The Portland daily press., 1872-02-10

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 eatT'
II did not think of such thing" replied
Mrs Fairweather. 81 called her poor Tab,
because Pink plaques her so that she has no
peace of her life. / agree with you, neighbor
Turnpenny; it is not right to keep dog that
disturbs the neighborhood. l 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 cat; but if he
won't be neighborly, will send him out into
me one of the pies we baked this morning? [
should like to have Miss Turnpenny taste of
them"
The grabbed neighbor was helped album
dainty, and while she was eating the pie, the
friendly matron edged in MANY kind word
concerning little Peggy, whom She praised as
remarkably capable, industrious child.
II am glad you find her So" said Aunt
Hetty;"l should get precious little work out
OF her If did not keep the switch in sight"
i manage children pretty much as the
weather 'Not an inch would the poor beast
stir, for all his masters beating and thump-
ing. But neighbor tied some fresh turnips
to stick, and fastened 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 close
the comparison applied to her own manage
ment 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 eco
nomicsl. 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 a neighbor. 1 thank you
thousand times" When she reached her
own door, she hesitated for an instant, then
turned back, pie in hand, to say, ''Neighbor
Fairweather, you needn't trouble Yourself
about sending Pink away. It's natural YOU
should like the little creature, seeing he be-
longs to your son. I'll try to keep Tab in
doors, and perhaps after awhile they will
agree better.''
81 hope they will, replied the friendly ma
iron; eve will try them while longer. and
if they persist in quarreling, / will send the
dog into the country" Pink, who was Sleep
ing in chair, stretched himself and gaped
"Ah, you foolish little beast,' said she,
what is the use of plaguing poor Tab?''
"Well, do say" observed Sally, smiling,
you are master awoman for stopping quar-
rel' 1>'''-
81 learned good lesson when 1 was a lit
tie girl rejoined Mrs. Fairweather. s'One
frosty morning was looking out of the win
dow into my fathers barn-yard, where stood
many cows, oxen and horses, waiting to
drink. 1t was one of those cold, swapping
mornings, when slight thing irritates both
man and beast. The cattle all stood verv
still and meek, till one of the COWS attempted
to turn round. In making the attempt, she
happened to hit her next neighbor; whereup-
on the neighbor kicked, and hit another. In
| five minutes the whole herd were kicking and
hooking each other, with all fury. NV moth
er laugheda and said, ''See what comes of kick
ing when you're hit" just so I've seen one
cross word set whole family by the ears,
some frosty morning. Afterward, if my BROTH
ers or myself were little irritable she
whould say, ''Take care, children. Remem-
Der how the fight in the barnyard 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 Hetty's rooms, where she
found Peggy sewing as usual, with the etern-
al switch on the table beside her. 81 am
obliged to go to Harlem on business" said
she. Il feel rather lonely without company.
and always like to have a child with me. If
you will oblige me by letting Peggy 60, 1
will pay her fare in the omnibus"
She has her spelling lesson to get before
prove of young folks going pleasuring, and
neglecting their education
Neither do - rejoined her neighbor;
but think there is great deal of education
that is not fonnd in books. The fresh air
will make Peggy grow stout and active. |
prophesy she will do great credit to YOUR
bringing up"
The sugared words, and the remembrance
OF the sugared pie, touched the soft place in
Miss Turnpenny's heart, and she told the as
tonlshed Peggy that she might go and put on
her best gown and bonnet. The poor child
began to think that this new neighbor was
certainly one of the good fairies she had read
about in the picture books. The excursion
was enjoyed only as child can enjoy the
country. The world seems such a pleasant
place, when the letters are off, and nature
folds the young heart lovingly to her BOSOM
A flock of real birds and two living butterflies
put the little orphan in perfect ecstacv.
She pointed to u e fields covered with dande-
lions, and said, "See how pretty! 1t looks as
II the stars had come down to lie on the grass
All, our little stinted Peggy has poetry in her
though Aunt Hetty never found it out. Ev-
cry human soul has the germ of some flowers
within, and they would open if they could on
ly find sunshine and free air to expand there.
Mrs. Falrweather was practical philoso-
pher in her own small way. She observed
that Miss Turnpenny really liked pleasant
tune; and when winter came she tried to
persuade her that singing would be excellent
TOR Peggys lungs, and perhaps keep her from
going into the consumption,
My nephew, James Fairweather, keeps a
singing school, said she, 'and he says he will
teach her gratis. You need not feel under
great obligation; for her voice will lead the
whole school, and her ear is so quick it will
be no trouble at all to teach her. Perhaps
you would go with us sometimes, neighbor
Tunpenny2 1t is very pleasant to hear the
children's voices"
The cordage of Aunt Hetty's mouth relax
ed into smile. She accepted the invitation,
and was so much pleased that she went every
Sunday evening The simple tunes, and the
sweet young voices fell like the dew on her
dried-up heart, and greatly aided the genial
influence of her neighbours example. The
rod silently disappeared from the table. If
Peggy was disposed to be idle, it was only
necessary to say, s'When YOU have finished
your work, you may go and ask whether Mrs.
Fairweather wants any errands done."-
Bless me, how the fingers flew! Aunt Hetty
had learned to use turnips instead of the cud-
gel.
When spring came Mrs. Fairweather busted
herself with planting roses and vines. Miss
Turnpenny readily consented that Peggy
should help her, and even refused to take any
pay from such good neighbor. But she
maintained her own opinion that it was
mere waste OF time to cultivate flowers. The
cheerful philosopher never disputed the point:
but she would sometimes say, 81 have no
room to plant this rose-bush. Neghbor
Turnpenny, would you be willing to let me
set it on your side of the yard? 1t will take
very little room, and will need no care" At
another time she would say, ''Well, really,
my ground is too full. Here is a root of lady's
delight How bright and pert it looks. 1t
seems pity to throw it away. If YOU are
willing, will let Peggy plant it in what she
calls her garden. 1t will grow of ITSELF with
out any care, and scatter seeds that will come
up and blossom in all the chinks of the bricks.
l love it. It is such a bright, good-natured
little thing" Thus, by degrees, the grabbed
maiden found herself surrounded with flow
ers; and she even declared, of her own accord,
that they did look pretty.
One day, when Mrs. Lane called upon Mrs.
Fairweather, she found the old weed-grown
yard bright and blooming. Tab, quite fat
and sleek, was asleep in the sunshine, with
her paw upon Pink's neck, and little Peggy
was singing at her work as blithe as bird.
'How cheerful you look here" said Mrs
Lane. "And so you have really taken the
house for another year. Pray, how do you
manage to get on with the neighbor-in-law ?'
Il find her very kind, obliging neighbor,"
replied Mrs. Fairweather.
wen that is a mracler' exclaimed Mrs,