Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-09
CHE Sturp Teller.
THE NEIGHBOR-IN-LAW.
BY MRS. L. NJ. CHILD.

$50 you are going to live in the same build
ing with Hetty Turnpenny," said Mrs. Lane
to Mrs. Fairweather. "You will find nobody
to envy you. If her temper does not prove
too much even for your good nature, it will
surprise all who know her. We lived there
wear, and that is as long as anybody ever tried
it."
"Poor Hetty" replied Mrs. Fairweather,
"she has had much to harden her. Her moth
er died too early for her 10 remember; her
father was very severe with her, and the only
lover she ever had borrowed the savings OF
her years of toll and spent them in dissipation.
But Hetty, Notwithstanding ersharp features,
and sharper words, certainly has kind heart.
In the midst of her greatest poverty many
wore the stockings she knit, and the warm
waistcoats she made, for the poor drunken
lover whom she had too much sense to marry.
Then YOU know she feeds and clothes her
brothers orphan child
"Ifyou call it feeding and clothing" replied
Mrs. Lane. "The poor child looks cold and
pinched, and frightened all the time as if she
were chased by the east wind. | used to tell
Miss Turnpenny she ought to be ashamed OF
herself, to keep the poor little thing at work
all times, without one minute to play. II she
does but look at the cat, as it runs by the win
dow, Aunt Hetty gives her a rap orar- the
knuckles. I used to tell her she would make
the girl just such another sour old crab as
herself"
"That must have been very improving to
her disposition," replied Mrs. Fairweather,
with good.humored smile. But, in justice
to poor Aunt Hetty, you should remember
that she had Just such cherries childhood
herself. Flowers grow where there is sun
shine"
81 know you think, everybody ought to
live in the sunshine" replied Mrs. Lane
"and it must be confessed that you carry it
with you wherever you 60. If Miss Turnpen'
ny has heart, I daresay you will find 1t out
though never could, and I never heard of
any one else that could. All the families
within hearing of her tongue called her the
neighbor-in-law."
Certainly the prospect was not very encour'
aging, for the house Mrs. Fairweather pro-
posed to occupy was not only under the same
roof with Miss Turnpenny, but the buildings
had one common yard in front. The very
first day she took possession of her new habl'
tation she called on the neighbor-in-law'
Aunt Hetty had taken the precaution to ex.
tinguish the fire, lest the new neighbor should
want hot water, before her own wood and coal
arrived. Her first salutation was "lf you
want any cold water, there's pump across
the street; I don't like to have my house slop-
ped all over"
II am glad you are so tidy, neighbor Turn
penny" replied Mrs. Fairweather. "ltIs ex-
tremely pleasant to have neat neighbors. l
will try to keep everything bright as new
fve.cent piece, for see that pleases you.
came merely to say good morning, and to ask
you if you could spare little Peggy to run up
and down the stairs for me, while l am getting
my furniture in order I will pay her ten
cents an hour"
Aunt Hetty began to draw up her mouth
for refusal; but the promise of ten cents an
hour relaxed her features at once Little
Peggy sat knitting stocking very diligently,
with rod lying on the table beside her. She
looked up with timid wistfulness, as if the
prospect of any change was like release from
prison. When she heard consent given, a
bright color flushed her cheeks. She was ev-
identity of an impressible temperament, tor
good or evil. "Now mind and behave your
SELF" said Aunt Hetty; "and see that you
keep at work the whole time; if l hear one
word of complaint, you know what you'll get
when YOU come" The rose color subsidized
from Peggy's pale face, and she answered,
eyes ma a'am," very meekly.
In the neig ghbor's house all went quite 9TH
erwise. No switch lay on the table, and in
stead of "Mind how you do that; if you
don't I'll punish you," she heard the gentle
words, "There, dear, see how carefully you
can carry that upstairs. Why, what nice
handy little girl you arel'
Under these enlivening influences Peggy
worked like bee. Aunt Hetty was always
in the habit of saying, "Stop your noise, and
mind your work." But the new friend patted
her on the head and said, "What pleasant
voice the little girl has. 1t is like the birds
in the fields. BY and by you shall hear my
music box"
This opened wide the windows of the little
shut-up heart, so that the sunshine could
stream in, and the birds fly in and out carol
ing. The happy child tuned up like a lark
as she tripped lightly up and down stairs, on
various household errands. But though she
took heed to observe all the directions given
her, her head was all the time filled with con-
lectures of what sort of thing a music box
might be. She was little afraid the kind
lady would forget to show it to her. She
kept to her work, however, and asked no ques-
tions; she only looked very curiously at eve,
rythng that resembled box.
At last Mrs. Farweather said, IL think
YOUR little feet must be tired by this time
We will rest while, and eat some ginger
bread" The child took the offered cake, with
a humble little courtesy, and carefully held
out her apron to prevent any crumbs from
falling on the floor. But suddenly the apron
dropped, and the crumbs were all strewn