The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-11-13
AN INDIGNATION VISIT.

WIS. ! tllt'T9IuSS SnOl HIc.
well, she did say it. and little
more
Very quiet and insinuating was the
voice that saip this. 1t came from a
little woman, who looked almost too
insignificant for mischief-malter.
That my Hetty was rs ugly as
sin ?v
"lIcr very words
"What else did she say, Miss Per
kins p
"Why. she said that she could make
a better face out of dough p
Mrs. Pendergrass dropped the work
she held in her hand Her face grew
red as scarlet. This was the crown
ing indignity. "A better face ont of
dough - No wonder Mrs. Pender-
grass was "stirred np," to use her
own words, "from the very bottom. "
Very well, Ruth Ann Johnson -
Very well, madam Very kind and
very eighborly talk, upon my worl!'
II wouldn't be excited about il, -
said Miss Perkins. in her quiet way.
"She's talked as bad abont me; but
let it pass
"You amt Maria Pendergrass, "
was the meaning response. "A better
face out OF dough Give me pa
tience But never Mindful have il
out with her; seeif [ don't!'
"Ruthy Ann likes 10 talk" remark
ed Miss Perkins, making an effort to
soothe the feelings she had spurred
into excitement She's little glib
with her tongue, YOU know, and is
always trying TO say smart things. .--
! heard her use them very same
words about Phoebe Jenkins, not six
weeks gone by. PhUbc is dreadful
homely, You know, and has no more
expression in her face than rurnip.
| was excessively amused. and have
laughed over it Il dozen times since.
| think she was only talking for talk y
sake, when she referred to Hester"
Il don t care what she WAS talking
for replied Mrs. Pcndergrass. sharp
ly "But can tell her this much,
she's got 20 keep her glib tongue Off
me and mine. Hester is rs good
looking - any Of her brats. Wait
till | see her.
Miss Perkins tried to lay the storm
sho had raised but Mrs. Pcndergrass
was touched in Il very tender spot.
She had received n wound which 40
words of the misunderstanding gossip
could heal When her husband came
home Mt dinner time. she told him.
with much feeling, about what Mrs.
Johnson had said. Mr.. Pendergrass,
whose temperament was as different
from that OF his wife as December j.
from June, treated the matter very
II never considered our Hester
much Of n beauty" he said. But
she's q good Girl, which is best OF all.
As to her being ugly as sin. that is n
mere extravaganza Of expression
somutimes indulged in by thonghtlrSe
people, such rs Mrs. johnson. f..
amounts to nothing, and l would let
it pass Is the idle wind"
"Indeed! and I'll not let it pass
then. Nobody has right to talk 80
about my Hester | shall tell Ruthy
Ann Johnson piece of my mind
You'd bctternot. Maria. No good
viii come Of it. Youll only make an
enemy of her, said Mr.. Pendergrass.
Il don't care The black eyes Of
Mrs. Pendergrass burned like Goals of
fire. I'd rather have such woman
for my enemy than my friend.
"Never make an enemy even Of n
dog, Maria. II isn't good policy.
Enemies are always dangerous"
But there was no use in talking TO
Marta Pcndcrgrass. Passion had u
surpcd the throne OF reason.
About four o'clock in tho afternoon
Mrs. Pendergrass started for the house
of the offending neighbor, a woman
of equal spirit with herself Not the
slighteet forewarning had Mrs. John
son of the intended visit. She was
sitting with her basket in II chair by
her side, engaged in the important
work of darning stockings, when
Mrs Pendergrass came in, with bus
Ting, impressive air, and face Of
no very mild aspect.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Pendergrass,
said Mrs. johnson, pleasantly, rising
as she spoke; i am glad TO see you
NO YOU aintn was the unexpected
answer to this cheerful salutation.
What's the matter? What do you
mean p said Mrs. Johnson, stepping
back pace or two, while her face
became as scarlet,
just what l say was replied. You
amt glad to see me, you mean hypo-
criten
Mrs. Pendergrass, at the very out
set went quite beyond herself, She
had thought over all the words she
would say, and they were to be calm
ly spoken, but with cutting edge
upon them. But on meeting the
neighbor who had so deeply offended,
memory and selfpossession fed, and
instead of asking, as she intended
dong, whether Mrs. johnson had
spoken thus aud so about her daugh-
ter Hester, she weakly and foolishly
replied with insult TO a kind welcome
Let me be what l am, no lady wo' d
use such language in the house Of O
neighbour said Mrs. johnson.
'You are no lady! Yon--you--
hypocriteP
Mrs. Pendergrass was blinded with
paasion