Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-05-28
being Neighborly."

Dsillu OWllcu lnt mouse We were 10 llNt III,
as well as that occupied by his own family,
and was besides the proprietor of the two
finest farms in the vicinity, | felt quite
flattered by the attention. 81 always like
to he neighborly,r Mrs Cotton said.
When the doctor came home, for had
married physician, | told him what a
pleasant acquaintance had made. ''Evi-
IDENTIFY a woman of influence" | said. at
was 50 kind in her to call at once, and es-
pccially to promise to be so neighborly.'
Ny husband of course assented.
A few days after, rs | was getting sup
per, a red-headed, unkemet urchin thrust
his head in at the kitchen window, and said,
in high, nasal tone, Ma says, can't you
lend her a mess of flour for supper and
breakfast; company's coined, and she hahn I
got none; and pas gone out, and won't be
back till night
And who may your ma be-" | said,
the place in which l had lived until my
marriage, we had not been accustomed to
such free and easy lending and borrowing.
Mrs. Cotton. a'am.n
"Oh." | replied, and that only.
"And ma says, resumed the shrill voice,
''if you could spare it, some butter and
'lasseS"
took my hands from the dough and
proceeded to comply with the request, for
| wished TO be considered "neighborly;"
but thought TO myself that Mrs. Cotton
might have sent to the store for what she
wanted, as it was hardly three minutes
walk distant. 1t certainly was what |
should have done, instead of appealing to a
person almost a stranger.
Hardly day passed, after this, that the
shock-headed boy did not thrust his head
into my kitchen door, and ask for the
loan of something; and as my husband had
to make a practice, and SO sought TO be
popular, | continued to be "neighborly, y
and lend whatever was requested Now it
was eggs, or meal, or a lit of fresh meat,
or butter; now it was book. magazine,
a fiat iron, pattern for dress, a few
cups, or something else.
OF course | expected the things to be
duly returned, or a. last what represented
them.
But day after day passed without meal,
or butter, or eggs, being forthcoming; and
though the books and magazines came
back, the latter were soiled and torn; and
as for the flat-iron, it was absolutely rusted
from neglect.
At first, | thought this failure to return
Gin kind the result of forgetfulneSs: but
when the favorite book came back, with
the fashion plate missing. could no longer
conceal from myself the truth. Yet | went
on, complying, long after | had arrived at
this conclusion. ''She can't keep the
thing up forever" said my husband. LET
us lose little, my dear, rather than give
offence. II we get Mrs. Colton's enmity,
! shall never be called in there, or TO any
Of her relatives; a country physician, espc-
cially, in neighborhoOd where he is not
yet well known, has to study policy more
or less.
But at last Mrs. Colton'S ''being neigh
bOrly began 10 cost so much that we
could no longer afford it. If beef was
killed or a deer shot she knew of it as soon
as ourselves almost; and 10. at the kitchen
door appeared the shook of red-hair, and
heard the nasal twang, MA wants to know
if you can't lend, etc, etc. Finally | got
distracted, II can't and won't stand this
any longer, practice or no practice, | said,
one day, to my husband. IF that woman
sends here again, or even comes, I'll have
il out with her. If she was poor | wouldn't
mind it. She'd be welcome to borrow.
But as she's far better Off than we are, her
borrowing is simply meanness." Ny hus-
band made no reply, but gave me quizzi-
cal look, fer lac had learned. by this time,
10 know, that, when my mind was made
up, | was dreadful sOi, rs my old aunt
used TO say.
\ few mornings after this the crisis came.
Our meat for the fall and winter had Just
been brought in to he cured, having been
fed and killed at farmers few miles of,
and the smoke-house was being got ready
by the farmers men, when Mrs. Cotton
made her appearance. As soon as heard
her open the garden gate, II seed it afore-
hand" like Josiah Aliens Wife,. "and
knowcd there'd be quarrel, for OWNED
her errand and at once resolved TO settle
matter with her, for good and all.
''lIornin', Mrs. Mac, she began. 81
seed the boys pass the house, and thought
I'd come and larn what's the news down
yonder | hain't hearn from Jane, (her
who lived near the farmer)
in quite a spell; her youngest gal was sick,
last got word from her.
Il have had no conversation with the
farmers men," | said with dignity, 81
had been too busy" Then, fearing | had
been too plain, added, in a more conci-
liatory tone: ''But will ask them, as soon
as they come in from the smoke-house.
"Well, do. | want to know rale bad
| don't think Janne1l ever raise that gal !;
she's too likely and peart; unusual smart to
her age. Amt you gittin' in your meat
rather early! Seems to me It's.
Il think not The weather is quite
cold already, and the doctor says well have
an early winter; and it's better to be early
than lase, isn't it Z"
ayes, that's so in most things. But we
amt ourselves putin in our meat yet, and
so guess I'll borrow some from you. My
ole man'Il kill fore long, and then can
give it back.
''I am sorry to seem disobliging, Mrs.
Cotton" / said, nerving myself with great
effort. for when it came to the point, it
was more difficult to face the enemy that |
had supposed, ''but we really cannot spare
anv of the moat; there is only just enough,
hardly that, TO last us.
"I.a, now, I'd never have thought you'd d
refuse me anything; and me always trying
to be 50 ''neighborly," cried my visitor.
"To be frank, " ! answered, for now my
blood was up, ~ object to borrowing.
never do it myself. What | can't pay fol
or earn. do without.
For one moment Mrs. Cotton looked al
me as if had been the ''Great Enemy
himself, hoof, horns and all; then she gave
an audible sniff, and turned 10 her read
headed scion, who had accompanied her.
''Come, son." she cried, 'let's go.
Folks as talks so big about yearnin things,
and payin' for 'em, won't have much to dc
it with afore long. They'd,better not hold
quite such a high head, she continued,
darting back on me with Parthian look OF
defiance and scorn, ''Or be so unfriendly
with naboors, specially when they're only
Il 'pothecary's wife, and poor as Jobs tur-
key, if they is stick up
of course the ColtOn's never called my
husband in. OF course also they instigated
such of their relatives, as had already EN-
ployed the doctor, to send for his profes-
fional rival, when the next case OF sick