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

When Mrs. Beardsly went to Dalton to
live she knew very few people. She had
lived IN city all her life, been educated
we'll, and came Of cultivated and rather
proud family; but she was not proud in
their fashion. She had always earned
her own living in one way or another,
chiefly by writing for magazines and
newspapers. Whatever the outside world
may think, this is not lucrative bust
ness, and our friend had other people to
help on in life, so she had laid up moth
ing; and, after while she married poor
man and came to Dalton, a fourishing
country town, to live. They went to
housekeeping in an old house, small and
inconvenient, but of pleasant outlook,
and. once settled, began to look about
them. 20, Fred! do hope shall have
nice neighbours" said the little woman,
As they sat at breakfast one day.
II don't know, Tina, how you'll like
them; Of course they'll like you.'
"That's very proper Of you to say, sir, y
laughed Mrs. Beardsley, "but am more
apt 70 like people than they are to like
me-"
This was quite true. Justina Boards
ley was very honest, frank, unconven.
tional and acute; she spoke her mind too
freely to be always comfortable friend.
Human nature loves flattery, and she
never fattered; however, our business is
with our neighbors.
Up the street lived the Dean family.
Mrs. Dean was a handsome, cool, calm
sort of woman, with three daughters, all
under fourteen. Her husband kept q
country store, and had made some mon
ey; her house was very fine, with shining
furniture, Brussels carpets, and always
strictly curtained, screened and blinded
from sun and air. Mrs. Dean was a vcry
good woman, she never tailed to attend
every meeting there was, and she always
went to church, rain or shine, and took
her children to Sunday-school with the
same persistence. She was woman who
did her duty in these respects earnestly
and conscientiously, and never could un.
derstand why every one else was not
equally faithful.
Now her new neighbor was not q
strong woman, and her work was hard
1t frequently happened to her to have 8
dreadful neuralgia headache on Sunday
andthough she was accustomed in hel
youth to 60 to church as pcnctlliously Al
the minister himself, and had really over
worked herself in the city mission Sun.
day-schools, she frequently now spent thu
day of rest on her sofa, with throbbina
pains in her head, and back aching il
every fiber. Nor did she send Tommy
her little fve-year- old boy, to Sunday
school, for she preferred to teach him q
home.
"Have you been to see Beardsley's wife
my dear?" said Mr.. Dean, one morning
about three weeks after the new neigh
bors made their appearance.
mo, not yet. I thought should mo-
hurry. do not think she is a very pooc
person to be intimate with. She doe.
not send her boy to Sabbath school. anc
hardly ever goes to church. I do mo-
wish to encourage such a person to visi
u freely"
Mr.. Dean said no more. His wife,
chin was square and her lips thin; h,
really respected her rather severe good
ness. She did call upon the newcomer
was little Mortified to lind what commo,
furniture she had, and how the SUI
streamed in on the old three.ply carpet
and she went away, leaving behind her .
chill such as follows an iceberg. Mrs
Beardsley knew she was disapproved Of
and why, for she was quick Of discern
ment; and, knowing inwardly that sh,
really did try and wish above all thing
to be Christian woman, she felt sad ani
sorry that her light did not shine better
Then it occurred to her that after oil Coz
knew about it, and knew she did not lik,
to 60 to church, and did not like to b,
<ept at home with neuralgia and exhaus
ton, SO she left this new trouble to Him
Down the street lived Mrs. Roberts,
well-to-do mechanics wife.
"Isee Beardsley' s folks have moved in,
was the husbands comment.
Eyes, they have; but shan't trouble
them with my company. She's cit,
woman, and writes for the papers, beside
She won't want to see common folks lik
me. Mrs. Dean will call on her, I pre-