The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-10-05

kins, castor, gridiron, shovel and
tongs and other articles, as the auc-
tioneers say in their advertisements,
too numerous to mention. This is
bad enough, but Mrs. Brown, in adj
dition to this, seems to regard the
act of borrowing as investing her
with the right of permanent posses
sion. At least Judge SO from the
fact that she seldom or never returns
articles borrowed"
lis it possible9" said Mr.. A. in
amazement. Some end must be put
to this wholesale robbery. Suppose
you begin to borrow of her. It's a
bad rule that won't work both ways
and perhaps if you make her feel a
little of the annoyance to which she
has subjected you, it may be produc-
tive of benefit"
"a good idea," said the wife,
laughing; "and it is better to try this
course than to refuse directly lending
any further that would only pro-
duce bad feeling"
"And yet" said Mr.. A. 1--WE must
come to that finally, unless the pres
ent course succeeds"
And next morning Bridget was
sent to Mrs. Browns to borrow half
a dozen tum5lers, a nutmeg crater,
and a couple of sheets.
Mrs. Brown was much surprised.
She had never befor received such an
application from Mrs. Adams; and
she could not help wondering, besides,
at the miscellaneous nature of the
loan requested. Her surpriee was
increased on the following day, when
Bridget brought her mistress COM
pliments, and would like to borrow
her clothes horse.
eyes, you may take it; but we shall
want it early next week. But haven't
you brought back the tumblers?"
"No, ma'am," said Bridget; "mis-
tress expects considerable company
Ia day or two, and it will save the
trouble of borrowing again if she
don't return them till afterwards"
"Wellp thought Mrs. Brown, 81
must say that's decidedly cool!"
Every good house keeper knows
that Tuesday is ironing day in all
we'll regulated families. II should
like to know" said Mrs. Brown on
that morning, 'why Mrs. Adams
don't return my clothes horse. She
must know that it will be in use to-
day. Jane, go over and ask for it"
Jane did her Grand. "Give my
compliments to Mrs. Brown" replied
Mrs. A. "and tell her that since she
borrowed our clothes line we have to
dry our clothes in the house, and
therefore were obliged to borrow her
clothes horse. We should have been
through using it, but as she has our
largest tub, it takes more than one
day to get through with the wash
ing"
This message produced little
sensation in the house over the way.
The result was the immediate return
of the articles mentioned by Mrs. A.
Mrs. BIS eyes began to open to the
true state of things, but she was not
yet cured, however, for the next day
Jane made her appearance, request
ing the loan of gridiron.
"Tell your mistress" said Mrs. A.
"that it is out of my power to do SO,
as she borrowed it month ago, and
has not yet returned it."
Mrs. Browns eyes were opened still
wider.
The next day Mrs. A. was requested
by message to send list of the arti-
cles which had been borrowed by
Mrs. Brown, and the latter would re-
| turn them
With Bridget's help, Mrs. A. made
out a list of thirty-seven articles,
which she sent without comment.
Mrs. Brown was petrified with
establishment. She was really very
sorry for the trouble and inconven-
fence which she must have occasioned
her neighbor. She sent a message
to that effect, when. after two days
diligent search, she contrived to get
together all the articles mentioned in
Mrs. AIS list.