The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-06-29
borrowing NeiShbura.

''Did l ever live next to borrowing
nclghber2' had that pleasure once and
am not liable to forget ii. want to tell
every woman in America (who does not
borrow) how | Jared and how defended
myself.
a new family had movcd into our nciph-
borhood in small country village, and the
first notice we had of their existence was in
the shape of a small tow-hcadcd hoy with
a tea cup and pitcher.
"Mother wants to borrow n drawing of
tea and pitcher of milk" That was the
beginning, but alas not tho end. There
was something less than dozen children.
and they put in their solid time in running
about the n,ighborhood from house to house
collecting supplies. This was not from
necessity, for they were in as good crcum-
stances as their ncighbo1s, but apparently
from sheer force of habit. They borrowed
molasscs, and thread, and black pepper and
shoe backing, and clothes lines, and John
ny's Sunday suit to get their Johnny's pic
turc taken, and my black shawl to wear to
funeral, and the good mans fine shirt for
tho other good man TO wear because he had
to go on jury and hiscn wasn't ironcd; not
OF us only but of all the region roundabout. ;
And finally rs ANA sinner! they bo,7Utp-
cd u hOusc-moved into il without the
owners consent, and the blessed lava OF
Michigan could not route them short of 4
SIX months legal process.
Well. stood this sort of thing for four
weeks and then made up my mind to break
it up or move out of town. had by that
time become sufficiently familiar with their
circuit so that l could guess pretty well
what they would be after next and about
when to expect them. resolved on IL
counter Tritant. So next dinner time
sent johnny with plate and pitcher and
tcacup with Instructions TO ask for plate
OF butter, teacup of molasscs and two
tnblcspoontuls of ginger. Poor child! he
opened his honest little eyes, and looked ut
me in way that made me fcel terribly
small when he asked, care we Door,
mothcr!" But ! pcrscvercd, and at tea
time sent Susy to borrow loaf of bread
and the chopping knife q knew they had
none!) Next morning sent for cup of
ralslns and two sewing machine needles
By this time my siXtCcn-yc'r- Jim took
i'll the situation, and half bursting with fun,
went himself to borrow Il rake, a curry
comb, and whcclbarrow. And so for ten
days | never let a meal pass that | did not
ask them for something. / very seldom
got what asked for. All the better, | did
not have to return it. BY that time the
borrowing nuisance was quiet pcrccptibly
abatcd. So then | checked up until it be-
gan again. Then | began. | borrowed
their clothcs-horsc, and their dishes the
chldren's shoes, and the good mans Sun
day coat, to cut a pattern by! l borrowed
the almanac, trlcd to borrow writing paper;
got the scissors and forgot to return them;
and carly Monday morning, before they got
started out, sent to them for bucing, sonp
and starch. l got neither one of the three,
but Of course, after sending for them, they
would not send to me for the same article
on the same day.
After that for whole week there was
peace. neither had occasion to borrow nor
lend. But on Sunday morning there were
faint sigma OF a renewal of hostiilics In the
shape Of modest request for the loan of
three five cent pieces to carry to Sunday
school because father forgot to get his
money changed last nlght!' True 20 my
policy had my revenge before slept.
Just before evening service sent :. polite
note to Mr. our neighbor, and would
hc be so kind as to lend me his Choral
hymn book for the evening, as mine had
been mislaid' q knew he sang in the choir,
and was eX,ravagantly vain of his voice,
and the choir was short Of books.