The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-09-04

although the sun blazed toward tn,
west, and passed by on the other side
Mrs. Reardsley compfehended tn,
matter and laughed softly; She woul,
sometime undertake Mrs. Roberts. sh,
thought, and convert her to her ow,
theory of neighborhood; but that tim,
had not come yet.
Next to Mrs. Dean lived Mrs. Morris
she was a pleasant, energetic, talkativ,
person; an indefatigable church. goer
ana benevolent soul; but she did no
belong to the Blank Church, and tn,
Beardsleys did; she went to the Blanke
house of worship, and did not care
cent about any other denomination.
dld not afflict her much that Mrs
beardsley was one of the inactive sis
ters, because she was Blank; if sh,
had been Banker, Mrs. Morris woult
have been as troubled as Mrs. Dear
was about the new neighbor, though
on a different principle.
As it was, she called on her after q
while; but her time was SO taken uE
with the Banker Church, Der house
was so filled and overrun with all the
Banker congregation. from the minis
ter down to the sexton. she had SC
many weddings, and funerals, and So
cieties, to attend, that Mrs. Beardsley
hardly saw her in her own house for
the next year, though Mrs. Morris call
was promptly returned.
Next to Mrs. Roberts lived the Wa
ters family, nice, kindly, plain young
people; Mrs. Waters sister being the
third member of the family. The hus-
band was timer, and it was in his
shop where she was buying tea-kettle
that the new neighbor was introduced
to them. They meant to call, they
were members of the same church to
which the Beardsleys belonged, and
lived only two houses away, but they
were so shy! 1t seemed to be sort OF
agony to them to speak before stran-
ger; they blushed and stammered, and
looked every way but the right one.
At last, after year of waiting, they
came one evening, but they never came
again.
Up above her, for the street was on
the side of gentle declivity, MIR.
Beardsley had another neighbor, a car
penter's wife, Mrs. Green. She, too,
seemed to be shy at first, but was at
tracted after while by Justina's flow
ers and Tommy's merry face. She
was childless herself, and her one pas
sion was flowers, and after the ice was
broken she came in often, sometimes
with an apple for Tommy, sometimes
with rose for his mother. Mrs. Rob-
erts had called Mrs. Beardsley proud
and stuck-up," but Mrs. Green did
not find her so.
"She's real nice," was her unbiased
verdict, rs she walked home one night
with the Waters family from prayer
meeting. 81 did expect she'd be a
little airy, seein' who her folks was;
but she amt not mite. She's as
pleasant as pie. dunno when I've
set SO much by a new neighbor as do
by her. Mis- Deans a leetle too high
in the instep for me; and Mis- Morris,
she don't care for nobody without
they're Banker; and you can't take
no solid comfort with Mis- Roberts,
she's so particular leest you shouldn't
think so much of her as you'd ought to.
But, my! Mis- Beardsley, she's Just as
easy as an old shoe. wish't hadn't
stayed away so long, but you know,
Malviny, hain't no hand to make &C.
quaintance with folks. l don't know
as should ever ha' knowed you if
John hadn't been my nephew" Mrs.
Waters gave little laugh, but she did
not say anything; she did not remem-
Der much about her own call on the
new neighbor but her own painful
shyness.
There was still another neighbor on
the street, old Miss Betsey Parker, the
tailOress, who lived in a small brown
house next but one to the one which
the Beardsleys occupied. She was a
plain, uneducated woman, having
plenty of common sense, and a cheerful
nature; no especial talent or bright
ness, or charm of aspect, but she was
an honest and humble Christian. Mrs.
Dean sent her sewing when she had it;
and Mrs. Morris found it very handy to
have a tailoress so close by when her
two big boys tore their clothes, es-
pecially as Miss Betsey went to
Banker Church. Beside these small
sources of income she made snrouds
from the Dalton factory, and coffin
trimmings, the day of tailoress work
having gone by; and she owned the lit.
tie old house which was set about wi tn
cinnamon roses and lilacs, and had
a garden devoted chiefly to corn,
beans and squashes, though 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 parlor carpet, she looked up at the
sound of kind voice, and saw a slat
sun-bonnet peering round the edge of
the door; deep in its bingham vault
Miss Betsey's cheerful face smiled at
her. Il thought mebbe 1 could help
you someway. l live next door but one,
and if you want anything I've got just
send for it; matches or salt or an extra
hammer. l know how it's; folks al
ways forget somethin.' Mercy's sake!
let me git hold of that stretcher! Them
poor little hands of yourn amt fit for
such heavy work." and suiting the &C.
ton to the word, she took Mrs. Boards
ley's place, and the refractory carpet
became docile at once, while poor JUS
tina sat down on the floor and felt like
crying from mere relief. There, l wish
twas the first instead o. the last. live
right up here in that small house with
the lean-to, and if you want u thing I've
got to help ye. send right up. My
names Betsey Parker"
30, thank you. was so tiredr' was
the rather incoherent answer; but the
very grateful look out of Mrs. Boards
ley's expressive eyes filed it out for
Miss Betsey.
She had not stopped to consider her
own position or her neighbours, but
came at once to see if she could help;
and this was only the beginning; she
brought many a fresh egg over to
tempt Justina's delicate appetite,
though her poultry was only three
bantam hens. And again and again,
when her neighbor had q headache,
she took Tommy home with her for
the day, though she had sometimes to
stay at home from church with him.
She had no carriage like Mrs. Morris
to give her neighbor a drive-as Mrs.
Aoyr:s ,,ox,o. l:I o. IL