The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-09-13
THE NEW NEIGHBORS.


"Thcy won't be-" said Maggie, swing
ing her pretty foot from the railing on
which she was Icrchcd. Pm certain of
it and besides, Celia, what If they are!
1t isn't like they'll have mucn TO do
with US. Anybody rich enough to buy
the Nonlton House assocmting with the
poor little dot of house next door. Oh,
no"
Maggie spoke with calm conviction,
and an entire absence of dependency.
She was a sensible and independent
little person. Celia was Watching the
unloading Of a van a. their new neigh
bor's gate.
IL an afraid they are awfully rich"
she admitted. They've uupickcd some
of tie things ont OF doors, aud The furni.
turc is lovc,y-plush and stamped
leather, aud cherry bedroom sets, and
they've grJ"d pauo.'
"Wcil, said Maggie, Caily, "lct EN-
have 'cm. We've got ,anc.scatcd cha r.
and cic'onnc sofa. and pine bcdstcads
and a mel doom and what more could
you ask for
"Wcil few things, perhaps" said
Celia, smiling at Lcr bright younger
sister.
III Tom Carson got, rich in the gro
ccry business sad Maggie, banter.
inglv
"pshaww said Celia, getting rcd.
"ln all probability you can have
them, Maggie concluded, and jumped
down and trIppcd away.
She went around to the rear of the
house, and down TO the garden.
IL was not large garden, and there
was not much in 1t now but cucUmbers
and tomatoes. But il was remarkable
garden, nevertheless; for Maggie had
made and tended it herself Her mother
and Celia had protested, but Maggie
had gone deternincily to work. FOR
the possession of garden substantially
reduced their grocery bills. if Tom Car
son was in the grocery line: aud Naguie
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
was browner and her ro1us, health more
robust, than they had been in MAY
1t was Maggie tomatoes that made the
trouble. She burst into the sitting-room
Il week later with excited speed.
w hat do you think ~ She demanded
brcathicssly. They keep hcns-yc,.
there arc nifty, If there's one: and they
hain't sign Of hen. park and I'VE lust
been chasing them out Of M tomatoes -
my tomatoc,' said Maggie almost tear.
fully. "Ihc icace.pchcts are so wide
apart they can hop righ, on. ThcHu
have to put up anothc, fencc-that's
al"
They seem like nice, quiet people"
Celia commenced. ". presume they'll he
willing TO do something
"Aicc and quiet" sad Maggie, with
sarcasm 81 should think 50. The
pohics, cid coupe you ever saw. Seventy
u they're "a day, anI-Wcll. ust misci,.
! know they are. Hc--whai's the name,
Iisdu.c;-wcil, Nr. Tisdac hr wear,
TIE drcaiiulcst old clothes. coat that',
Just us shabby, and a lentiu Old hat.
And She goc- abou, in an old ,acuuc
that must have come out of ihrrlg bag:
and you ought tosgc her bonnet such "a
tAing"
"Pc hlp' they're in reduced c'rrum.
stances, sid celia, rcproying.y.
"Wl,h that lovely house and furnish
ingSt said Maggie, uuauswcrab,y. "Ou,
no, And-to come back to tn, hens
they must fix that fence ] can't lose
my lovely tomatoe' Think of all the
cans We were 10 have. Ccl.a-Chili sauce
and pickles and the little yellow ones
in preserves. Oh. ! won't give them up
TO Mr.. TIsdale's hensw
And Maggie wandered away into the
ya'd again, in aimless anxiety.
Mr. Tlsdale was Just over the fence,
hoeing about the roots Of a grape vine.
Maggie looked az him in contemptuous
astonishment What niggardliness to
do himself, and at his age. work which
he could so well afford to hire done lie
was decidedly communicating; he had
broad face and small eyes, and a stubby
gray beard, and he had on a coat with
frayed sleeves, and patch on its back.
Maggie stood lresoute; Nr. Tisdale
did not look inviting. Thea she stepped
10 the fence firmly
Even then a struggling flock headed
by highly y-colored, pugnacious- look ing
rooster, was coming through the pickets
and toward the tomatoes.
''Alr Tlsdale" SAID Maggie, timidly.
Mr. Tsdale hoed on without re- ponse.
"Nr Tisdalel" she repeated
lie did not turn the fraction Of an inch.
Maggie gazed at him.
"If you please" she cried, with the
strength Of ind ignation.
But her neighbor stopped 10 uuclog
his hoe in utter silence.
Maggie grasped What a boor what
a brute What could Celia say nowi
The flock had reached the tomatoes.
She could see them contentedly peckiug
there--a dozen OF them. What should
she do
The old man raised his mead at this
| juncture and looked AT her. Maggie
looked sternly into hls sharp little
/ eyes.
81 want TO ask you, SIR" she SAD
with severity, ''about your hens. They're
running my tomatoes as fast as they can
| aud I've worked over them all summer.