The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-05-13
For the Minnesotian
Our Neighbors.

1t is only in the desert of Zahara where one
can exist without neighbors. In the city, the
of one house can turn the cold shout
der to the other with perfect immunity, but in
the country one descends more unto nature and
calls man his brother, even if he wear "hodden
grey and a. that" 1t is astonishing, too, how
much influence neighbor can exert over your
every day happiness. If he or she possess a
waspsh disposition, you can never 60 near the
nest without mourning sting; if, on the con-
trary, a kind and obliging person dwell on the
right of your domicilc, the sun will appear al
ways to shine on that side.
Our neighbor of the east corner deserves
better fate than in all probability awaits her,
t. c., to become link in the chain of the
ancient ssterhood. Fair and rosy, with curls
(real curls) floating around her face, and
smile like spring sunshine, she cndures and per-
forms more than her share of the burden and
cares of this miscellaneous sphere. Her mother
has been in decline since Mattie's tenth year !;
and from that tender age she has taken charge
of a younger brother and sister; not only
Overlooked" but attended in person to all the
domestic affairs, beside watching over and car
ing for the mother who for many years has
been able to sit up but few hours during the
day. They are in the mediocre class-not poor
NOT rich, but comfortable TO ye,"-farm-
ers on small scale. Matte is dairy-maid,
is the light of her fathers eyes, the joy of the
little ones. and the staff of the invalid parent
Yet with all, the house is neat and orderly, the
white muslin curtains unimpeachable, the curls
never awry and the face always smiling and
cheerful. She, too, can give day in the week
to assist in making clothing for the girls going
into service from the Points Mission Society !;
read all that is new and profitable; takes les
sons upon the piano, and not the least qualifi-
cation had been almost forgotten The invalid
is extremely fond of plants, and like all sick
persons whose minds are enfeebled by disease
insists upon having the most unreasonable re-
quests gratifed, and Matte has for many win
tiers kept from freezing in this cold climate,
some twenty or thirty plants. Who can com
pete with her: Why have they not Crystal
Palace to make known and reward virtue as
we'll as industry? l am sure were such the
case, that tour sunshine" my neishbor Matte
would win all the prizes.
On the north side, where the snow never melts
around the front door un;i June, and the sun
light peeps around the corners, but never darcs
to come farther, is neighbor Hornet. Oh, what
a little. busy, futtering. chattering insect she
is I! The woodsawyer slams to her gate in a
huff for one cent is always deducted from his
pay and made up in lecture from ncghbor
Hornet.
poor, ragg d child has just knocked at the
shining lion head knockers Buz-z-z-z," comes
the Hornet. "What do you want? Bread
clothes Mothers sick. Bah! You are bet
ter off than am. do believe if | were to go
home with you, I'd find a stocking-full of gold
in the hearth. No. Ill give you nothing, you
idle creature! Go home, and tell your mother
to work." Cant work" ''Why work
(there never was woman that worked harder,
only Hornet don't think so,)-do l beg: Am
hungry: Go, and if you come here again,
FIJI
And Hornet nounced into the house Yct
little mother Buz knows everything her neigh
bors do, and more, too. She does wonder how
Deacon Simpkins can afford Mary another new
dress. "Ah, one can see who rules there -
"And the silver candlcsticks at JONES' All,
~ with mysterious shake of the head. As
write, two unlucky boys are " cutting across
her yard. Open flies the door; out comes the
Hornet" Buz, buz, buzz - Away run the
boys, laughing heartily. Hornet follows after
with billet of wood. The wood goes over the
shout in glec. Hornet rises, not in the least in
timidatcd and comes back buZzing to herself
Who will invent patent for holding wo-
mans tongue? ask this in the name of hui
manity, and OH behalf of Mr.. Hornet. who, in
spite of his singing cOgnomcn, is nothing but a
poor, harmless fly.
Nearest to us is a nonogenarian, surrounded
by his children S chldrcn's children. They are
poor, and every pleasant bright day, when the
birds sing " the spring time of year is coming"
the old veteran, for he is a revolutionary sol
dier0 with his frosty head, crecps out, support
GU ny uio la' olil staii, " noe. TO}lOWlnG MIN
is ycar-old great-grandchild, little bundle
of red flannel and mischief, with it's mothers
hood on. upside down, Gaping the bundle.
The infant creeps to the stile, where is pcrchcd
a little germ Of aristocracy, in felt hat and
blue merino, with hoard of broken china
here they count their treasure, as they shall in
the future their gold, with less real enjoyment.
The old man delights in being able to say he
is about" and makes fcint of getting wood
ready for his son to saw. Stcadying himsclfby
his staff, he tottcrs two three steps, then cat
tlously balancing, he reaches log of wood, and
by slight of hoe manGuvrcs, he at length lands
it in the desired place. Thus he strives and
wrestles with age and the last enemy. How
singular is this "clinging to life this going
down hill with closed eycs--this vain attempt
to be still young! In spite of sorrow, poverty,
toll and trouble--having outlived all his con-
cries Let me live lOnrcrn