The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-06-03
"Iseing Ncighborly."

band owned the house we were to live in,
az well as that occupied by his own family,
and was besides the proprietor of the two
finest farms in the vicinity, l felt quite
flattcred by the attention. 81 always like
to be neighborly," Mrs. Coltnn said.
When the doctor came home, for had
married Il physician, told him what a
pleasant acquaintance had made. "Evi-
IDENTITY woman Of influence" | said. cit
was SO kind in her to call at once, and cs-
pccially to promise to be so ncighborly." "
My husband of course assentcd.
a few days after, us I was getting sup
! per, rcd-headcd, unl<cmct urchin thrust
his head in at the kitchen window, and said.
in high, nasal tone, "AIa says, can't you
lend her mess Of flour for supper and
got none; and pas gone out, and won't be
back till night"
"And who may your ma be9' said,
wonderingly at this cool proposal, for in
the place in which had lived until my
marriage, we had not been accustomed to
such free and easy lending and borrowing.
| "Mrs. Cotton, ma'am." d."
con-" | replied, and that only.
'And ma says, resumed the shrill voice,
elf you could spare it, some butter and
'lasscs"
took my hands from the dough and
| proceeded to comply with the request, for
| wished to be considered "ncighborly;"
but thought to myself that Mrs. Cotton
might have sent to the store for whut she
wanted, as it was hardly three minutes
walk distant. 1t certainly was what
should have done, instead Of appealing to Il
/ person almost stranger
| Hardly Il 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 practice, and so sought to be
! popular, | continued to be "ncighborly," :"
t and lend whatever was requested Now it
was eggs, or meal, or IL bit of fresh meat,
or butter; now it was Il book, Il magazine,
Hat iron, pattern for dress, Il few
cups, or something else.
OF course | expected the things to be
| duly rcturnod, or at last what represented
| them.
But day after day passed without meal,
or butter, or eggs, hcing forthcoming; and
| though the books and magazines came
back, the latter were soilcd and torn; and
! us for the tat-ron, ii was absolutely ted
from neglect.
AT first, thought this failure to return
Gin kind" thc.rcsult Of forgetfulncss; but
when the favoritc 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. 'Shc can't keep the
thing up forever" said my husband. "Lct
us lose little, my dear, rather than give
| offence. If we get Mrs. Colton's enmity,
| shall never be called in there, or to any
of her relatives; country physician, cspe
cially, in a neighbOrho0d where he is not
yet well known, has to study policy more
or less
But at last Mrs. Colton's "bcing neigh
borly y began TO cost SO much that we
could 10 longer afford it. If beef was
killed or deer shot she knew of il as soon
as ourselves almost; and 10! ut the kitchen
| door appeared the shook of red-hair, and
heard the nasal twang, "AIa wants to know
distracted, Il can't and won't stand this
any longer, practice Or no practice" l said,
one day, to my husband. elf that woman
| sends here again, or even comes, I'll have
it 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 meanncss." My hus
band made no reply, but gave me quizzi-
cal look, for he had learned, by this time,
to know, that, when my mind was made
up, | was "drcadful sot, as my old aunt
used to say.
| a few mornings after this the crisis came.
Our meat for the fall and winter had Just
| been brought in to be cured, having been
fed and killed at a farmers few miles off,
and the smokc-house was being got ready
by the farmers men, when Mrs. Cotton
made her appearance AS soon as heard
her open the garden gate, "I seed it aforc-
hand" like Josiah Aliens Wife, "and
knowcd thcre'd be quarrel" for OWNED
her GRAND and at once resolved to settle
matter with her, for good and all.
"Alornin', Mrs. Mac" she began. "I
seed the boys pass the house, and thought
ia come and larn what's the news down
yondcr | hain't hearn from Jane" Oler
sisrer-in-law, who lived near the farmer)
in quite spell; her youngest gal was sick,
last got word from her."
have had no conversation with the
farmers men, said with dignity, 81
had been too busy" Then, fearing had
been too plain, added, in more conci-
llatory tone: but | will ask them, as soon
as they come in from the smokc-housc.
"Well, do. | want to know rale bad.
don't think Jannell ever raise that gal !;
| 'S !" WV 'tNciJ "'" PSaitI Unusual SIilaiII W
her age. Ain't you gittin' in your meat
rather early2 Seems to me It's "
81 think not. The weather is quite
cold already, and the doctor says wc'll have
an carly winter; and it's better to be early
than late, isn't iti'
eyes, that's SO in most things. But we
amt ourselves putin in our meat yet, and
50 guess Ill borrow some from you. NV
ole man'll kill fore long, and then can
give II back"
81 am sorry to seem disobligng, Mrs.
Cotton" l said, nerving myself with great
effort, for when 1t came to the point, it
was more difficult to face the enemy that [
had supposed, "but we really cannot spare
any OF the moat; there is only just enough,
hardly that, to last u.s."
"la now, pdnever have thought you'd
refuse me anything; and me always trying
to be so "neighborly," cried my visitor.
"ro be frank" answered, for now my
blood was up, 81 object to borrowing. l
never do it myself What can't pay for
or earn. do without"