The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-12-23

bu0 D6aTuzloyS D0lOuS6Q, anu llV6u only
two houses away, but they were shy! It
seemed to be sort of agony to them to
speak before stranger; they blushed
and stammered, 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 the
side OF gentle declivity, Mrs. Beardsley
had another neighbor, q acarpenter's wife,
Mrs. Green. She, too, seemed to be shy
at first, but was attracted after while
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, some
times with an apple for Tommy, some
times with o rose for his mother. Mrs.
Roberts had called Mrs Beardsley proud
and '.stuek-up," but Mrs. Green did not
find her so.
'sShes real NICE" was her unbiased
verdict, as she walked home one night
with the Waters family from prayer
meeting. ST did expect she'd be little
airy, seein, who her folks was; but she
amt, not mite. She's as pleasant as
pie. / dunno when I've set so much by
a naighbor as do by her. Mis- Deans
leetle too high in the instep for me, and
Mis- Morris she don't care for nobody
without they're Banker, and you can't
take the solid comfert with Mis- Roberts,
she's so partic'lar leest you shouldn't
think SO much of her as you ought to-.
But nyl Mis- Beardsley, she's just as
easy as an old shoe. wish't had not
stayed so long, but you know, Malviny,
I amt no hand to make acquaintance
with folks. don't know as I should
ever ha' knowed you if John hadn't been
my nephew"
There was still another neighbor on
the street, old Miss Betsey Parker, the
tailoress, living in small brown house
but one to that 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, humble Christian.
Mrs. Dean sent her sewing, when she
had it, and Mrs. Morris found il quite
handy to have tailoress close by when
her two big boys tore their clothes,
especially as Betsy went to the Blanker
church. Besides these small sources of
income she made shrouds for the Dalton
factory, and coffin trimmings; the day of
tailoress work had gone by; and she
owned the little house she lived il, set
about with cinnamon roses and Hlacs and
| garden devoted chiefly to corn, beans
and SD duashes, though q great bunch of
Glove pinks and cluster of red peonies
adorned its border. She was the first
neighbor whose acquaintance Mrs.
Beardsley made. While that weary
woman was putting down her paglor car
pet she looked up q. the sound of kind
| voice, and saw q slat sun-bonnet peering
round the edge of the door; deep in its
gingham vault Miss Betsy's cheerful face
| smiled at her.
81 thought mebbe 1 could help you
| some way. | live next door but one, and
| if you want anything I've got, just send
| for it; matches or extry hammer.
know how It's; folks always forget some
| thin. Mercy sake! let me get hold OF
| yourn amt fit for such heavy work ;
and suiting the action to the word she
took Mrs Beardsley's place and the re
| fractory carpet became docile at once,
while poor Justina sat down on the hool
and felt like crying from mere relief. 81
wish twas the first instead of the last. !
live right up there in that small house
with the lean-to, an if you want any
thing I've got, to help ye, send right up.
Ny names Betsey Parker"
"Oh, thank you. was SO tiredp' was
the rather incoherent answer; but the
very grateful look out of Mrs. Boards
ley's 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 ii she could help
and this was only the beginning; she
brought many fresh egg over to temp
Justina's delicate appetite, though hen
poultry was only three bantam hens
And again and again when her neighbol
had headache, she took Tommy hom,
with her for the day, though she hat
| sometimes to stay at home from church
| with him. She had no carriage like Mrs
Morris to give her neighbors drive-a,
Mrs. Morris never did. She had NJ
loaded fruit trees like Mrs. Dean, who
kept her pears and peaches for her owl
and the minister's family, exclusively
but her black cap raspberries were NOR,
than shared with Mrs. Waters, as well as
Mrs. Beardsley, and her currants were
almost public property.
II really haint had enough for iel
this year." she said apologetically t.
Mrs. Green, s'and do dote on jell it,
so good for the sick; but then. fresh cur
rants is real refreshin' this hot weather
| you know it's been master hot right along
for spell, and there amt but few tha
has got as good currants as mine be-"
Al last Mrs. Beardsley fell ill of low
fever; she was very lonely, for Fred hat
to be all day at his work, and the girl il
the kitchen had her hands full will
Tommy and the housework. The doc
tors gig at the door notified the neigh
bors of the trouble, and after it hat
stopped there daily for week, Mrs
Dean sent over the girl to inquire hov
Mrs. Beardsley was. Mrs. Morris me
her husband in the street, and asked hin
the same question. Mrs. Roberts wa
not concerned about the matter. ''rhos
uppercrust folks keep sending in to ask
/ see; haven't never called there, 81
| / amt wanted nor. needed now as
know Of"
But she did tell the doctor she was
| good watcher and would go if the,
couldn't get any body else.
Mrs. Waters had little baby, anC
could do nothing, yet she sent in a rose
bud from her own cherished bush, ant
Justina cried over it; she was SO weak
| Mrs. Green came over once or twice
and sent some custard; but she sswa n
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 a da,
pasced that she did not go over an