The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-10-09

she was Blank; if she was Banker,
Mrs. Morris would have been as troubled
as Mrs. Dean was about the new neigh
boz, though on different principle.
As it was she called on her after
awhile but her time was so taken up
with the Banker Church, her house was
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 Mr.. 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 were introduced to them. They
meant to call they were members OF the
same church to which the Bearclsley's
belonged, and;lived only tive houses away,
but they were so shy! 1t seemed to be
sort of agony to them to speak before
stranger; they blushed and stammcred,
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
declivity, Mr.. Beardsley had another
neighbor, a carpenters wife, Mrs. Green.
She, too, seemed to be shy at first, but
was attracted by 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
er. Mrs. Roberts had called Mrs. Boards
ley proud and ''stuck up" but Mrs Green
did not find her 50.
"she's real NICE" was her unbiased
verdict, as she walked home one nj ht
with the waters family from prayer meet
ing. II did expect she'd be little airy,
seem who her folks was; but she amt,
not mite. She's as pleasant as PIE. l
dunno when I've set so much by q new
neigbbor as do by her. Nus Deans
a leetle to high in the instep tor me; and
Mis- Morris don't care for nobody with
out 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 az you ought to.
But MIS- Beardsley, she's just as easy as
an old shoe. I wish hadn't stayed away
so long, but you know, Malviny, I ha,n't
no hand to make acquaintance with folks.
| I don't 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 small brown
house next but one to that which the
Beardsleys occupied. She was plain,
uneducated woman, having plenty Of
common sense, and cheerful nature; no
especial talent or brightness, or charm OF
aspect, but she was an honest and hum
BILE Christian. Mrs. Dean sent her sew
ing when she had it; and Mrs. Morris
found it very handy to have tailoress
close by when her two big boys tore their
clothes, especially as Miss Betsey went
to Banker church. Beside these small
sources of income she made shrOuds for
the Dalton factory, and coffin trimr 1ngs,
the day 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
great bunch of Glove pinks and cluster
of red peonies adorned its border. She
was the first neighbor whose acqualnt-
ance Mrs Beardsley made. While that
weary woman was putting down her par
lor carpet, she looked up at the sound OF
a kind voice, and saw a slat sun bonnet
geering round the edge Of the door; deep
in its glngham vault Miss Bctsey's
cheerful face smiled at her. II thought
mebbe I could holp you someway.
l 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. I know
how it's; folks always 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 action to the word, she took
Mrs. Beardsley g place, and the refractory
carpet became docile at once, while poor
Justina sat down on tn" floor, and felt
like crying from mere relief. ''There,
wish twas the first instead of the last.
live right up here in that small house
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. was 80 tired !" was
the rather incoherent answer; but the very
grateful look out of Mrs. Beardsley 3
expressive eyes filed it out for Miss
Betsey.
She had no: stopped to consider her
own position or her neishbors, but came
at once to see if she could help; and this
was only the beginning; she brought
many fresh egg over to tempt Justina'a
delicate appetite, though her poultry
was only three bantam hens. And again
and again, when her neighbor had q
headache. she took Tommy home tor 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 drive-as Mr.. Morris never
did. She had no loaded fruit trees like
Mrs. Dean, who kept her pears and
peaches for her own and tho ministers
family exclusively; but her black-cap
; raspberries were more than shared with
Mrs. Waters, as we'll AZ with Mrs. Beard
sley, and her currants were almost public
property.
II really hain't had enough for iell
!: this year." she said apologetically Is Mrs.
} Green, land do lots on jell, it's so good
for the sick; but then, fresh currants il
real refreshln' this hot weather: YOU know
It's been master hot right along for a
} spell, and there amt but few has got
} - good currants as mine be-
At last Mrs. Beardsley fell i'll of
low fever; she was very lonely, for Fred
had to be all day at his work, and the
girl in the kitchen had her hands tull
with Tommy and the homework. The
doctors gig at the door notified the neigh.
bors of the trouble, and after it had
stopped there daily for = week, Mrs.