The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-11-22
THE TROUBLESOME NEIGHBoR.
A HINT TO BORROWERS

unBuDOTss II tuib udu DCch iH lhS SiS1s tHty
might have lived thus for many years without
making each others acquaintance. As how
ever, the village in which they lived was but q
small one, visiting naturally led to familiar uc-
Quaintance and this to an interchange ofDeigh-
borly conrtesies. 1t will not do to cultivate
exclusveness in country village--to keep
ono's self to ones SELF as the saying is. Ev-
cry one makes il q point to know all about ev-
cry bodyelse, and feels agrieved il any impedi-
ment are thrown in their way. This however
is something of a disgression.
Mrs Adams had but lately become resident
of the village where my story is located, and
her acquaintance with Mrs Brown was there.
fore of but recent date.
Bridget, said Mrs. Adams to her Irish maid
ofall-work, entering the lady's pronincts ono
morning, how much sugar is there in the buck
et:'
'Shuro ma'am and thoro isn't moro than O.
nough TO last to day"
| is it possiblev said Mrs Adams in surprise;
land it was only got last week. What makes
| it go so fast!'
I'm thinkin'. ma'am, it's becaus Mrs. Brown
has sent to borrow it three times
And hasn't she thought of returning it,
We'll, first and last, she's borrowed about
ten, pounds, and few days ago she sent in
two pounds. of dry brown sugar, full Of sand
and sticks, that wasn't fit for any Christian at
all to eat
HAS she borrowed anything clso lateIyr
Il should like to know what she hasn't bor-
rowed. Yesterday she borrowed bar of soap
and quart of milk half dozen pounds Of
-four and pint of molasses. Every day she
sends in her Jane to borrow something or 9TH
err
And dosnt she return other things better
| than she has done in the case of tho sugar?
Faith. ma'am and it's lucky you may think
yourself if sho returns anything at all
'Ifthat's tho case, Bridget. matters must be
looked into little When jan comes to Dor
row anything more, just let me know of it be-
before you let it 60
Il cant understand thonght Mrs. Adams. as
she walked away. 'vhat a woman can be think
inv OF. to depend so constantly on her neigh
bors. TO my mind it's just as bad to borrow
an article without intending to return it, as 10
pick a persons pocket
Mrs Adams had hardly seated herselfto her
work when Bridget popped her head in at tho
door, and said
please, ma am, Jano is hero, and she says
Mrs. Brown sends her compliments and
would be much obliged for the lean ola castor
Hasn't she got one of her own!'
'Ycs ma'am. but it has got rusty, and she's
going to have company to dinner
very well, we can get along without ours for
one day: but you must tell Jane to return il
before the dinner hour Tomorrow
yes ma'am.'
Bridget disappeared but returned in the
space of minute.
Jane forgot to ask for the loan of table
| cloth and dozen knives and forks"
What can that woman mcan7' eoid Mrs Ad
ans, in astonishment at this new demand.
well. you may g:vo them to her, but tell
her stricly that they must be returned to-mor-
row..
1T seems to me- she continued. when Brid-
get had left the room. that Mrs. Brown must
bo strangely destitute of household convenien-
ccs or she would not be obliged to borrow by
who esale as she has done lately.
Bridget said Ms Adams tho next evening,
'bas Mrs Brown returned the articles she bor-
rowcd yesrerdavr
Faith not hit of il: but hark-there's Jane
knocking at the door this very minute perhaps
she's brinring them back.
'Mrs. Brown sends her condiments said
the yourg lady in question, on being admitted
'and would be greatly obliged by the loan of
pair of glass lamps. Tommy broke ours day
and she haint got none 10 burn
WELL said Mrs. Adams, not over willingly.
she can have onrs for to night. | suppose, of
course she will provide for her self tomorrow
But you have not brought in the castor and
other ar cles lcnt you yesterday
La, no.. said Jane cooley; Mrs. Brown tho't
as she expected company to dinner day aftor
to- morrow, she'd just keep 'em and that would
save the trouble of sending again
ivory eonsiderate upon my work. though
she did not say it. She could not help raving
however, with some slight emphasis, is there
anything else / could lend Mrs. Brown to day.
There now said Jane, with sudden recol-
lection, t c1me near forgetting one thing and
should il YOU hadn't mentioned it, Mrs.
Brown would like TO borrow your grdiron.'
'Gridironr said Mrs Adams, ih some aston
ishment.
Yes ma'ari; wo've mislaid ours where we
can't find it. co if you havn't no objections,
wc'd like to borrow yours, as we're going to
broil some steak to morrow morning"
Bridget said Mrs. Adams. in a tone of des-
pair. get tho gridiron for Jane, and if'-she
continued, turning to tho latter, you could
make il cnnveicnt to return it in the course of
n fortnight. should be glad
'Oh yes, said Jane, simply, not noticing the
sarcastic tone in which she spoke. / don't
think W, will want it above a week
Il don't SEQ the castor. remarked Mr.. Adams
tho next day to his wife at the dinner table
Bridges ought to remember to place il on tho
table.W
'Sosho would but Mrs. Brown, our next
door -peighbor has borrowed IT,
'Botowed tho castor7-rather a strange re-
qnest \hink. But why didn't Bridget cook
The stake Isent home?
'Because Mrs. Brown has borrowed the grid
Mrs Brown againl You ought not to lend
so freely By tho way where are all the um.
bre.Ias9s. IL taired this morning but l could
ffd none in its place.
Il don't know I'm sure. Perhaps Bridget
said she, when that young lady had answered
the summons Of the bell. do you know what
has become of all the umbrellas
'Shure, naam. Mrs. Brown has got two of
en-. She borrowed them a week ago.
And hasn't returned them yet.'
No. ma'am. and don't believe that's the
worst of it,. a.Woic rdf Vi 1gt
Just then the bell rang, and Bridget obeyed
the summons. rt 1a
Mrs. Brown sends her compliment said She
rs-appearing. and would like to borrow your
largest wash tub
Mr.. and Mrs. Adams looked at each other in