Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-10-30
THE NEW FAMILY
By JULIA A. ROBINSON

The Coney farm, as IL was calieu,
had long been vacant, and rundown.
Tow a pew owner was coming, and in
An high.
~Hy%bames Jenkins" Mrs. Jones
,rformed her neighbors. Sic had been,
making inquiries about the expected
Axpvcomers. They've been living down
the city. He's got wife but she's
i sIim. and five children"
All we're eager to see the new fami-
" arrive Some of the women even
\ vent down to the small flag station.
The whistle sounded, the train came
n 3 stop, and the new family alighted,
oil Of them. A trunk, well strapped,
was set down on the platform, hoe
and buggy.
He's got a buggy" whispered Mrs.
True. Amt it fine? The rest Of the
things must be coming later"
Mr. Jenkins looked about on his new
retghbors, a broad smile on his face
thai won their hearts. He seemed a
ioIIy SORT Of man, gOod-natured.
ANY Of you got horse l can bor-
rowY he asked. MY wife here amt
able to walk. My buggy came, but l
need horse"
you're welcome to take one O.
ours" quickly responded Mrs
Choombs.
Mrs. Choombs soon returned. Mr..
Jenkins, with thanks, harnessed the
horse to his buggy, piled his family in
II and drove off.
Mrs Bates, who lived nearest to the
u Coney farm, was preparing her supper
when there came a knock at the door.
There stood one of the jenkins chill
dTen.
Dad says, could you lend him a
ii hit of wood?" she asked, IAN ma,
VI she wants a saucepan and a little
4 -four"
TO be sure, dear!" responded Mrs.
q Bates.
In the morning another child came
ii with the request: Gould you lend me
loaf of bread and a few potatoes,
II and Dad, he wants a shovel"
After a few days the neighbOrs be-
gan to talk among themselves.
n It's about time them things OF
theirs came, l say" observed Mrs.
e Jones' "The things they've borrowed
me and haint never returned, l
eouldntstell yoN'yN Il .,sf, va
& why, l Thought Twas the only one
who lent 'em things" cried Mrs.
81 Brown.
The only one? Not much !" cried
81 several voices. I'm lendin' 'em things
SSNery day"
y s.SGle, too" echoed Mrs. Gibbs. "They
- borrowed my washboard and
#ap, baking tins, plates, even, apd
Yshey never return thing till l go
81 after it. Not always then, especially
Il II its something to eat. I'm bout
81 fired of it." ...tasa. re.-s....
y Hes borrowed my husbands
shovel, his oxen and plough. Dan said
he really couldn't refuse a newcomer,
n but he needed them himself" said an
II other.
Its too eXasperating, but what can
We do?" asked Mrs Brown.
d They talked the matter over for
days. At last they decided on a plan
y they thought must be effectual to work
81 cure in the new family. Mrs Jones
was the first one to put it into effect.
L Mary Jenkins came over, as usual and
/ asked: Can you lend Ma six eggs
and cup Of sugar and a little butter?
She's making a cake"
Certainly" beamed Mrs. Jones'
bringing the desired articles.
81 In half an hour the child came back.
These eggs are all rotten; Ma can't
use EN-" she complained, land the
sugars got sand in it, and the butter
don't taste good"
Sorry" exclaimed Mrs. Jones.
# Those eggs were all I had. l remem-
Der the sugar got spilled an the boys
scraped 1t up. 'Spose they scOoped up a
q Dit O sand with it. Can't be helped
4 now. Ask your ma to please excuse
1t this time"
The scheme was working we'll with
Mrs. Jenkins, but how were the men
y to manage Mr.. jenkins? That was a
n more difficult matter and far more seri-
Gus.
Good morning, Neighbor JONES'"
Mr. jenkins accosted with his usual
smile. Just lend me your harrow.
I've gotter go over my land"
1t hurt Mr.. Jones to take the screws
rom his new harrow, for he knew it
would fall to pieces, and it would
lake a good day to repair it, but for
The sake of the cause he did it.
IN short measure Mr. Jenkins came
II Dack, not smiling this time.
What's the matter with the old
lnngf' he blurted.
Nhy-why-it's broken" cried Mr..
zones. AN twas a new one, too. May
De l can fix 1t, but twill take lot
20 time"
was the same with everything
Jenkins tried to do. Everything he
borrowed fell to pieces.
II went on for few days. Nothing
mat the Jenkins family tried to Dor
." was in working order. At last they
HI - to understand.
M. ysYebby we'd better go an buy a
&c" things for ourselves" said Mr..
Tehkins to his wife. Folks seem to be
Hired o. Inndin,"