The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-05-19
HER NEW NEIGHBOR.


When one morning Mrs. Chickwit,
sewing at her cottage window, observed
that family was moving into the near
est house to hers, in the country place
where she resided, she dropped her work
and lifted up her hands in delight No
body had lived in the house since Mrs.
Barley had moved away, and Mrs. Bar
ley had been gone six months.
Somebody is moving In, and shall
have neighbor to chat with without
having to go quarter of mile every
day. Mr.. Chickwit is away to the city
every day, and little knows how lone
some / am, having nobody to speak to
till he comes home, except the children.
As soon as they get settled a little, I'll
60 right over and invite them to come
and see me. How pleasant it will be to
have such near neighbors away out here
in these lonely woods 1 only hope
they'll be more neighborly than Mr..
Barley was.
The new neighbors proved to be a Mr..
and Mrs. Bah, with two children not yet
in their teens. When, in due time, Mrs.
Chickwit called, she found the house
not in order, but was highly gratified to
see that Mr.. Bah was very easy-going
sort of a person, who seemed to refer
everything to his wife, while he took his
comfort on two chairs, smoking his pipe
and letting his offspring shout at him
and pull his hair.
"What nice disposition that man
has thought Mrs. Chickwit. "Mrs.
Bah must take good deal of comfort
with him."
Mrs. Bah appeared to be an equally
easy natured being, troubling herself
little about the children, who turned ev-
erything topsy-turvy, as they pleased,
while she occupied herself in reading
novels and newspapers.
81 do hope" says Mrs. Chickwit,
snow that we are acquainted and such
close neighbors, that you will be more
neighborly, and give us call often and
not do as Mrs. Barley did, who was here
before you. She and her husband sell
dom came in, as if they thought they
would be shot if they came to see a
body. Now do call !"
80, I'll call, said Mrs. Bah, smiling;
"and [ know we shall be the best of
friends and neighbors. There's no half
way about me. Where 1 like, L like"
Next day Mrs. Bah returned the call
OF Mrs. Chickwit, and complimented her
upon appearing to have everything COM
Portable about her.
"Your husband must be an excellent
provider."
" He is indeed" replied Mrs. Chick
wit, pleased.
"And what beautiful children you
have And that blessed baby o, it's
q cherub-beauty- yes it is-little dar-
ling
And, in sudden spasm of love, she
took the infant in her arms and kissed it
passionately, as if it were the first baby
since the Christian era.
"Mother's idol Yes il was |"
"Thats what Mrs. Barley never did, Z"
said the gratifed mother. "Never so
much as took one of my children up, or
said coaxing word. What difference
there is in neighbors
"What, indeed! " conceded Mrs. Bah.
"Some are proud, and some are tat
Ting, and some are quarreling, and some
are thieving, and some are lying, and
some are reserved, and some are-I
don't know what"
"That's just the way it is" agreed
Mrs Bah. "Were You ever troubled
with neighbor that kept borrying all
the timer"
"Well, I can't say as 1 ever was, E"
returned Mrs. Chickwit, trying hard
to recollect, out of politeness.
"Tve been pestered and annoyed in
that way sometimes" said Mrs Bah,
rolling up her eyes, that it seemed as
IL my head would go off, and 1 couldn't
keep nothing together. The neighbors
would borry, borry, borry, all the time
Now, think it's Christian grace to
lend things occasionally, when you know
who you're q lending TO. and are sure
they'll fetch things back; but l don't
like to lend everything have, and then
never see 'em agin."
"I shouldn't like to myself"
Anything you would like to borry Of
me, Mrs. Chickwit, you're entirely well
come to-"
"Well, I'm sure II
"You may borry my clothes off my
back, If you want to, pursued Mrs. Bah,
"and I'll never indulge myself in an un-
kind murmur."
Mrs. Chickwit looked rather obviously
at the slattern dress worn by the accom-
nodating Bah, and assured her that