MRS. GRUNDY.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 746, 29 March 1877, Page 3

MRS. GRUNDY.

A new family was to move into the neighborhood, and the neighbours were on nettles ot curiosity m regard to them. The furniture came on Tuesday, and Mrs Winters, who lives next door, received a call from Mrs Jackson and Mrs Reynolds just as the first load of goods made its appearance on the street. ' Dp you know the new neighbors are coming to-day V inquired Mrs j ackson. ' I've heard so. I wonder what kind of people they are ?' said Mrs Winters. ' J don't know,' replied Mrs Jackson, ' but I think their furniture is coming now.' 'Is that so ?' And Mrs Winters hastened into the next room, whose window commanded a most desirable view of the situation. The excellent ladies followed immediately after her, and the three forms filled up the window, and the three pairs of eyes peered through the bliuds m the liveliest expectation. The load drove up to the gate, and after what appeared to be a needlessly long time, the ropes were removed, and the unloading commenced. • ' That must be the man,' said Mrs Reynolds, indicating a gentleman who just staggered up with a clock under one arm, a looking-glass under the other, a basket of something or another m each hand, and his pockets full of vases.

' Of course,' promptly chi med m her companions, recognizing at once that the pack horse was ' the man.' nice looking,' Baid oue of the ladies, iv which the others coincided.

« What is that at the front of the wagon ?' asked Mr-s Jackson. ' I was looking at ' that myself,' said Mrs Winters. ' It's a settee, ain't it?' ' I guess it is,' replied Mrs Jackson, anxiously. 'I- didn't know at first but that it might be .a tete-a--tete' '0, no; that's nothing but a settee — a well worn one, too,' said Mrs Reynolds. ' Why, don't you suppose they've got a tete-a-tete ?' inquired Mrs Jackson, with painful anxiety. 'It taint on that load, at any rate,' said Mrs Reynold's, whose carefully-trained eyes had already encompassed and pierced the wagon full of furniture. ' What do you think of those chairs ?' asked Mrs Winter's. « I can't see them very well as my eyes trouble me so.' Mrs Jackson kindly came to her rescue at once. « They're oak, I guess, an' a very cheap looking article at tbat. 1 do wonder if this is their best furniture V

Further remark on the topic was cut short by the appearaice of a tired-looking woman leading two children. She stopped at the load and said something to the packhorse. 'That's her,' breathlessly exclaimed Mrs Jackson. ? Well, there's nothing stunning about her,' suggested Mrs Winters. I Gracious, I should say not,' added Mi's Reynolds, ' She's mortal homely, and she's got no more style than a telegraph pole.' ' Look at that hat— it's a fall hat, as sure as I live,' and the speaker almost lost her breath at the discovery. ' '* What sort of goods has she on P Is it calico or a delaine ?' I 1 can't see f rqm here, but I guess it's some cheap woollen goods ; but see how it fits.' ' And she's got hoops on, as true as I'm alive,' explosively announced Mrs Winters.

' Thatfs so,' chimed m the others, with a tone of disgust that could not be concealed.

' Well, I know what the rest of the furniture is without seeing it, now that I've seen her,' intelligently observed Mrs Jackson. ' They ain't got a tete-a-tete to their name, and those chairs are their best parlour chairs, too. You can take my word for that. I shan't call there m a hurry.'

* Hardly !' observed her companions, with significant smiles. And the three returned to the other room to talk of the revival.

Reader, if you have to move, move m the dead of the night. It's the best time, and you don't need much of a torchlight procession, either. — ' Danbury News.'