Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-27
MY NElGHBOR.
How She Caught a Not Very
Prevalent Disease.


enough TO find seat in an extreme cor
ner OF the tram" and had just
squeezed myself into it. when two gen.
tlemen and two ladies entered. As
matter of course there were two polite
young men sitting opposite me who
were only too happy to offer these la
dies their place-and, as a matter of
course, these ladies accepted them as
codrteously as they were offered. But
this arrangement built a barrier of
broadcloth and tweed between as wom-
en- folks, as the four gentlemen stood
wedged in the narrow aisle of the vehi-
Gle. Now one of these ladies was a
neighbOr of mine. and | was just think
ing of the many points of interest we
had in common, and how. if it wasn't
for the human wall between us, or that
I'd be obliged to raise my voice TO
sort of 'whoop'' to be heard, | would
ask her hundred things about this and
that and the other. when the brakes
ratified around, the patient little mules
started and we We're off.
Visions of little Lord Fauntleroy
haunted me-the pretty yellow hair. the
sweet lisp, the dignity of that small
scion of nobility. and | had just made
up my mind to tell the bright author OF
that charming book how much
thanked her for making it possible to
give to the world so sweet, so whole
some, so pure play, when straight
through the crooked elbow of one Of
the gentlemen standing nearest me
came these words:
The funniest sight you ever sawp'
81 can we'll believe it!''
And then her sun-bonnet was tilted
at such an indescribable anglen'
You don't mean me to understand
that she raxed up the carriage drive as
well as the paths?"
Il do, indeed; and not only did she
rake up the whole moist, half-muddy
place, but she swept it with an old
broom!''
Upon my WORD What's the matter
with the old yard, anyhow was it in
need of such personal attention."
She evidently seemed to think so.
There were some orange peels The
neighbor children had thrown down
my own, perhaps among the mum Der.
as they play at will in the big old,
grassy yard few broken egg shells.
lot OF white paper some one had torn
into small bits and thrown TO the four
winds of Heaven-at least they were
scattered broadcast over the earth
'But it was her bo.k ward wasn't it?
Fancy caring for little litter to that
extent My, if the ashes got knee-deep
on the walks I'd not make a common
laborer of myself She lady. too
"'Lady'-weli, You wouldn't have
thought she was if you'd have seen her
this morning. | counted. actually, ten
baskets of stuff she carried away and
dumped into the ash barrel at the corner
of her house. fear | shall never be
lucky enough to see such comical
sight again
Rather slowly at first. then with light
ning-like rapidity | began to recognize
the actor in this comical scene of which
my neighbor spoke. ! had raked I'D nv
poor, old. too iong-neglected back yard
that very morning; had picked up
about as many baskets OF rubbish as my
neighbor had said she counted. and car
ried them to the ash barrel: | had worn
sun bonnet, which. on account of my
eyes, had worn at an angle she found
herself unable to describe: but hadn't
known Id been acting the leading COM
sdy role OF the neighborhood.
So they were talking about me-they
were laughing at me-.and |. who knew
just what sort of back yard my neigh
Dor possessed. felt how easy a matter
'twould be 10 revenge myself; but
didn't.
Her back yard was place beggaring
iption-refuse, particularly I'M
calmly in ones sight held its own proud
and particular place 1t was an in
closure no child could play in safely
was ii any wonder they chose the green,
grassy expanse OF my own big yard?
Children must be out OF doors. and
really believe a pig would have dis
dained my neigh boris yard for wallow
No feeling OF nicely pervaded that bit
OF ground. What of prettiness and
trimness there was stopped short at the
first fence post at one side of the house.
In front OF the house was trim row OF
late fall flowers 'chiney asters." as
our old bousekeeper used TO call them.
and chrysanthemums making cav the
place. All that was in view from the
street was orderly enough-but. on. the
unseen places 1t was like lace sham |
over filthy pillow Even Is mantle /
of charity | generally try = carry along |
with me in shawl-strap for use in /
places repugnant. refused stolidly to I
cover this bit of an Enclosure that had /
ever been an eye-Sore to me. or course. |
as you so wisely say, ! needn't look that I
way; but, dear mel could see it with /
nv eyes shut.
Yet you say she writes for news /
papers and magazines. plays and sings /
her own music. paints all kinds Of pic |
lures, and"
''Yes, She does AL tina! ana more, and