The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 988, December 3, 1898 — John Shaqi
The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 988, December 3, 1898Various
General
The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 988, December 3, 1898
Various
Children's literature -- Periodicals
Still, there is no denying that whatever are our faults, those of
our neighbour are very aggravating. What can be more intolerable than
the barking and yelping of our neighbour's dog, the crowing of our
neighbour's cock, the creaking of his rusty gate, and the crying and
even screaming of his children? Only one thing can be worse, and that
is the strumming on our neighbour's piano. Next door noises are a
source of much ill-temper and even of ill-health to those whose nerves
are strained to tension-point, and in these days of high pressure,
this is one of our most serious troubles. The minor annoyances of our
neighbour's washing and our neighbour's cooking are as nothing compared
to these, and we must consider ourselves fortunate if we have quiet
people next door. Better still if they are godly people who recognise
the divine duty of a neighbour.
I think there is no time when the disposition of a neighbour is more
evident than in times of sickness, and our happiest recollection of
neighbours was under those circumstances. Up to then our acquaintance
was limited to pleasant exchange of courtesies over the weather, the
new baby and the gardens; and friendly relations were established
between us when, one morning we received a little note saying that they
were having a new flagstone put down at their gate, and as ours was
also worn, would we allow their workman to put one down for us--surely
a most neighbourly and considerate proposition! This led to pleasant
intercourse between the houses, exchange of household recipes, bouquets
and visits. But the testing came when long and severe illness laid
one of our family low; and then in truth we learnt to know what "to
be neighbourly" meant. No distance was too great, no journey too
irksome--if any special delicacy were needed for the invalid--every
morning, afternoon, and evening brought some kind message for the
patient or the nurse, and, when recovery happily came, it was our
kind neighbour, the head of the house, who carried the convalescent
downstairs for the first time.
And now, years after these events, when we have moved away--as well
as they--the children are grown-up, and the families are scattered,
there is a bond of happy recollections between us, which time does not
efface, or change of circumstances alter. It is our old neighbours
who send us Christmas and other greetings, when friends and relatives
forget to send them, and some of our pleasantest conversations refer to
the time when we lived "next door."
May this continue till we find ourselves with them again, neighbours,
but in heavenly mansions!
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Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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