River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-10-09


A field and over run with all the Blank
er congregation, from the minister down
! to the sexton; she had so many weddings
and funerals, and societies to attend
that Mrs. Beardsley hardly saw her IN
her in her own house FOR the next year.
| though Mrs Morris call was promptly
returned.
Next to Mrs. Roberts lived the Waters
family, nice kindly, plain young people
Mrs. Waters sister being the third mem
be, of the family. The husband was a tin.
ner, and it was in his shop where she was
buying tea-kettle that the new neigh
bors we're introduced to them. They
meant to call they were members of the
same church to which the Beardsley'
belonged, andlived only two houses away
| but they were so shy! 1t seemed 10 be 6
sort of agony to them 10 speak before 8
stranger: they hlushed and stammcred
and locked every way but the right one
At last, after year OF waiting they
same one evening, but they never came
again.
Up above her, for the street was on d
ieclivity, Mr.. Beardsley had another
neighbor, carpenters wife, Mrs. Green
She, too, seemed 10 be shy at first, but
was attracted 10y Justina's flowers and
Tommy's merry face She was childless
herself and her one passion was flowers,
and after the ice was broken she came in
often, sometimes with an apple for Tom
my, sometimes with rose for his moth,
err Mrs Roberts had called Mrs. Boards
ley proud and ''stuck up but Mrs Green
did not find her so.
'Shes real nice" was her unbiased
verdict, as she walked home one night
with the waters family from prayer meet
ing. II did expect she'd be little airy,
seem who her folks was; but she ain t.
not mite. She's as pleasant as PIE. /
dunno when I've set so much by a new
neighbor as l do by her. Mis- Dean's
leetIe to high in the instep tor NE; and
Mis- Morris don't care for nobody with
out they're banker; and you can't
take no solid comfort with Ms Roberts,
she's So particular leest you shouldn't
think 50 much of her as you ought to
But MIS- Beardsley, she's just as easy as
an old shoe l wish hadn't stayed away
so long. but you know, Malviny, haIn't
no hand to make acquaintance with folks
don know as / should ever ha' known
you if John hadn't been my nephew
Mrs. Waters gave little laugh, but she
did not say anything; she did not re
member much about her own call on the
new neighbor but her own painful shy
ness.
There was still another nelghbor on
the street, old Miss Bctsey Parker, the
tailoress, who lived in 4 small brown
house next but one to that which the
Beardsleys occupied. She was plain
uneducatcd woman, having plenty OF
common sense, and a cheerful nature; nc
especial talent or brightness, or charm OF
aspect, but she was an honest and hum
bic Christian. Mrs. Dean sent her sew
ing when she had it; and Mrs. Morris
found it very handy to have a tailorsss
close by when her two big boys tore theil
clothes, especially as Miss Betsey went
To Banker church. Beside these small
sources Of income she made shrouds tol
the Dalton factory, and coffin trimT Ings
the dav Of tailoress work having gone by
and she owned the little Old house which
was set about with cinnamon roses and
lilacs, and had garden devoted chiefly
to corn, beans and squashes, though a
great bunch of Glove pinks and cluster
of red peOnies adorned its border. She
was the first neighbor whose acquaInt-
ance Mrs Beardsley made. While that
weary woman was putting down her par
lor carpet, she looked up at the sound OF
Il kind voice, and saw slat sun bonnet
geering round the edge OF the door; deeI
in its glngham vault Miss Betsey's
cheerful face smiled at her. Il thought
mebbe | could holp you sOmeway
| | live next door but one, and if you want
anything I've got just send for it-match-
| es, or salt or an extra hammer. / know
how It's; folks always forget somethln'
| Mercy's sake let me git hold of that
stretcher Them poor little hands Of
yOurn amt tit for such heavy work . and
suiting the action to the word, she took
Mrs. Beardsley's place, and the refractory
carpet became docile at once, while poor
Justina sat down on tn" floor, and fell
/ like CRYING from mere relief. '"There,
wish twas the first instead of the last
| live right up here in that small hous,
with the lean-to, and If you want thing
I've got to help ye, send right up. My
names Betsey Parker.
'Oh, thank you. l was so tired - was
the rather incOherent ans cr; but the very
grateful look out of Mrs. Beardsley'
expressive eyes filed it out for Mis-:
Betsey.
| She had not stopped to consider he
own position or her neighbours, but came
at once to see if she could help; and thu
was only the beginning; she brough
many fresh egg over to tempt Justina'
delicate appetite, though her poultry
was only three bantam hens. And agaiI
and again, when her neighbor had ;
headache, she took Tommy home tor th'
day, though she had sometimes to STAY
at home from church with him. She haC
no carriage like Mrs. Morris to give he
neighbor a drive-as Mr.. Morris neve
aid. She had no loaded fruit trees like
Mrs. Dean, who kept her pears anC
peaches for her own and the minister
family exclusively; but her black caI
raspberries were more than shared witt
Mrs. Waters, as well as with Mrs Beard
slew, and her currants We're almost public
property.
u really hain't had enough for jel
| this year." she said apologetically is Mrs
| Green, land do lots on leli, it's so gOot
for the sick; but then, fresh currants i
real refreshln' this hot weather you kuov
It's been master hot right along for ;
spell, and there amt but few has go
as good currants as mine be,
At last Mrs. Beardsley fell i'll o
low fever; she was very lonely, for Freo
had to be all day at his work, and TIL
girl in the kitchen had her hands tul
with Tommy and the housework. Tn
doctors gig at the door notified the neigh
bors of the trouble, and after it ha,
stopped there daily for week, Mr..
Dean sent over her girl to inquire hoy
Mrs. Beardsley was. Mrs. Morris me
her husband in the street and asked tn
same question. Mrs. Roberts was no
concerned about the matter. "Those uI
per-crust folks keep sending in to ask,
see: haven't never called there, SO
amt wanted OF needed now as | know o.
But she did tell the doctor she "
good watcher, and would go if the
couldn't get any body else.
Mrs. Waters had little baby an
icould do nothing, yet she sent in a rose
bud. the first from her one cherishe