The Republican., 1890-04-19
Borrowers.

MRS. D., mamma wants TO know
If you will lend her your silk um-
brella ?" said a little girl. the child
of a neighbor. the other morning.
why, won't cotton one do as
we'll ?"
mo. she said your silk one."
"Tell her," said 1. in burst of in.
dignation. "that can't let her have
it ~ and 1 smut the door in perhaps
a "slammy" way.
Ny silk umbrella! What next :
They have borrowed my groceries,
tea, coffee, sugar, salt, -four, matches,
soap, starch. even to coal and kind
ling. f1at-irons, tubs, boiler. etc.. un-
til 1 hardly know where to look for
anything when 1 want it. They
have had clothes.lines, pins. ironing
boards, etc., until 1 had to send for
them when they were needed at
home; and now my umbrella. and
my silk one! Oh what nuisance
it is to have such neighbor!
They come for pail of -four and
when they return ii (if they ever do)
we find an inferior article-tea, sugar
or coffee, it is the same. Your boiler
is unWashed, outside and in, with
perhaps a leak from carelessness in
using. Your wash tubs sent home
with the dregs of dirty suds about
them. Your f1at-irons, that you are
so careful to keep smooth and clean.
are covered with rust. Your ironing
board the clean covering is soiled
and scorched.
One never knows If they are in
the house or not, as borrower gen
orally thinks 1t trouble enough to 60
after thing, without returning 1t,
and when we want it we are forced
to 60 for it.
/ had one neighbor who borrowed
about every thing 1 had in the house
that she could carry, even to the cat
to catch an encroaching mouse Then
she commenced on my clothing! l
did lend her a shawl, but when l was
asked for my best wrap 1 drew line
at that, and refused, and she became
Sc angry she never asked for another
favor ifor which l was gratefuD and
even forgot to return the tea, coffee
and sugar she had borrowed.
But l was glad to get off SO cheaply
even though she did say l was "a
mean old thing with no accommo-
dation about mel" That is Away
the way with borrowers ! They will
use you for their benefit, and then
when you refuse one thing asked for
they will forget all favors in the past
and no word is too bad to say of you
Those who borrow of their neigh
bors should be willing to return in
like, but it seems to me that it re-
quires a great deal of "neyer" to ask
one for such favors who lives TO her
self, and never borrows, preferring
if need be. to 60 without, before
troubling any one for what she can
not afford to buy and pay for.
But many are devoid of such scru
pies, and think only of their OWE
convenience, not giving thought tc
the annoyance they may be to theil
neighbors, Then when they are re
fused an article for any reason what
ever they cannot find words bad
enough to berate those who have
been subject to their exactlng de-
mands for so long.
Better say at once, 81 never lenc
or borrow" and avoid annoyance al
least, if not hard feelings. Or donate
as a Gift, and neither expect nor re-
quire a return. 1t would save much
trouble. and ofttimes bitter heart.
burnings. "My best silk umbrella. ,
indeed. Yes, verify. This is an aye
of impudence and presumption
"Neither a borrower, nor a lender be:
For loan oft los es both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls theledge of husbandry.'