Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-04-03

a Whlppiug, anu sent her 10 bed without her
supper"
Poor little Peggy went to sleep that
night with a lighter heart than she had ever
felt since she had been an orphan. Her first
thought in the morning was whether the new
neighbor would want her service during the
day. Her desire that il should be so soon
became obvious to Aunt Hetty, and excited
underlined Jealousy and dislike Of a person
who 80 easily made herself beloved With.
out exactly acknowledging what we're her
motives, she ordered Peggy to gather all the
sweepings Of the kitchen and court into a
small pile, and leave it on the frontier of her
neighbor's premises. Peggy ventured to ask
If the wind wouldn't blow it about, and she
received a box on the ear for her imper-
tuencc.
IL chanced that Mrs. Fairweather. quite
uuintentionally heard the words and the
blow. She gave Aunt Hctty's anger time
enough to cool then, stepping into the court
after arranging divers little matters, she
called aloud to her domestic, Sally, how
came you to leave this pile of dirt here2
Didn't | tell you Miss Turnpeuny was very
neat2 Pray make haste aud sweep it up
wouldn't have her see it on any account. I
told her | would try to keep everything nice
about the premises. She is SO particular
herself, and it is a comfort to have tidy
neighbor."
The girl who had been previously instruc-
ted smiled as she came out with brush and
dustpan, and swept quietly away the pile that
was intended as declaration Of frontier war
But another source OF annoyance presented
itself which could not be quite so easily dis
posed Of Aunt Eetty had a cat, a lean,
scraggy animal, that looked as if she were
often kicked and seldom fed Mrs. Fair
weather also had fat frisky little dog, ,.al-
ways ready for a caper. He took distaste
10 poverty stricken Tab the first time be saw
her, and no coaxing could induce him to alter
his opinion. His name was Pink, but he was
anything but a pink of behavior in his neigh
1orly relations. Poor Tab could never set
foot out of the door without being saluted
With growl, and sharp bark II frightened
her out Of her senses, and made n> run in
the house with her fur all on end If she
even ventured to doze little on her own
doorstep, the enemy was on the watch, and
the moment her eyes closed he would wake
her with bark aud u box on the ear and on
he would run.
Aunt Hletty vowed she would scald him.
II was a burning shame, she said, for folks to
keep dogs to worry their neighbors cats.
Mrs. Fairweather invited Tabby to dine, and
made much of her, and patiently endeayored
to teach her dog to eat from the same plate
But Pink steadily resolved that he would be
scalded first; that he would. He could not
have been more firm in his opposition if he
and Tab had belonged to different sects in
/ Christianity. While his mistress was patting
Fab on the head, and reasoning the point with
him, he would at times manifest degree Of
indifference, amounting to federation; but the
moment he was left to his own free will he
would give the invited guest hearty cuff
with his paw aud send her home splitting like
a small steam engine Aunt Hetty consid-
cred it her own peculiar privilege to cuff the
poor animal, and it was too much for her pa
tence to see Pink undertake to assist in max.
ing Tab unhappy Ga one OF these occasions
she rushed into her neghbor's apartments,
aud faced Mrs. Fairweather, with one hand
resting on her hip and the ioreduger Of the
other making very wrathiul gesticulations.
" | tell you what, madam, won't put up
with such treatment much longer" said she /;
am poison that dog; you see if don't, and
| shan't wait long either can tell you
What you keep such an impudent little beast
TOR don't know without you do it on pur-
pose to plague your neighbors."
" am really sorry that he behaves so,
replied Mrs. Fairweather, mildly. Poor
Fab !"
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 p
did not think Of such thing" replied
Mrs. Fairweather. " | called her poor Tab
because Pink plaques her SO that she has no
peace Of her life. | agree with you, neighbor
furnpenny it is not right to keep dog that
disturbs the neighborhoOd. am attached to
poor Pink because he belongs to my son, who
has gone to sea- | was in hopes that he
would soon leave off quarrellng with the cat !;
but if he won't be nelghborly / will send him
out in the country to board. Sally, you will
bring me one Of the pies we baked this morn.
ing. should like to have Mrs. Turnpenny
taste of them
The grabbed neighbor was helped abund-
antly, and while she was eating the pie, the
friendly matron edged in many kind word
concerning little Peggy, whom she praised as
a remarkable capable, industrious child.
am glad you 6ud her so" said Aunt
lIetty should get precious little work out
Of her if did not keep the switch in sight"
| manage children pretty much as the
man did the donkey replied Mrs. Fair
weather " Not an inch would the poor beast
stir, for all his masters beating and thump-
ing But neghbor tied some fresh turnips
to a stick, and fastened them so that they
swung before the donkeys nose, and he set
of at 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 got plenty of
turnips to spare"
For the matter Of that" answered Mrs.
Fairweather, whips cost something as we'll
as turnips aud since one makes the donkey
stand still, and the other makes him trot, it
is very easy to decide which is the most eco
uomlcal 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 neighbor. | thank you
thousand times" When rle reached her own
door, she hesitated for M 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, seeing he belongs to
your son. I'll try to keep Tab indoors. and
perhaps after while they will agree better"
4" hope they will,' replied the friendly
matron; "we will try them while longer,
and if they persist iD quarrelliug, will send
the dog into the country." Pink, who was
sleeping in chair, stretched himself and
gaped His kind mistress patted him on the
mead, "Ah, you foolish little BEAST" said
she, :" what is the use OF plaguing poor Tabf"
"Well, [ do saw observed Sally, smiling,