The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-11-28

i"
''There's boxes and boxesl" said
Frank, laughing. "And I've hired Billy
Willett with his wheelbarrow to hoist
'em up to the house"
"But, Frank, who is it7 Why don't
you .ell me who it isln
"Hcr name is Miss Barbara Babcock, -
said the Captain of the Sea New. "She
comes from the State of Rhode Island,
and she says she was second cousin of
your mother. And she's coming to spend
Thanksgiving with youw
''Miss Barbara Babcock!" repeated
Lizzie, her fresh face growing blank.
ooh, | know now who it is Frank All
the relations used to dread Miss Barbara
Babcocks visits. She had no home of
her own, and was always wandering
about the country with her fancy-worlI
and her receipt book; and, oh, Frank,
she was such a borel / can't have her
herew
"All right, then," said Captain Elston
'Tll go back and tell her SO. Only,
Lizzie"
"Welip
"Don't all this remind you little bit
of the old story of the priest and the
devil"
"But, Frank, when I've invited all the
neighborsm
"Yes, exactly so," said Frank, twist.
ing the end of his red comforter around
his finger. "'Who is my neighbour
That's Just the question that the parable
was intended to answer"
Lizzie stood minute, silently think
ing.
"Don't put yourself out, my dear, "
said the Captain; ''she can get lodgings
at the Wharf easily enough. But she's
very old and feeble, and"
az understand, " interrupted Lizzie
''and she's my nelghbor. I'll go back,
Frank, and warm up one of my chicken
pies for supper. didn't intend to have
anything but bread aud butter and cold
pigs feet, but of course she is tired and
chilled, poor creature :"
"That's my own little girlw said
Frank, with a caressing touch to the
stray locks which had escaped like rings
of spun gold from the border of Lizzie's
red worsted hood. II know Just how
this sort of thing puts you housekeepers
out, but somehow felt sorrow for the
old lady"
But Lizzie could not help marveling a
little when Miss Barby Babcock arrived
on the scene. She was little, dried up
old creature, with black, restless eyes,
q cinnamon -colored front" and nose
and chm that met in close proximity.
$50 you are Mary Smiths darter, are
youi" said she. ~ can Jest remember
you when you were a leetle girl, knee
high to grasshopper, sewin' patch
work. Well, In glad thought of comm
here to spend Thanksgivin'. Sea air al
ways did agree with me, and that's a
dreadful nice craft that your husband is
the skipper of. l shouldn't WONDER
she added, as she began on her second
wedge of chicken-pie, ''if made up my
mind to spend the winter here, and
finish my silk curtains. Pm a-makin'
silk curtains, Elizabeth Ann-sewin'
strips of silk together, Just like you sew
carpet-rags and when it's all done, I'm
goin' TO borrow Desire Johnson's old
room and weave 'em up into the prettiest
silk curtains you ever set eyes on. It'll
be pleasant winters work for you aud
me-won't it, Elizabeth Ann. P'raps
you've got some old silk gowns you
could sparei" she added, wistfully. 81
need little dark blue and saffron color
terror cotter they call it nowadays.
Works in dreadful nice"
Lizzie looked bewildered; but the
captain cheerily threw himself into the
breach.
"Oh, we haven't arrived at the
dignity of silk gowns yet, have we,
Lizzie" said he. "Take some of these
crab-apples, Miss Babcock They're
very fine"
The old woman sat down in the warm
freight, rubbing her wrinkled hands
together.
HIt's warm and comfortable here, "
said she. 81 wonder never thought of
comm to Elizabeth AIMS before. De-
sire johnson didn't want me. She said
old folks was too much care. Lucy
Wilcox was too fine a lady to notice her
old Aunt Barby; and my Cousin Max
well as good as turned me out of doors.
But Elizabeth Ann is her mother right
over again-the kindest- hearted creetur
that ever breathed. Pm glad l come
here TO Thanksgivin'. guess I'll
stay"
She said all this aloud, in her strange,
croaking voice, although she evidently
imagined that she was only thinking it.
Crank" whispered Mrs Elston,
smuggling close up to her husband, 81
think she is Eighty. She's so very old,
you know; she must be eighty, at the
very least"
"Who is my neighbori" Frank re.
sponded, softly. 81 think your duty is
plain in this instance, my dear"
The little old relation was busy sew.
ing at her balls Of partI- colored silk
strips when the Thanksgiving company
arrived, next day, and sSe eagerly in.