West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-11-29

There's boxes and boxesp said
/ Frank, laughing 'And I've hired Billy
/ Willctt with his wheelbarrow to hoist
'em up to the house"
"But, Frank, who is itl Why don't
! you tell me who il 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 che was second cousin Of
/ your mother. And she's coming to spend
/ Thanksgiving with your
| miss Barbara BabcoclI ~ repeated
Lizzie, her fresh face growing blank.
"Oh, know now who il is Frank All
/ the relations used to dread Miss Barbara
4 labcock's visits. She had no home Of
her own, aud was always wandering
about the country with her fancy work
and her reccipt-book; and, oh, Frank,
she was such borel can't have her
heren
Cali right, then, 4" said Captain Elston /;
'Til go back aud tell her so. Only,
Lizzie"
"well"
Don't all this remind you little bit
Of the old story of the priest aud the
devil."
''But, Frank, when I've invited all the
neighbors !"
"Yes, exactly so, said Frank, twist.
ingthe end of his red comforter around
his finger. '''Who is my neighbor?'
That's just the question that the parable
was intended TO answer"
Lizzie stood q 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 ~
II understand" " interrupted Lizzie ;
"and she's my neIghbor. I'll go back,
Frank, and warm up one OF nv 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 i"
That's my own little grill" said
Frank, with n cuessing touch to the
stray locks which had escaped like rings
Of spun gold from the border OF Lizzis's
red worgted hood. II know lust how
this sort OF thing puts you housekeepers
out, but somehow felt sorrow for The
old lady,
Hut Lizzie could not help maryeling n
little when Miss Barby Babcock arrived
on the scene. She was q little. dried up
old creature, with black, restless eyes,
cinnamon -colored 'front.' and nose
and chm that met in close proximity.
$50 you are Mary Smiths darter, arc
you" said she ~ can lest remember
you when you were a leetle girl. knee.
high TO a grasshopper, sewin' patch
work. Well, { m glad thought Of comm
here TO spend Thanksgiving Sea air al
ways did agree with me, and that's a
dreadful nice craft that your husband Is
the skipper Of. / shouldn't wonder. >
she added, as she began on her second
wedge Of chicken-pie, ''if made up nv
mind to spend the winter here, and
finish my silk curtains. Pm a-makin'
silk curtains, Elizabeth Ana-scwin'
strips Of silk together, just like you sew
carpetrags and when it's all done, Pm
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 and
me-wOn't il, Elizabeth Annf P'raps
you've got some old silk gowns you
could spare" she added, wistfully. 81
need little dark blue and saffron color
7 terror cOtfcr they call il NOWADAYS
+ Works in dreadful niceD
Lizzie looked btwildered. but the
captain cheerily threw himself into the
breach.
"Oh, We haven't arrived &c the
dignity Of silk gowns yet. have VIC,
LizzieP' said be. "Tako some OF these
crab-apples, Miss Babcock. They're
very fine"
The old woman sat down in the warm
drelight rubbing her wrinkled hands
together
''Its warm and comfortable here. 50
said She 'I 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 20 notice her
old Aunt Barby; and my Cousin Max.
well as good as turned me out of doors.
I Bat Elizabeth Ann is her mother right
over again-tho kindcst hearted creetur
T that ever broathed I'm glad 7 come
here TO Thanksgigin'. I guess I'll
stay"
Sho said all this aloud, in her strange
croaking voice although she evidently
imaQinod that she was only thinking it
Crank, whispered Mrs Elslon.
suugglinQ close up TO her husband. II
think she is Eighty. She's 90 very old,
you know; she must be eighty, at the
very least"
"Who is my neighbour Frank re-
sponded. softly. 81 think your duty il
plain in this instance my dear"
The liltlo old relation was busy sew
ing at her balls Of parh.colorcd silk
eirips when the Thanksgiving company
arrived. peyt dag. end she eagerly in.