Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-08-17
THE
OLD WEED
WOMAN

~UNA BORDEN was bending
over her strawberry bed hunt
ing for the first ripe berries.
II she was successful In her
search she was going to make short
cake. She had just discovered
stem of luscious, big red berries when
she heard some one coming into her
garden. Turning, she saw Mrs. More
her nelghbor from across the way.
Il just stopped In on my way to
town, Cuna, to see If there was any
errand / could do for you" and then
as her eyes fell on the berries she
exclaimed ripe strawberries Cuna,
your garden Is wonder. It's way
ahead of mine. tell my husband
that the sun always seems to shine
warmer 10 your yard than anywhere
else on this street. But all the same
it's shame that ysu have to live next
door to old Mrs. Kerr Her place VIII
never be anything but an eyesore to
the community as long as she lives.
1t spells the whole tone of the street,
let alone brOadcastlng seeds frem
every weed imaginable. | suppose we
might just as well make the best Of 1t.
John says there Is no law in this VII
lage that can compel Il man TO clean
up his yard. And old Mrs. Kerr will
never do a thing. She hates the neigh
borhood. She told Mrs. Fry the Otlier
day that she guesses one way and an
other she gets Just as many weeds
as she sows. The conversation trailed
off into other channels and finally
Mrs. More went on her way.
After Mrs. More had gone Cuna
stood for several moments cOntem-
plating the adjoining yard. 1t was
shame, just as Betsy More had said,
that nothing could be done to make
old Mrs. Kerr clean up her yard. In
the bright sunlight it looked as If 1t
were covered with a fleece Of fluffy
white cotton, so thick was 1t strewn
with dandellon blossoms gone to seed.
Even as Cuna looked a puff of wind
swOoped down. An instant later the
air was filled with a cloud of dande
lion fun. Each bit OF fun, as Cuna
knew all too well, carried tiny seed
which eventually would appear as a
full grown plant In every carefully
kept yard for several blocks. Cuna's
eyes followed the flight fseeds. What
was the use Of all her labor year after
year If old Mrs Kerr's neglected yard
was allowed to go on brOadcastlng
weeds? She thought of the old lady
herself bent and gnarled with pierc-
ing, dark eyes, which, somehow, in
their depths seemed to harbor such
an unfrlendly CLEAN. Mrs. Kerr had
well earned for herself the title of
The Old Weed Woman But what a
dreadful thing It must be to be old
and disliked. A moment later a
thought came to Cuna that sent her
flying into her house.
Two days later Mr.. Gray, the green
house man, delivered a whole CARLOAD
of plants. All the rest of the day
Cuna worked like beaver setting out
plants. Directly on the line which sep
arated her lot from old Mrs. Kerr'S
she thickly set hollyhocks. These she
fanked with phlOX, 2innlas, lupines
nicotines, pansies. Old Mrs. Kerr
watched from her tiny back porch
Her attitude was belllgerent She
meant her presence to warn Cuna moi
to set foot ON her premises.
Weeks went by and Cuna's hedg,
began to bloom. II was glowing
beauty. People drove, past the plac,
in the evening just TO catch Whit o.
the fragrant nlcOtines that aOwed Xix,
white stars in the moonlight Cnn,
tOlled, watered and watched He
hands were callOused and blistere,
with wedding. Then one day mes
sage came saying that her sister need
ed her. There was no time to think o
anything Cuna packed as quickly n
she could and left without having tim
to bid Mrs. More gOod-by
1t was five weeks before Cuna agull
saw her home. She arrived ON lat
evening train and sllpepd into he
house and to bed without even wait
ing to make herself cup OF tea. Sh
slept profoundly.
Next morning Cuna was awakene
by the sound of rain driving agains
her window. The sound made he
want to snuggle down under the COY
ers for another hour, but she was on
of bed instantly. Her fingers falrl
flew as she slipped into house dres
and twisted her dark hair and pinne
It into place. Her one thought was q
her garden. She had read that Pine
Vile had been visited by drought
Downing an old slcker and not wait
Ing to put anything on her head sh
ran downstairs and out of the hous,
A moment later she stood staring |
amaZement ut what she saw. Her gal
den was as neat and well cared "a
us IL she had not been away even 70
one day. Her tomatoes were careful
trimmed and staked up Her flower
had not suffered from the drough
That meant that some one had va
tered them. There was not weed I
be seen. The hollyhocks had grow
tall and thick. They were covere
with wealth of brilliant bloom. The
completely hid the adjoining yard.
hoo-hOOing from across the stree
caused her to turn quickly. It wa
Betsy More
"When did you get home. Cuna
Mrs. More called.
Last night on the late train" Gun
answered. But, Mrs. More what
want TO know is, vino II was that too
such good care of my garden"
Guess :" Mrs. More's eyes twinkle,
81 can't" Cuna admitted
"Just take Il peek over in MIR
Kerrs yard" Mrs. More laughed he
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