Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-09-15
ALL AREBORROWERS
MRS. CUMBAck TELLS OF HABITS
OF NEiGH6ORS.
Trails and TribuIations of One Who
Tries to Be Accommodating
Loaned Dog Costs Her Hus-
band S14.

Here's the coffee you so kindly
loaned NE. Mrs. Witherspoon," said
Mrs. Cumback. Il don't make q prac'
tise OF borrowing, but when l do ash
& neighbor for little accommodates
I return what l borrow promptly.
Now, Mrs. Wagstaff would be
model neighbor If she wasn't always
borrowing and forgetting to pay back
A week ago she came over and Dor
roWed six eggs. l hate to lend eggs
We buy our eggs from farmer II
the country and he brings them in
while they are fresh, and all his hens
are thoroughbreds, and he feeds them
scientific rations, and of course, the
eggs are superior. Well, l let Mrs
Wagstaf have the six eggs. l just
simply can't refuse to accommodate a
neighbor.
She said when she got them that
she'd return them the next morning
The days went by, and she was in our
house dozen times, and she never
mentioned those eggs. / always
brought the conversation around to
eggs, but she didn't seem to take the
hint, so finally l spoke right out and
asked her why she didn't return the
eggs she borrowed
have avoided that subject says
she, as cool as you please, in order to
spare your feelings. The fact is that
they were all bad. Still, if you insist
upon having good eggs for them says
she, I'll send them over, but l thought
1t would be kindness to drop the sub
ject altogether
Actually, Mrs. Witherspoon, l was
so mad that l couldn't say a word.
The idea of such an insult, in my own
house! And we go to such trouble
and expense to get the best eggs in
the state!"
That's always the way when you
try to accommodate people" replied
Mrs. Witherspoon. When we were
first married my husband set it down
as rule that l should never borrow
anything from the neighbors unless it
was case of emergency. l have
stuck to that rule as well as l could,
but Of course a woman who does her
own homework simply has to borrow
now and then.
"A few days ago l needed an extra
saucepan, and l ran over to Mrs.
Gooseworthy's to get one. Everybody
knows that Mrs. Gooseworthy is the
worst borrower in this town.
Her husband is just as bad as she
ic Mr.
valuable watch dog that he priced
above everything and Mr.. Gooseworthy
| even borrowed that, saying that he
had lot of money in the house one
night and was afraid of burglars. He
put the dog in the cellar where h
wife had left a lot of poisoned meat
to kill rats and in the morning the
dog was dead. Mr.. Gooseworthy came
| over and told my husband about it,
seeming to think it a great joke.
Mr.. Witherspoon hit him and they
fought all over the yard for an hour,
and broke down my clothesline and
trampled the clothes, and they spoiled
all the grapevines and currant bushes
and just ruined my bed of asparagus.
And Mrs. Gooseworthy telephoned for
the police, and an officer came and ar.
rested Mr.. Witherspoon, just as If he
were to blame, and it cost him $14.
I'VE didn't speak for a long time
after that, but finally Mrs Goosewor-
thy began her borrowing again. She
had borrowed SO much at our place
that l naturally went to her when !
| needed a saucepan, and she let me
have it cheerfully enough. When ]
went home l didn't need to use it for
an hour or so, and then when l poured
| some water into it l found that it
leaked. l took it right back and told
Mrs. Gooseworthy her saucepan had a
hole in it, and she said if it had ]
| must have punched it myself, for when
got the saucepan it was as good as
the day she bought it, and if l didn't
buy her a new one at once she'd have
her opinion of me.
But l have my opinion OF her, Sc
why shouldn't she have her opinion of
me? l am awfully liberal about such
| things, Mrs. Cumback."