Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-09-07
BREAKING THE ICE.

| in geld to me in the enjoyment my
husband and I would derive from hav-
ing delicious frozen desserts-home-
made and wholesome, as the advertise
ment put it-when the thermometer
went soaring. But did my dream come
true? It did not. One or another of
my borrowing neighbors has appropri-
ated my freezer to herself every single
warm day this summer.
And then there's my sewing ma
chine. I paid $65 for it, and it has
been nothing but a source of annoy
ance and extra expense ever since I
got it. In the first place, I've never
had the use of it, because the neigh
bors keep it working all day and I'm
too tired by the time I've picked up
after them and put the place to rights
again to do my own sewing at night
And the expense of conducting q free
suppose. Nobody ever remembers to
bring her own thread, and I am fire.
quentiy called upon for buttons, hooks
and eyes and material for facings and
bindings. Also, that sewing machine
brings me an unwanted guest for
luncheon almost every day. l can't
very well sit down and eat my midday
meal alone when a neighbor is right
in the next room waiting for an invi-
tation to lunch with me. OF course
they are always very much surprised.
Goodness, is it noon already?' they ex-
claim. why. I'd no idea it was more
than 10! Well. of course, since you
insist Those daily company lunch
cons keep our grocery bill higher than
a kite, regardless OF the way I try
to economic on the other meals.
And speaking Of groceries, if the
neighbors would pay back onlys a
small fraction of the supplies they have
borrowed from me, [ wouldn't neeU
to order anything for a month. 1 al
most laughed in Mrs. Mickles face
| :
three eggs. I'll return them when J
bring back the BUTTER she assured
me. When she borrowed the butter
yesterday she said, I'll return it with
| the flour I got last week, just as soon
| as that boy delivers my groceries.
| And when she got the four-but why
| continue? And she is no worse in
| that respect than most of the neigh
| bors.
| ''Why, even my boy has been Dor
! rowed! There are two old maid sisters
on the first floor who are so crazy
me with requests for my son and heir
| Tt wouldn't be so bad if they had a
| speck of sense about children, but they
haven't. They stuff him with things
| that give him stomachache and joUnce
| him On their knees, and were even try
ing to teach him to wall1--at S months
until I caught them at it and gave
! them q piece of my mind. They were
| quite surprised to learn that the bones
of an month old baby are too soft
to support it's weight-they thought
all he needed was practice"
There was a wrathful yell from
across the hall and the caller ross
hurriedIy. He's awake, SO I mus
be running along. I've enjoyed oul
:! chat so much, and I'm sure we're gOins
to be very congenial. Err wonder i
4 you could let RE have a cup Of sugar
and a little butter and just a wee hi
of vanilla extract until my grocerie:
come? I think I'll make some little
cup cakes for lunch. Thank you ST
much, my dear. And remember my
advice-don't become too friendly witt
the neighbors!"
Thank y0u, III remember" re
spCndod her hostess.
There was a rather worried all
about her as she followed her Gale,
TO the door-worried and apprehensive
ct wonder" she added to herself, 81
it wouldn't be more important to know
how to keep the neighbors from be
coming too friendly with me!"-Ex
change.