Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-10-26
THE NEW NEIGHBORS.

ILL N6W NGlGHBURS.
"I hope they'll BIO NICE" said Celia,
thoughtfully biting her crochet. needle,
and looking through the porch-vincs to-
ward the next house.
They won't be-" said Maggie, swing
ing her pretty foot from the railing on
which she was rcrchcd. ppm certain of
it; and besides, Celia, what if they arc?
1t isn't like y they'll have much to do
with us. Anybody rich enough to buy
the Moulton House associating with tho
poor little dot of house next door, Oh.
mop
Maggie spoke with calm conviction,
ard an entire absence of despondcncy.
She was sensible and independcnt
little person. Celia was watching the
unloading of q van at their new neigh
boris gate.
IL am afraid they are awfully rich %
she admitted. They've unpackcd some
of the things out of doors, and the furhni-
turc is lovcly-plush and stamped
leather, and cherry bedroom sets; and
they've grand piano"
"Wcll," said Maggie, gaily, 'lct 'cm
have 'em: We've got cane. seated chairs
and crctonnc sofa, and pine bedstcads
and mclcdcon; and what moro could
you ask fori"
''Wcll, a few things, perhaps" said
Celia, smiling Mt her bright younger
sister.
off Tom Carson gets rich in the gro
Gerry business" said Maggie, banter
ingly.
'Pshaww said Colia, getting rcd.
"1n oil probability YOU can have
thcm," Maggie concluded, and jumped
down and trippcd away.
She went around to the rear of the
house, and down to the garden.
1t was not large garden, and there
was not much in it now but cucumbcrs
and tomatoes. But it was q remarkable
garden, nevertheless; for Maggie had
made and tended it herself. Her mother
an! Celia had protested, but Ma ggic
had goEc determinedly to work. For
the possession of II garden substantially
reduced their grocery bills, if Tom Car
son was in the grocery line; and Maggie
had decided that they couldn't afford to
hire Pat Murphy this year. And she
was proud of her garden.
They had had lettuce and onions. and
Beans and peas; and Maggic's round ia C
was browncr, and her robust health more
robust, than they had been in May.
IL was Maggie tomatoes that made tho
trouble. She burst into the sitting-room
week later, with excited speed.
What do you Think" she demanded.
brcathlcssly: They keep hens
there arc fifty, if there's one; and they
hain't sign of n hen park; and Pvc lust
been chasing them out of my tomatoes
my tomatoes!' said Maggie almost tcnr-
fully. "Thc fencc-pickets are SO wide
apart they can hop right on. THEY'LL
have to put up another fcnce-that's
ALL"
"They seem like nice, quiet people, u
Celia commented. al presume they'll he
willing to do something"
mice and quictp said Maggie. with
sarcasm. 81 should think SO. The
pokicst cid couple you ever saw. Seventy
II they're day, and-wcll, Just miscrs;
] know they aic. IIe-what's the nameS
Tisdnlc2-wcll, Mr.. Tisdalc, he wears
the drealfulest old clothes; a coatt hnt's
just as shabby, and bcntin old hat.
Ana she goes about in an old sacque
that must have come out of the rag bag
aud you ought TO see her bonnct-such n
thingw
"Pe haps they're in reduced circum-
stances, said Celia, reprovingly.
with that lovely house and furnish
ingsT said Maggie, unanswcrably. ooh,
no! And-to come back to the hens
they must fix that fence l can't lose
my lovely tomatoes. Think of all, the
cans VIC were to have, Celia-Chili sauce
and pickles, and the little yellow ones
IN preserves! oh, won't give them up
to Mr.. Tisdalc's hcnsp'
And Maggie wandered away into the
yard again, in aimless anxiety.
Mr.. Tisdalo wa, Just over tho fence.
hocing about the roots of n grape vine.
Maggie looked at him in contemptuous
astonishmcnt. What niggardiness to
do himself, and at his age. work which
he could so well afford to hire done. lie
was dc idedly common looking; he had
broad face and small eyes, and a stubby
gray beard, and he had on q coat with
frayed sleeves, and patch on its back.
Maggie stood irresolute; Mr. Tisdalc
did not look inviting Then she stepped
to the fence firmly.
Even then struggling flock headed
by highly colored, pugnacious- looking
rooster, was coming through the pickets
and toward the tomatoes.
'Mr: TlsdalcE" SAID Maggie, timidly.
Mr. Tsdale hood on without response.
"Mr Ti>dalep she repeated.
He did not turn the fraction of an inch.
Maggie gazcd at him.
''lf you please" she cried, with tho
strength of indignation.
But her neighbor stopped to unclog
his hoe in utter silence.
Maggie graspcd-What a boorl what
brute! What could Celia say nowl
The flock had reached the tomatoes.
She could see them contcntedly picking
there--a dozen Of them. What should
she do?
The old man raised his head at this
juncture and looked at her. Alaegie
looked sternly into his sharp little
eyes.
81 want to ask you, sir,p she sad.
with severity, ''about your hens. They're
running my tomatoes as fnst as they can
and pvo worked over them all summer.
and we can't afford to lose them. Won't
you"
She stoppcd-not because she had fin