Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-11-27
Mrs. i,acon's Neighbors.

Mrs. DacOnS NplehDOlN. n
1t was a block Of yellow, brown houses in
South Boston, looking as much like a sheet OF
gingerbread as anything
An express wagon had Just backed up to
No. 81 in that block, and the driver unloosen-
ing ropes here and there proceeded to uupack
the luggage.
What have we here ?" exclaimed Mrs
Bacon, the downstairs tenant A menago-
rie, do believe. Come here, John
There was, indeed, on the very top Of the
load, gray horse that in the twilight looked
very real till enc noticed the rockers on which
il stood. But there was kennel with live
terriers head at the window, a bird-cage with .
its huttering tenant, a crib and high chair
besides, suggesting that the folks in the other
part might, in the language of Mrs. Bacon,
"make music"
Now the downstairs tenants, Mr., and Mrs.
Bacon, were precise orderly people living like
many other city people, in desert-lsand fash
ion, and only hoping that everybody else
would mind their own business 1t had been
| for weeks their great comfort that "the other
part was unoccupied, and now this load Of
/ household goods trimming over with pets and
their belongings was an unwelcome sight.
There were no young Bacous, thank heaven
Plants did not flourish in their shaded win
dows nor canary birds splash water from their
tiny baths upon the clear glass. No dog
barked a noisy welcome when his master re-
turned at night. No cat purrcd in her mis-
tress' lap. The housekeeping Of the Bacons
was fight against dirt, dust, sunshine, and
noise
Somehow, pets bring all these
"Wen, John" said Mrs Bacon as she
turned from the window and pulled the shade
over the sacred glass, There's an end to
peace and quiet We must just keep the
entry doors locked, and don't you be whist
ling or singing round to attract child.
Give them an inch and they'll take an ell
If folks must have rocking. horses and what
goes with them-they ought to move into the
country where they won't be Fostering other
people"
But, to the surprise Of the Bacous, they
were not pestered," only by the patter of
little feet overhead, or n woman's voice sing
ing cradle songs or joining in her child's
laughter. Crying there was, too, sometimes,
but it was so soon hushed in mothorly ca
resses, that it seemed a sort of rainbow griev-
ance only.
At night, when the father returned, there
was, indeed, quite joyful noise up stairs, at
which times Johns face was a little wistiul.
But the new family did not iutrude for
ever so small favor.
Mrs. Bacon took good care to keep out Of
sight whenever the new tenants we're passing
through the entry-way. One small pair Of
boots had considerable travelling to do up and
down the stairs for a stroll on the sidewalk
or to old Dorchester Heights Just beyond,
for spoils of spring flowers. One day Little
Boots came back from this iavorite resort,
and instead Of climbing up stairs as usual,
strayed unhesitatingy toward Mrs. Bacon's
kitchen door.
"Smells the gingerbread :" solioquized
, Mrs Bacon grimly. She glanced toward it
to be sure. Yes, it was locked, though the
Z key had been transferred to another door
But shining through the keyhole was a very
bright and sweet-looking star of an eye. Only
2 moment it twinkled, and then there wal
thrust in very gently the stem Of dandelion
7 and the small boots scampered away up tn,
stairs.
Little Mischief" exclaimed Mrs Bacon
: and she would have pushed the intrudng stem
= ;. outside, but her hands were in the dough
!, If he wanted piece Of gingerbread VIII.
= didn't he say So Mebbe he was afraid o
me. Cats run like all possessed when the,
see me. | can't have my keyholes choked VI
j, with dandelion stems--thats so Soon's
~ get my hands out of this, it will walk int
= the stove-that dandeon will"
va Rnt tbo danlal;op mae so f,ouh aud ,,orfao
y and brought right back the old childhood day
:, to Mrs Bacon so clearly that she changes
a her mind. There was an old horse-radis
I, ~ bottle on the pautry.shef, which, filled wit
y water received the dandelion. There, restin
Ia in the kitchen window, it smiled all day.
:. There was quite a commoton up stairs tina
u night, and John and his wife drowisly hear
!" ing it, thanked their stars that they were no
routed by childrens ails,
The next day, Mrs. Bacons watchful ca
:, caught the sound of Little Boots" on III
~ stairs, and again the blue eye twinkled at tn
- keyhole. This time, the door opened in re
> Spouse.
!, well child, what is it2 Want som
" gingerbread ?"
i "Oh, no, thank you, dear" said the littl
|
Il the throat was all wrapped in flannel
" wanted to know if you liked my flower"
4 "Sce !" Mrs. Bacon pointed to the glorife'
: borse.radsh bottle.
70 "Ally Ally, child! !" called the mothe
4 anxiously. Come back, darling, you'll &c
!. cold"
,, an take him up responded Mrs Bacon
!, aud taking with unwonted tenderness the tire
!, years old darling she landed him safe u
y stairs.
~ ~ "lts the group" explained the mother
!! Z" lie got cold yesterday out for dandelions-
y his iayorite flower ma'am-ealls 'em pre-
served sunshine-saw me put up fruit las
i iall-theres where he GOT the idea, though a
~ to telling where he gets all his ideas-tha
'' beats me The doctor says he's that kind o
y a child Group is likely to 90 hard with
~ scares me to death to hear that cough"
"Goose oil is good, remarked Mrs Bacon
= "Did you ever try it1' asked the ne'
!" neighbor, innocently
- "Me No use for it. Got bottle though
" Have it, If you like"
Alas the doctors prophecy was true Tn
a. a. fatal disease developed that very night.
=, Little boots are still and the starry eye
~ shine far of now
T. As he lay in his beautiful, last sleep
~ flower amid the white flowers, woman
~ brown hand slipped few dandelions tender
~ ly, oh so tcnderly, into the dainty, col
fingers.
That is right, Mrs. Bacon, dear" sal
the poor mother. So Preserved sunshine
H. That is what he is for US"
IT, The new tenants have moved into the cour
n try. and No. 2l upper tenement is again