Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-20

prefers, sue Invites the II1onuS ne likes,
she arranges the same routine with an eye
to his comfort. If Der duties are of kind
to take good deal ont of her in vitality
anc freshness, his, In the competitions of
business, are not less exacting. She owes
1t to him to slip on clean gown, to ''pick
up the disorderly room, that his early
home coming may be festival. In the
dewy ministry of small daily attentions
true love thrives and grows
The Neiahbor.
Many persons indulge in sentimental
twaddle about neighborly duty. 1t Is one
of the ways by which selfish and indolent
people appeal to the sympathies of the
more thrifty and iberal-minded, and COM
mand their services when they have fallen
through their own folly. The good neigh
Dor, in country parlance, is the one who
at any time is ready to abandon his own
household, or at least let them shift for the
time for themselves, in order to recuperate
his neighbours fortune Poor Mrs. Smith
has allowed her baby to eat green apples,
therefore thrifty Mrs. Brown, who has
repeatedly warned her of the danger, is
called up to attend to the infants collie.
Mrs. Smith would not and could not be of
the slightest use to Mrs. Brown in any
emergency. She will pathetically explain
| to you that ''she never could do anything
/ In anybody else's house. She would like
to, but she can't" Mrs. Brown would be
considered bad neighbor if she did not
do her best to help in such an emergency,
it matters not whether her own children
contract sickness from the absence of her
motherly care. She is one who can help
in other peoples houses, and it is her
neighborly duty to go. Because two per-
sons purchase adjoining residences, it Is
no reason why they should have any So
cial claim on each other. There is
strongly established idea In the country to
the contrary, but it is fallacy, and one
that causes generous, busy women great
deal of needless annoyance and often posi-
tive work. 1t is an easy matter for
selfish woman to obtain from another,
through some such pretext, valuable
services. A weak woman may become so
dependent on the kindly services of her
neighbor that she fails to learn the most
important lesson of Observation-Disclosures
1t is, of course, delightful to have pleas
ant, congenial neighbors. 1t is not an I'M
common thing for a number of people who
are acquainted and have kindred tastes to
live in the same village and in the same
!
have neighbors with whom we are on
familiar social relations, the fact that we
are neighbors merely is no reason why
such relations should exist Certainly no
one has any reason to be offended if a
neighbor chooses to live in retirement, or
does not return obsequious calls. Too
many of the calls on new neighbors,
which are considered Il social duty in
many districts of the country are simply
prying errands to see if the parlor carpet
genuine brussels or rag, or whether the
new neighbor keeps her hair in curl pa
pers at call hours, or is good manager or
something else, which is no possible con-
Germ of the caller.
| The Old Folks at Home.
If so fortunate as to have the 'old peo-
pie" in the house, see to it that they have
a goodly portion of the best that can be
afforded of comfort, convenience and
beauty; that aged blood may he kept warm
and cheerful; that failing limbs may have
restful repose, and that the dim eyes that
have watched over you and yours through
so many tolsome years may see around
them ever-present evidence of faithful and
grateful care. Nothing in the world is
more pathetic than the meek, timorous,
shrinking ways Of certain old people-we
have all seen then-who sit by freside
and table as mere pensioners-afraid of
making trouble" afraid of being in the
way" and going down to tie grave with
a pitiful, deprecating air, as if constantly
apologizing for staying so long. There is
no scorn too deep and sharp for sons and
daughters who will accept this attitude on
the part of those to whom they owe so
much. Sometimes, to be sure, people
grow old with bad grace. They become
embittered by misfortune or affection, or
are peevish and unreasonable under the
goad of ill-health. All the more do they
appeal to great gentleness and faithful
ness. Let it be borne in mind that we,
too. are fastening on toward the sunset Of
life, very uncomfortable old people, to de-
mand much more of patience and devotion
than we, as children yield.-W Woman 8
| World.