Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-05-19
THE LAST STRAW.

Mrs. Slack was next ncighbor to the
Peppers when they bought their cottage
at Scavicw, and on the very first night
she tumblcd over the scattered bits of
furniture in the passage and appeared i'll
their midst unexpectedly to borrow a lit
tie salt. She said it was nice to have
ncighbor5 again, and that Mrs. Pepper
looked SO sweet she knew she wouldn't
/ mind
At midnight she reused them from their
slumbcrs to inquire if they had any chol-
era medicine, for little Peter had been
eating too many green apples and she
thought he would die. She said she was
thankful Mrs. Pepper had moved in, and
that but for that circumstance she might
have lost her darling, Mrs, Pepper was
thankful, toe, and the two women en-
braccd with tears. Then Mrs Slack bor-
rowcd some mustard for plaster.
The next day she sent Peter, fully re-
covered and with his pockets full of
green fruit, to ask for the AK, the handle
having come off theirs; also rolling-pin.
Fortunately the Peppers possessed
three axes and two roling-pins so they
did not feel disturbed by the fact that
the articles were never returned. But
after short interval filled by loans of
coal, potatoes, bread and cheese, Mrs.
Slack came herself to borrow the folding
table, pair Of scissors, the pattern Of a
basque, and a low rocking chair. She
was going to make some dresses, and if
Mrs. Pepper would step over and fit her
she'd be much obliged.
Mrs. Pepper did it and made the but
ton-holcs, too. Mrs Slack never could
learn to make a button-holc. The table,
the scissors, the roclling-chair, and the
pattern all remained at Mrs. Slack's.
The next week Mrs. Slack borrowed a
mantle and waterproof.
Mrs. Pepper by this time grew bold
enough to beg that she would send them
home when she returned.
Mrs. Slack said "Of course" with
some olIcnsc, but when Peter was next
seen it was not to bring back those arti-
cleS. What he wanted was the baby
carriage and market basket.
Christmas time came and with it cards
for party. The Stacks so hoped they'd
all come and enjoy themselves.
Having accepted what was more natu-
raj than to take an interest in the pro-
cccdings-to lend sugar and ice-cream
freezer, butter, and the cgg-bcater, the
cut-glaSS goblcts and the best table cloths,
the spicc-bJx entire, and lots of other
things: Finally Mrs. Slack, with her
gown tucked up ard her eyes sparkling,
ran it to say that they thought dance
would bc nice and could Mrs. Pepper
spare the piano for one EVENING"
"Thcrc's nobody TO move it," said
Mrs. Pepper reioiccd to have an excuse.
"Im so sorry
Mrs. Slack laughed and went to the
window. -Four hig laborrrs appeared
and without any preliminary directing
shoudcrcd the instrument and luggcd it
away. They bumped it against ratings
and fairly tumblca it down in n plowcd
field ba'or, they finished their mission,
but BY main Strength they got it at last
to the Sacks door and Mrs. Slack took
be- leave, carrying the piano stool and
cloth herself.
The appearance Of her beloved piano
gave Mts. Pepper Il great deal Of unhap-
piness that evening. 1t had u deep
scratch on the cover and one OF the keys
wouldn't lift However, she played
wa ties aud SETS fpr the lanccgs most Of