The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-03-01
A BACKDOOR NEIGHBOR.
Eternal Vigilance Is the Price of
 Household Liberty.

SlJN IO D SSubCiS bAAO A"htAAy Su~ ceede6 in finding house which in size, condition and surroundings suited them admirably. It was a pleasant frame structure, sufficiently large for MT. and Mrs. Corby. their three children and one servant, with an ample lawn around it and fruit trees and grape ar bor in the rear. To the city-bred fam fly, the sense of extended space and breathing room in these surroundings and the detached houses was an experi- .e9ce a novel as it was delightful.
 Their household effects arrived Tues sday morning, and then followed the unpacking, arranging and settling, all the labor of which only those who have moved from one town to another can appreciate.
 That afternoon, when in the midst of work and confusion, Mrs Corby, her head well covered in close-fitting gray sweeping cap, and clad in her oldest gown, which she meant should take swift pilgrimage to the rag-bag the moment the chaos in the house was re- ,duced to order-Mrs. Corby, l repeat, heard slight tap upon the back door
 She opened it, wondering who could have come, and found herself confront cing a smiling-faced lady, faultlessly at tired, who carried a napkin-covered plate in her hand.
 "Good afternoon; Mrs. Corby? An, yes! l am Mrs. Jemson, your next-door neighbor. We shall be great friends, l feel sure. Do excuse me for interrupt ing, but I came to tell you if you need ed anything, and we could serve you, not to hesitate to ask. And as knew you must be so busy, I was sure this cake for tea would not be amiss."
 'Oh, thank your' cried Mrs. Corby, in pleased surprise, blushing at the thought of being seen for the first time in so unbecoming garb, yet wonder fully impressed at her new neighbor' S kind generosity. "How very, very good of you"
 Don't mention it." Mrs Jemson as- rsured her. Its mere nothing"
 "What dear little woman," thought Mrs Corby to herself, as she put the cake carefully aside and ran upstairs to see how the work progressed there. It would be a novel experience having neighbors, and she was sure one like Mrs. Jemson would be delightful She pictured to herself the grim city street from which they had moved, where for years they had lived next door to a family of whose members they knew nothing save that their name was Brown-and that only from the door, plate. Ot the family on the other side L.A .,f Gha had not thought much about it before, but it suddenly occurred to Mrs. Corby that city life was extremely selfish and cold, so withdrawn from one's fellows, and savorinG so much of suspicion and ,distrust of the majority of human be- ings.
 I've shall have delightful neighbors, l think, Harry" Mrs Corby assured her husband, as they sat down to a rather hastily put-together meal 1.-The family on the left is named Jemson. Mrs. Jemson has been over already"
 Great Scott She didn't lose any time!" her husband ejaculated.
 A day or so later Mrs. Jemson made a more formal call. She came to the side door this time and had the grace to wait until most of the house had been settled.
 '1 told Mir. Jemson," she chattered, ''that I would try to be little more well-not ceremonious, you know, but more in accordance with the usual rules. But I'm sure l know you well enough already to know that you aren't one of the painfully particular kind Now do be real reighborly."
 In due time Mrs. Corby became ac .ouainted with her other neighbors, al pleasant ladies, who seemed to stand upon ceremony" for they waited until she had her carpets down. One by ono she was informed of their character istics and peculiarities by Mrs. Jemson who in her frequent neighborly morn ing visits, running in quite informally through the back door, told her in con 1idence the entire history of the neigh borhood. Mrs. A. was very nice, ot course, but-well her religious view: were so peculiar. Mrs B. s house wa: mortgaged and, as Mrs. Jemson tolt MT. Jemson, it was a mystery to hel how they kept up so well on Mr. B.: small salary. Mrs. c. was forever go ing somewhere, and it would be great deal more becoming in her if she stayed home more and took care of her chil -dren, who were growing up like wilC Indians. As for Mrs. D., she was too much of home body; was not neigh borly one bit. As she often said to Mir -Jemson, what was the good of having peighbors if you did not see them anC feel free with them.
 Mrs Jemson had her good parts. Sh, really was no more of gossip thar some women; she simply gossipet -oftener. She readily grarted favors ,.she took Mrs. Corby riding; she was al ways running in with flowers and frui oor some dainty. To be sure, she nigh have been accused, perhaps justly, O often coming full-handed simply as al excuse for coming at all. And yet yo1 will admit, that it was kind of her She was naturally generous and sym pathetic, and but for her absorbing pas sion for neighboring without ceremony all would have gone we'll
 As it was, well-you know, dea .housekeeper, how it is. You try t.