The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-08-30
THE NEIGHBOR-IN-LAW.
by LYDIA MARIA CHILD.

$50 you are going to live in the same
building with Hetty Turnpenny," said Mrs.
Lane to Mrs. Fairweather. "You will find
nobody to envy you. If her temper does
not prove too much even for your good ma
ture, it will surprise all who know her. We
lived there year, and that is as long as any
body ever tried it."
"Poor Hetty - replied Mrs. Fairweather.
Ct She has had much to harden her. Her
mother died too early for her to remember
her father was very severe with her; and the
only lover she ever had, borrowed the saw
ings of her years of toll, and spent them in
dissipation. But Hetty, notwithstanding her
sharp features, and sharper words certainly
has kind heart. In the midst Of her great
est poverty many were the stockings she
knit, and the warm waiStcoats she made, for
the poor drunken lover, whom she had too
much sense to marry. Then you know she
feeds and clothes her brothers orphan chill
dren."
eff you call it feeding and clothing" re-
piled Mrs. Lane. {" The poor child looks
cold, and pinched, and frightened all the time,
as if she we're chased by the East wind.
used to tell Mrs. Turnpenny she ought to be
ashamed of herself, to keep the poor little
thing at work all the time, without one min
ute to play. If she does but look at the cat
as it runs by the window, Aunt Hetty gives
her rap over the knuckles | used to tell
her she would make the girl just such another
sour old crab as herself"
"That must have been very improving to
her Disposition" replied Mrs. Fairweather,
with good-humored smile. " But in justice
to poor Aunt Hetty, you ought to remember
that she had Just such a careless childhood
herself Flowers grow where there is sun
shine"
81 know you think everybody ought to live
in the sunshine" replied Mrs. Lane; and
it must be confessed that you carry it with
you wherever you 60. If Miss Turnpenny
has a heart, l dare say you will find it out,
though l never could, and l never heard of
any one else that could. All the families
within hearing of her tongue call her the
neighbor-in-law.
Certainly the prospect was not very en-
couraging for the house was not only under
the same roof with Miss Turnpenny, but the
buildings had one common yard in the rear,
and one common space for garden in front
The very first day she took possession of her
new habitation, she called on the neighbor-
n-law. Aunt Hetty had taken the precau-
ton to extinguish the fire, lest the new neigh
Dor should want hot water, before her own
wood and coal arrived. Her first salutation
was, "If you want any cold water, there's a
pump across the street; don't like to have
my house stopped all over"
81 am glad you are so tidy, neighbor
Turnpenny," replied Mrs. Fairweather; 1t
is extremely pleasant to have neat neighbors
I will try to keep everything as bright as a
new five cent piece, for l see that will please
you. came in merely to say good morning,
and to ask you if you could spare little Peggy
to run up and down stairs for me, while | am
getting my furniture in order. l will pay
her sixpence an hour"
Aunt Hetty had begun to purse up her
mouth for refusal; but the promise of six
pence an hour relaxed her features at once.
Little Peggy sat knitting stocking very d.
lgently, with a rod laying on the table be-
side her. She looked up with timid wistful-
ness, as if the prospect of any change was
like a release from prison. When she heard
consent given, bright color flushed her
cheeks. She was evidently of an impossible
temperament, for good or evil "Now mind
and behave yourself" said Aunt Hetty " and
see that you keep at work the whole time
If hear one word of complaint, you know
what you'll get when you come home" The