The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-31

this department has, at some period of
her life, been troubled with q borrow
ing neighbor. Doubtless she has suf-
fered much annoyance, and has been
forced to yield to system of petty.
robbery, deity disguised under fine
assumption of realneighborly feeling.
Ii this be true, the readers of the de-
partment will appreciate this little
picture, drawn from life, with the as
surance that the artist has eXtenuated
nothing and set down naught in
malice.
x*x
In beautiful Texas city-which is
not Austin, however-live a charming
family Of happy and prosperous young
people who are naturally slow to find
the dark side of their surroundings, as
most young people are when every
thing has been smooth sailing for
them all along the voyage. 1t is true
that a small cloud no larger than q
mans hand has at last sailed across
their horizon, but they are'nOt certain
even yet whether this is really a cloud
OF merely a gentle haze, intended to
soften the glare of the sun. They are
such very happy young people, you
see, and is hard tosuspect their neigh
Dor OF any deliberate intention to make
a nuisance of herself.
~
They had been living in their new
nome but few days when three chill
dren made their appearance and were
so bright, and admired the baby so
excessively that the young mother
was tlattered beyond measure. Her
pleasure did not even vanish when
one of them remarked: "Mrs. Mason,
mamma says please send her few
potatoes to do till she can send to
town. She noticed you getting some
this morning" And the potatoes
were sent, and so the trouble began.
The next day the children came
around with various and sundry YES
sells, and said, with seraphic smiles:
Mrs. Mason, mamma says please
send her little salt, and some pep
per, and pound of butter, and this
little bucket full Of coal oil, and two
of your white skirts, cause we amt
had any washin' done this week"
~
This was but the beginning. 1t was
merely way Mrs. Jones had of
"breaking it gently" The messages
that came after that were of kind
to break the young wife's heart. 1t
was: "Mrs. Mason, mamma says
please lend her some of your baby's
clothes, she wants TO take our baby
down town this evening"" or, "Mrs.
Mason, mamma says she noticed you
were baking cake today, and she says
please send her some, she's awful
hungry for oel~v, perhaps ID touk
this form: "Mrs. Mason, mamma says
please lend her your paraso, she
wants to go calIin' today, and she's
goln' to buy one before long"
~
All things considered, perhaps Mrs.
Jones' borrowing propensities ran
more especially in the direction of
clothes. Something to eat was al
ways acceptable and she rarely failed
to scent whatever nice dish was in
course OF preparation in Mrs. Mason's
kitchen, and TO send the children over
for part Of it. But it was in clothes
that she luXuratcd most. When the
time came to ego calling,n the chill. !
dfen could be seen darling here and
there about the neighborhood bring
ing the various parts of the costume
home i'll sections. A parasal was bar
roWed IN one place, a pair of shoes ins
another, q dress in another and fan. |
hat and undertaking, gathered up
wherever they could be found. 70
meet Mrs. Jones out on the streets was
to meet vague suggestions of the whole
neighborhoOd and made one think, |
with shudder, Of the creature that
was made by the German students
out of the remnants of the dissecting
room.
~
There came time when Mrs. Ma
sons baby, that wonderful baby, was
a little unwell, and Mrs. Jones was
promptly on hand with a large
amount of sympathy. Il think she
is BETTER" said the little mother. 81
gave her some toddy, and she seems
to be resting easier" A little later
Mrs. Jones took her departure, and
Mrs. Mason eXclaimed: "There! how |
foolish L was! L mentioned toddy,
and that woman will send over and |
borrow what little l have" The next |
moment they saw the children COM
ing, and were greeted with, "Mrs.
Mason, mamma says she heard you
speak of having some whisky, an .
please send her some, she don't feel
very well today"
And even the children had pfoited
by their long experience. When they
came home from school in the even
ing, no sooner did they drop satchels
and lunch baskets, than they rushed
over to Mrs. Mason's and shouted
with one accord: "Please give us
t. eat, we're awful hungry,