Stevens County tribune., 1879-10-09

l
push in where 1 want wanted, and I
amt going to begin now"
So, Mrs. Roberts stayed away, strenu-
ously held her parasol to the east of her
if her neighbor was that way, although
the sun blazed toward the west, and pass
ed by ON the other side. Mrs. Beardsley
compreheneed the matter and laughed
softly; she would sometime undertake
Mrs. Roberts, she thought and convert
her to her own theory of neighborhood
but that time hod not come yet.
Next to Mrs. Dean lived Mrs. Morris
she was a pleasant. energetic, talkative
person; an indefatigable church-goer,
and benevolent soul; but she did not
belong to the Blank Church, and the
Beardsley's did; she went to e Banker
house Of worship, and did not care cent
about any other denomination. 1t did
not afflict her much that Mrs. Beardsley
was one of the eractive sisters, because
she was Blank; if she was Banker,
Mrs. Morris would have been as troubled
as Mrs. Dean was about the new neigh
Dor, 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 Mrs. Morris call was promptly
returned.
Next to Mrs. Roberts lived the ii aters
family, nice kindly, plain young people
Mrs. Waters sister being the third mem
bel of the family. The husband was 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 Beardsleys s
belonged, and lived only two houses away,
but they were so shy! 1t seemed to be a
sort of agony to them to speak before a
stranger; they hlushed 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 a
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 so.
"She's real NICE" was her unbiased
verdict, as she walked home one night
with the waters family from prayer meet
ing. 81 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 new
neighbor as I do by her. MIS- Deans
a leetle to high in the instep tor me; and
Mis- Morris don't care for nobody with
out they're a blanker; 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 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, haln't
no hand to make acquaintance with folks
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 ne1ghbor 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; 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 fol
the Dalton factory, and coffin trimmings
the day Of tailoress work having gone by
= and she owned the, little old house which
was set about with cinnamon roses anC
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 acqua1nt
ance Mrs. Beardsley made. While tha
weary woman was putting down her par
: lor'carpet, she looked up at the sound O.
kind voice, and saw slat sun bonne
geering round the edge of the door; deel
in its glngham vault Miss Betsey'
l cheerful face smiled at her. II though
, mebbe | could holp you someway
live next door but one, and if you wan
anything I've got just send for it-match
es, or salt or an extra hammer. I know
, how it's; folks always forget somethln'
, Mercy's sake! let me git hold of tina
stretcher Them poor little hands O
yourn amt fit for such heavy work y anC
suiting the action to the word, she tool
l Mrs. Beardsley's place, and the refractor!
carpet became docile at once, while poo
Justina sat down on tho floor, and fel
t like crying from mere relief. ''There,
t wish twas the first instead of the last.
live right up here in that small hous,
s with the 4ean-to, and if you want thin.
I've got to help ye, send right up. NJ,
names Betsey Parker.
, ''Oh, thank you. I was 80 tired p wa
! the rather incoherent answer; but the YER
a grateful look out of Mrs. Beardsley
J; expressive eyes filled it out for Mis-
a Betsey.
J. She had not stopped to consider he
!, own position or her neighbor's, but cam
: at once to see if she could help; and th1
p | np1u %ho oho I1ro,, ~,