to be hungry and cold, and
see our little ones shiver arc und US, CRYING for
brea1, while our neghbors have enough and 10
spare
Very WE'LL said Mrs Emery, rather ndg-
nantly; we shall see how you will like to have
your clothes line and your fruit trees robbed
now and them
That will be very unpleasant if it oscurs,
was the quiet reply. But | bele,e society is
guiltysof good deal of the Dschief it suffers
from such persons They are educatou in poverty
and vlce-no smiles of love fall on their cheer
less chldhood-no kind voice warns them of the
evils which surrounded their path-no kind hand
is extended to raise them up when falling; but
they are often repealed with aversion and con-
tempt by those who profess to be Christians and
phnnrhropists.'
You have singular notions, Mrs. AUSTIN re-
joined her friend, For myself, | confess, l
can not help feeling an aversion to such people,
and wish them as far off as possible
we never had bad neighbors, said Mrs Aus,
tin thoughtfully; 'f this FIRMLY cannot be i'm
proved it may be unpleasant living by them
few days after the above conversation, Mr.
and Mrs. Austin took possession of their new
home. They were humble unpretending people
but they were Christians, and they had learned
to believe it their duty 10 initiate the example Of
their master. They were not among those whose
sympathies were inactive, when excited by mis-
cries which pass before their eyes.
They had entered upon sphere which was
TO give trial to their patience, and an opportu,
nifty for the exercise of their Christian henevo
ience As soon as they were settled, Mrs Aus
I'm called upon the Watsons. 1t was not with
ont feeling Of loathing that she entered into
the ruinous hovel, hut she was resolved to ge
acquainted with thei, and if possible do then
good, The children, poor little dirty halfnaked
things, ran away to hide when she entered, and
Mrs. Watson with look of surprise, rose VI
and offered her broken chair.
we have just come into the place. said she
and as | am unacquainted with my neighbor:
| have taken the liberty TO call
i am much obliged, said Mrs. Watson. 'Peo
pie seldom take SO much notice of US
Mrs Austin kindly enquired respecting he
health, and found the poor woman far from be
ing well. The children began to creep around
CHG uISpldJC9 d VI dppICSJ WHICH silt
took from her pocket, and they soon gathered
around her She gave each an apple, aud pattet
their curly heads, with kind and gentle words
The little creatures LOCI ed ai'l1y N her as !
unable to comprehend te cause of such unwon
ted kindness.
When Tho A,nd lady rose to depart she asked
Mr. WI tson to let Mary, a child of seven years
accompany her home, that she might send he
some medicines
The child sprang forward with cry of pleas
ure, and placing her hand in Mrs Austns, look
ed at her mother to get her consent. Mrs. w
told Mary thai she might 90, but promised her
whipping If SIZE was not back soon.
Nj. austin took the child and departed |
y . a cold day in November and fiuttered poo
Mary's frock, and blew back the tangled cur
from her naked brow. Mrs Austin tied he
handkerchief over her head-'Are not your fee
codf said she as she looked down and saw tina
she had 40 shoes on.
YES ma am, said Mary but mother says W,
shall get no shoes this winter, for father spend
all he can get for drink
They reached home, and Mrs A. found sh
had pair of shoes and shawl for little Mar,
and some medicine for her mother
The child had never been so happy before a
she was when she tripped home that night
She was not only delighted with the presents sh
had received, but the kind looks of ner lrlen,
had fallen like sunshine upon her heart
When MIR Austin came home, ms wife il
formed him Of the call she had made
The situation of the family is truly deplor;
be,' she added lis there nothing we can do fc
themP
Indeed, do not know replied her hui
band.
IF there is, doubt not you will think of it,
w ,tson is terribly besotted l met him
night reeling home, probably to abuse his tamil
and yet they say when he is sober he is kin
hearted and peaceabe man.
He has a good trade, and if he can be pr
vailed upon to work without drinking he cou
support his family well. His poor wife seen
indolent and hopeless, but if she could see Il
prospect of better days, she would no doubt {
better
TO be sure replied Mr.. Austin, thoughtful
'he has good trade and was once considered Il
best workman in town. but he has become