The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-04-06
theories formed from the first hours of

tites no doubt stimulated by the flavor G
| the fragrant tea, which the elder of tn
young ladies most gracefully dispensed.
{ "Come," said I, acting under the in
ebriating influence of the lively society
and without the most refined discretion
"now, as you have been resident here, d
tell me a little about my neighbors, VIII
they all are, and whom | shall best like.
l have since learned three excellen
rules, which all who enter new neigh
borhood would do we'll to learn and prac
tice, but which then, alas! [ had not my
self discovered Remember that ey
cry character has its strong and its veal
points, its good and its bad qualities, anc
that it is'your wisdom to try and discover
the former, and be as blind as you can tc
the latter. I'd. Never ask any one tc
tell you anything about your neighbors
as you will be sure to hear more of the
bad than of the good. Sd. If you wish
to love and be loved, to live in peace and
be useful, never tell to one neighbor any,
thing you may have observed or been told
that is Objectionable in another. "The
least said is soonest mended." I would
that had held by these rules, but, as l
have said, such was not the case.
"Well," replied Mrs. Frazer, "it is al
ways good thing to know little Of the
people one is with, and to be sure who
one may trust; SO [ will give you a few
hints that may come into use hereafter" D."
"First, then" said I, "tell little about
two sweet-looking old ladies' who called
on me yesterday, [ think the address
on their card was "The Grove"
80 yes, Mrs. Grey and Miss Park
They are very nice people indeed-most
benevolent and amiable ladies'" replied
Mrs. Frazer.
"And agreeable also, 1 thought" said
80 Mrs. Douglas, did you really, said
Agnes. owe think them such tiresome
people, and so will you, when you know
more Of them; they do SO run on, and tell
you so many old stories"
"Well, perhaps they were a little
prosy," [ replied; "but still, 1 must own,
l thought them very wining and attrac-
tive, and such thorough gentlewouan."
eyes, and that they certainly are" an
swered Mrs. Frazer. Chow that came
about, can scarcely tell, for they are not
of very exalted descent; their father made
all his money by cabnet-making, or some
such trade. | fancy you will not much
like them; for, as Agnes says, they are
sad twaddlers, and l have heard that,
with all their large fortune, they are rath
er stingy."
"Well," said I, "there is a nice looking
old man who walks about with lame
LADY, suppose his wife. Who are they?
I have taken quite fancy to them; they
look so very cheerful and happy"
A merry glance from Grace was fol-
lowed by general laugh, and Mrs Fra
ger replied: ooh, they are General and
Mrs. Ticher; we call her Mrs. Twitcher;
not that she can help being lame, poor
thing, but she looks as if her mouth and
leg were tied together; for every time she
takes step, she wrigglos her lips and
twitches her face in the funniest way"
ooh, they are odd people, | assure you,
Mrs. Douglas" said Agnes. "You may
be sure there is plenty of rosemary in
their garden"
Rosemary. said Lizzie-"what has that
to do with their oddness 7"
"Why, did you never hear" replied
Agnes laughing, chat where the lady
rules, the rosemary always fourishes?-
You may be sure before you have been
FIVE minutes with them, that Mrs. Twitch
er rules at "The Elms," as they call their
cottage; he does so pet and befool her,
and give up everything to her in such an
absured way"
"Then there are Mrs. and Misses Hart
land; no doubt you have fallen in love
with them too" said Mrs. Frazer
eyes, indeed" answered.; 81 am sure
I shall like them Those gentle pretty
looking girls, Lizzie, we spoke to by the
gate this morning"
go, yes, aunt" said Lizzie, "most at
tractive looking girls"
"They seem SO united and afectionate," "
| rejoined.
"They seem SO, certainly" said Mrs.
Frazer; "but it is not all gold that gilt
ters. IF all tales are true, they are not
much more loving than poor Mrs. Ques-
mel and her son, who, people fancy, be-
cause they are always together, and
neither Of them can ever go anywhere
without the other, are perfect angels; but
those who are behind the scenes tell a
different tale. But really, the Hartlands
are excellent people on the whole, though
one does hear few things about them
that are rather odd But it is wonder
to me how they bear with that invalid
girl; if she were my daughter | would
soon make her rouse herself little"
80 yes" said Grace, who, [ soon saw,
was an excellent little mimic. "There
she lies on couch in her bedroom
"Gertrude, love, will you be so kind as
to give me that book? Thank you dear
est" and then: "Julia, darling, will you
give me little water!" and so on, first
to one, and then to the other, instead of