The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-06-19
From the chronological Journal
A NEIGHBOR OF MINE;
OR,
My Experience of Borrowers.
BY PoPINACK.

Miss sends her compliments, and says,
please ma Fam lend her pitcher of milk,
peck of hominy, glass of cranberry
jelly and paper of number nine needles.
She wants you to come over after break
fast and show her how to cut Ristori
jacket for Miss Medora; and be sure to
bring your patterns and your big scissors,
for her patterns is lost, and her scissors
is loose in the rivet;" saying which, An
gelica, the mulatto waiting-maid of my
neighbor next door, dropped one of her
most graceful courtesies, and stood hold
ing up her founces.
/ was sitting at the breakfast-table sip
ping my chocolate, an occupation in
which especially disliked to be disturb
ed. My husband, through with his break
fast, leaning back in his armchair, was
glancing over the columns of the last
newspaper, while mother still fingered
over her tea-cup and sailor cracker. The
old lady looked up and smiled peculiar
smile on hearing Angelica's message, but
/ compressed my lips, slightly provoked ;
for this was not the first time by many a
score that l had been victinized by the
negotiation of such loans. However, the
loan was effected
had been married some four months,
and after spending the first in travelling,
we had gone to housekeeping in little
rented cottage, the prettiest, thought,
in the village. 1t was spreading, low
rooted dwelling, painted delicate cream
color, with green blinds, was recessed
from the street in yard shaded with
Water-oak and mimora trees; luxuriant
woodbine the trysting- place of pair of
humming birds, and festooning the porch
Installed mistress of this pretty home by
fond husband, my happiness was rem
dered more complete by the company of
my beloved mother, whom my husband
had insisted should live with us, l being
her only child.
For three weeks was entirely content
busy as bird building its nest or bee
gathering materials for wax and honey
making. How delightful were the lessons
received in housekeeping from my
motherl how instructive her lectures on
the principles regulating its complicated
machinery An accomplished artistic in
home economy herself, she was fully COM
petent to post me in the details; and
with her example and instructions / soon
found my domestic machine in good run
ming order, regulated by due adjust
ment of the mainsprings, system and
punctuality.
One afternoon was in the front yard,
training white tea-rose on a heart
shaped frame my husband had made for
me, when my attention was attracted by
the sound of wheels, and looking up /
saw several wagons loaded with furni-
ture approaching, and observed that they
stopped at the gate of the tall house that
lowered next door. Later in the even
ing carriage arrived, from which de-
scended two ladies and some children
was at once excited and rather pleased at
the idea of having such near neighbors,
and when edgar came in to tea from the
store, eagerly inquired the name of the
strangers. They were "the Dorseys from
Greene County" he told me, people of
good standing, had daughter about my
age, said to be beauty, all of which in
terested me so that dreamed about them
that night.
out in my vegetable garden with Lucy,
my maid-ofall-work, helping her sow
some seeds. She, with a hoe, and l fol-
lowing with a small rake, had got the
bed in nice order and had just begun
carefully putting in my beet seed, when
hearing the garden gate unlatch, l looked
up and saw mulatto girl approaching,
whose coarse, black curly hair was tucked
up with a broken comb, while dirty,
torn, and draggled pink silk dress was
pinned up over faded balmoral With
a very bold, mincing air, she approached
where / was at work in my dark calico
and gingham apron, and, dropping q
courtesey, said, in an affected voice
miss sends her compliments, and
wishes to know how you are this morn
ing, ma'amP'
"Who is your mistress2' asked, while
my surprised thoughts telegraphed q con-
| lecture
"Oh, Mrs Dorsey, ma am what moved
Yesterday; she's very tired after all the
travelin, and says won't you lend her
your smelling-salts and drawing of
green tear
"Oh yes, of course; 1 expect she is fa-
tigued indeed" my thoughts recurring
to my own sense of weariness when
came home from my wedding tour and
then i remembered how perplexed felt
the day began housekeeping, and what
a search / had for the pepper and salt in
the great confusion that prevailed before
mothers deft fingers brought order out
of chaos; and in q gush of sympathy has
tened to get the desired articles, bidding
Angelica tell her mistress would cheer
fully supply her with anything she need
cd as far as lay in my power. All, mel
did not dream what license / was giving
my mistress said you must be sure &c
call soon," said Angelica, with another