The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-01-23
MRS. BUT"


Mrs. "But" is our next door
nieghhor. Her real name is Green,
but Jonas, whenver be sees heI
marching up the walk, remarks,
"My dear, here comes Mrs. But
He is not given to calling people
names; he says it merely to put
me on my guard, for he Knows our
neighbor's failing. She is a bright,
breezy little woman, and as long
as the conversation is confined to
the weather and household affairs
| quite enjoy chatting with her,
but the moment human being,
living or dead, chances to be men.
toned. begin to quake.
The first time she called--it was
soon after we moved into the
neighborhood-I happened to say
that Mrs. Goodwin, from the
other street, had been in TO see
me, and that she impressed me as
a very lovely character.
"Oh, she is indeed" said Mrs.
"But", heartily, "she is such a de-
voled wife and so good to the poor
But" she went on, lowering her
voice. "there used to be a good
deal of talk about her when she
was a girl, and though | don't sup
pose half the things that were
said were true, people don't seem
to forget it,"
What necessity there was for
this drop Of poison to be instilled
into my mind | could not see. Mrs.
Goodwin's youth was IN the far
past. and in the gossip concerning
her in that remote period | had no
interest whatever. | was quite
willing to take her as she was in
her sweet, ripe womanhood.
One day when Mrs. But drop
ped in she found my little friend
Nellie Gray, at the piano. Nellie
is shy, brown-eyed girl of fifteen,
gifted with a wonderful ear Tor
and, as the Grays had no
piano, | had offered her mine. 81
can't help loving the child, she is
such a warm hearted little creature
and so eager for music" l said as
the door closed behind her.
MY visitor gave scarcely per.
ceplible shrug.
"Yes, Nellie seems to be a very |
nice GIRL" she admitted, "but | sup |
pose you know that she is a poor
house waif."
"No," said. | knew nothing of
The kind. Mrs. Gray had intro.
duced Nellie To me as her eldest
and the information vol.
by Mrs. "But" was utter
ly uncalled for.
One evening, on our way home I
from prayer-meeting, Jonas re-
that he always enjoyed lis
tening 10 young Spaulding, he was
80 devout and earnest.
"Yes, he is a very interesting
speaker" said our neighbor, who
had joined us as We came out of
The leciure-room, land he seems
very sincere, but can't help feel
ing a little suspicious. l knew him
when he was a boy"
Jonas made haste 10 change the |
subject; a word of encouragement |
would have resulted in our hear
ing the whole history of the young |
mans boyhood.
"Pve no patience" he exclaimed
the moment we were by ourselves,
with people who are always bring.
ing up the past. Just imagine
what heaven would by If the IN
were disposed 10 indulge
in that sort of retrospection ! The
Angel Gabriel himself would hard
ly be safe from their disparaging
''buts." and the whitest robe in all
the 'whiie-robed ihrong' would be
in danger of being smutted."
"And yet,"I said, Mrs. But
considers herself a
CHRISTIAN"
"Oh. | don't dispute her ttle,"
said Jonas, abut ] can't help
that she might be able TO
read it clear if she would rub up
her glasses with the thirteenth
chapter of / Corinthians"