The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-03-21


Tab ~
"What do you mean by calling her
poor Do you mean to fling it up to
me that my cat don't have enough to
eat z"
al did not think of such thing" re-
piled Mrs. Fairweather. "I said poor
Tab because Pink plaques her so that
she has no peace of her life. l agree
with you, neighbor Turnpenny it is
not right to keep dog that disturbs the
neighborhood. 1 am attached to poor
Pink because he belongs to my son, who
has gone to sea. l was in hopes he
would soon leave off quarreling with
the cat but if he won't be neighborly,
1 will send him out into the country to
board. Sally, will you bring me one of
the pies we baked this morning 1
should like to have Miss Turnpenny
taste of them"
The grabbed neighbor was helped
abunaantly, and while she was eating
the pie, the friendly matron edged in
many kind word concerning little Peg
gy, whom she praised as a remarkable
capable, industrious child.
"I am glad you find her So" said
Aunt Hetty 81 should get precious
little work out of her if did not keep
the switch in sight"
"I manage children pretty much as
the man did the donkey" replied Mrs.
Fairweather. "Not an inch would the
poor beast stir, for all his masters beat
ing and humping. But neighbor tied
some fresh turnips to stick, and fasten-
ed them so that they swung before the
donkey's nose, and he set off on brisk
trot in hopes of overtaking them"
Aunt Hetty, without observing how
very closely the comparison applied to
her own management of Peggy, said,
" That will do very well for folks that
have plenty of turnips to spare"
"For the matter of that" answered
Mrs. Fairweather, whips cost something,
as well as turnips and since one makes
the donkey stand still, and the other
makes him trot, it is very easy to decide
which is the most economical. But
neighbor Turnpenny, since you like my
pies so well, pray take one home with
you. am afraid they will mold before
we can eat them up
Aunt Hetty had come for quarrel
and she was astonished to find herself
going out with pie. "Well, Mrs.
Fairweather," said she, "you are neigh
ber. L thank you theussnd times"
When she reached her own door, she hes
itated for an instant, then turned back,
pie in hand, to say, "Neighbor Fair
weather, you needn't trouble yourself
about sending Pink away. It's natural
you should like the little creature, see
ing he belongs to your son. I'll try to
keep Tab indoors, and perhaps after
awhile they will agree better"
81 hope they WILL" replied the friend
ly matron. "We will try them while
longer, and if they persist in quarreling
l will send the dog into the country"
Pink, who was sleeping in chair,
stretched himself and gaped. "Ah, you
foolish little beast" said she, "what is
the use of plaguing poor Tab :"
"Well, l do say" observed Sally, smil-
ing, you are master woman for stop
ping quarrel"
81 learned a good lesson when 1 was
a little girl" rejoined Mrs. Fairweather.
"One frosty morning was looking out
of the window into my fathers barn
yard, where stood many cows, oxen and
horses, waiting to drink. 1t was one of
those cold swapping mornings when a
slight thing irritates both man and
beast. The cattle all stood very still
and meek till one of the cows attempt
ed to turn around. In making the at
tempt, she happened to hit the next
neighbor whereupon the neighbor
kicked and hit another. In five min
utes the whole herd were kicking and
hooking each other, with all fury My
mother laughed and said, "See what
comes of kicking when you're hit" Just
SO I've seen one cross word set a whole
family by the ears some frosty morning
Afterward if my brothers or myself were
a little irritable, she would say, "Take
care, children. Remember how the
fight in the barn-yard began. Never
give kick for hit and you will save
yourself and others deal of trouble.
That same afternoon the sunshiny
dame stepped into Aunt Hettys rooms
where she found Peggy sewing as usual
with the eternal switch ON the table be-
side her. "I am obliged to go to Har-
lem on business" said she. 81 feel rather
lonely without company and / alway:
like to have child with me. If you
will obligc me by letting Peggy go, ]
will pay her fare in the omnibus"
"She has her spelling lesson to gel
before night" replied Aunt Hetty. 81
don't approve of young folks going 6
pleasuring, and neglecting their educa.
ton"
Neither do l." rejoined her neighbor
"but think there is great deal O.
education that is not found in books
The fresh air will make Peggy grow
stout and active. Iprophesy she will dc
great credit to your bringing up"
The sugared words, and the remem
brance of the sugared pie touched tn,
soft place in Miss Turnpenny's heart
and she told the astonished Peggy tina
she might go and put on her best gowI
and bonnet. The poor child began t.
think that the new neighbor was Ger
tainly one of the good fairies she haC
read about in the picture books. Th'
excursion was enjoyed only as a chilC
can enjoy the country. The world seem
such pleasant place, when the fetter
are off, and nature folds the young hear
lovingly to her bosom. A flock of rea
birds and two living butterflies put tn,
little orphan in perfect ecstacy. Sh
pointed to the field covered with dande
lions, and said, "See how pretty l
looks as if the lstars had come down t,
lie on the grass" All, our little stinteC
Peggy has poetry in her, though Aun
Hetty never found it out. Every human
soul has the germ ofsome flowers within
and they would open if they could onl.