Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1879-09-11

family, nice, kindly, plain young people;
Mrs. Waters sister being the third mem.
Der of the family. The husband was a
timer, and it was in his shop where she
was buying tea-kettle that the new
neighbors were introduced to them. They
meant to call, they were members of the
same church to which the Beardsley's be-
onged, 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
strangers they blushed, and stammered,
and looked every way but the right one.
AT last, after a year of waiting, they
came one evening, but they never came
again.
Up above her, for the street was on a
gentle declvity, Mr.. Beardsley had an
other neighbOr, carpenters wife, Mrs.
Green. She, too, seemed to be shy at
first, but was attracted after while by
Justina's flowers and Tommys 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 Tommy, sometimes with
a rose for his mother. Mrs. Roberts
had called Mrs, Beardslcy pround and
stuck up" but Mrs. Green did not find
her so.
"She's real nice" was her unbiased
verdict, as she walked nome one night
: with the Waters family flom prayer meet
ing. 81 did expect she'd be little airy,
seem who her folks was; but she amt
not mite. She's as pleasant as pie.
dunno when I've set so much by new
neighbor as do by her. Mis- Deans a
| leetle too high in the instcp for me; and
Mis- Norris she don't care for nobody
without 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'd ought to.
But, my! Mis- Beardsley, she's Just as
easy as an old shoe. wisht hadn't
stayed away so long, but you know, NAL
why, | hahn t no hand to make acquaint-
ancc with folks. 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 remember 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 tailor
ess, who lived in small brown house next
but on to the one 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 humble Christian
Mrs. Dean sent her sewing when she had
it; and Mrs. Morris found it very handy
to have talloress close by when her two
big boys tore their clothes, especially as
Miss Betsey went to Banker church. Be-
side these small sources of income she
made shrouds from the Dalton factory,
and coffin trimmings, the day Of tailorcss
work having gone by: and she owned the
little old house which was set about with
cinnamon roses and lilac3, and had gar.
den devoted chiefly to corn, beans and
squashes, though great bunch of Glove
pinks and acluster OF red peonies adorned
its border She was the first neighbOr
whose acquaintance Mrs. Beardsley made.
| While that weary woman was putting
down her parlor carpet, she looked up at
the sound of kind voice, and saw slat
sun-bonnet peering round the edge of the
door deep in its gingham vault Miss Bet
sey's cheerful face smiled at her. 81
thought mebbe could hclpyou someway.
] live next door but one, and if you want
anything I've got Just send for il; match
es or salt or an extra hammer. know
how It's; folks always forget somethin'.
Mercy's sake! let me glt hold of that
stretcher! Them poor little hands of
yourn amt fit for such heavy work." and
Suitlng the action to the word, she took
Mrs. Beardsley's place, and the refractory
carpet became doclle at once, while poor
JuStina sat down on the floor and felt like
crying from mere relief. There, wish
twas the first instead O. the last. live
right up here in that small house with the
lean-to, and if you want a thing I've got
TO help Xe, send right up. My names
Betsey Parker"
"Oh, thank you. | was so tired!" was
the rather lnCOherent answer; but the |
very grateful look out OF Mrs, Bcardsley's |
expressive eyes filled it out for Miss
Betsey.
She had not stopped to consider her
own position or her neighbOr's, but came
at once to see if she cOuld help; and this
was only the beginning; she brought |
many fresh egg overito tempt Justina' 5
delicate appetite, though her poultry was
only three bantam hens. And again and |
again, when her neighbor had head |
ache, she took Tommy home for the day,
though she had sometimes tOstay mt home
from church with hm. She had no car
riage like Mrs Morris to give her neigh.
Dor 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 the minister's family exclusive
ly; but her black'cap raspberries were
more than shared with Mrs. Waters, as
well as Mrs. Beardsley, and her currants
we're almost public property.
81 really hain't had enough for
iell this year." she said alphabetically to
Mrs. Green, "and do lots on iell, it's so
good for the sick; but then fresh curants
is real retreshin' this hot weather; you
know its been master hot right along for |
spell, and there aint but few has got |
as good currants Us mine be"
At last Mrs. Beardsley fell i'll of low fe-
yer; she was very lonely, for Fred had to
be all day at his work, and the girl in the
kitchen had her hands full with Tommy
and the housework. The doctor gig at
llc NOOl HOlllCu lHc HelpHDOIS Vi lHe
trouble, and after it had stopped there
daily for a week, Mrs. Dean sent over her
girl to inquire how Mrs. Beardsley was.
Mrs, Morris met her husband in the
street and asked the same question. Mrs.
Roberts was not concerned about the
matter. "Those upper.crust folks keep
sending In to ask, see; | haven't never
called there, so amt wanted nor needed
now as know Of"
But she did tell the doctor she was a
good watcher, and would go il they
couldn't get any body else.
Mrs. Waters had little baby and
cOuld'do nothing, yet she sent in rose
bud, the first from her one cherished bush,
and Justina cried over it; she was so
weak! Mrs. Green came over once or
twice, and sent some custard; but she
wasn't no use in sickness, so dreadful
nervous" her husband said.
Miss Betsey was out Of town at first,
but as soon as she came back not day
passed that she did not 90 over and cheer
the sick woman with homely words OF
faith and hope and good will. She went
into the kitchen and made beef tea,
she came up stairs and shook up
her hot pillows, replenished the fire,
combed out the tangled HAIR with
the gentlest fingers, and kept Tom
my with her in the intervals, asI
long as ne could be coaxed to stay.
| Whao Me- naa,1alo, ,,,oa ,,all,pc haitar