Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-12-23
tWHoLE No. Gil.

of the gentlemen had been separately
taught to comprehend and all had been
desired to have their baggage brought
after night. Each Of them also had
been made to supply himself with vari-
Gus Articles of furniture for his room,
Mrs. Meems reminding them that her
mansion was not fitted up for boarding
house, and that Mr.. Careret (whom
she always cited as a proper example)
had volunteered To supply every thing
Tor his own apartment
Our limits will not allow Us to detaib
all the petty contrivances and shallow
s,ratagems by which Mrs. Meems man
aged to make rs much money as possible
out OF her guests, and the expedIents {"
which she and Matilda resorted for thu
purpose of concealIng theH real posltion-
1t was now necessary 10 allow iite gem
ilenen The privilege of the front parlors
and To have lgh aud fire in it during tlle
evening. Great pains were taken To
prevent their being found there all II,
once: and one evening when this dlF
occur, and some ncqaln'ances from
New York happened to drop IN, MatiI-
da whispered TO the New York ladies'
that she was having a soiree and that
as sorees were always uncertain, II
chanced that evening that the guest
were few in number, and all gentlemen.
/ Much uneasiness was felt by the moth
er aud daughter in consequence of half II
dozen young men being seen SD frequent
ly at The house. But Mrs. .Nleems en-
| deayored 10 pass them off TO her frieuds
as Matilda'S beaux. Never (as was re-
marked) were beaux so constant in their
attendance, and never was hospitality
c equal TO that Of Mrs. Mems at allowing
these beaux TO take all their meals at her
table. The opposite neighbors would
have been somewhat curious to ascer-
tain why, so many different Young men
went in and out OF Mrs Meems's house
so often during the day. But, as. is gen.
orally the case with opposite neighb"rs,
they were perfectly acquainted with tho
real state Oh affairs and being in pos
session of the whole truth had nothing
leh TO conjecture.
\ lt is not TO be supposed that all the six
young gentlemen were not fully aware
of the doubtful capacity IN which they
were allowed to reside in Mrs. Mecms's
domiche. Also, i, is not surprising that
they compared notes, and had much
amusement Oh the subject when they
were not in presence OF their landlady
and her daughter. To each successive
boarder Matilda had made contidrn-
tial commune alton of her excessive sep
sibiIty, and The terrible violence done tn
her feelings in receiving them as innatesi
and two of the gentlemen were very
willing to humor the joke, as they called
it, and Try what farther nonsense they
could elicit from he.
! One day when the inmates were going
out from dinner, there stopped at Mrs.
Mems door large, stout old gentle
man, with very bald head and very
bushy eyebrows. lie was followed by
a porter with wheel barrow load ol bag
gage.
is This a boarding house," inquired ho
Of the boy Phny, who had come to his
! loud ring at The door bell.
I yes, sir, said Pliny, with unpardona-
bic forseifulness But as Mrs. Mems
at that moment came out of the parlor,
! aud shook her head at him threateningly,
/ the boy looked confused and stammered,
, mo, sir please, sIr-we never take mn
boarders here we never did such
thing in our lives.
Il Il Vas recommended 10 this very house,
however, said the stranger, 'and want
boarding / have jusi arrived from New
York, and don't wish to be prowling
all over town ia search Of place to pat
my head IN
\. Mrs. Mems, rather than lose the
chance Of another inmate, now came for
ward, and the gentleman held owl card
TO her, with the name Of John NJ. GrunI-
bold. She courtesled, scaled, invited
him in, and motioned him to u seat in the
rocking chair, saving, 'We co not take
boarders-that is to say, what are usual
!, ly termed boar ders. But we have seve-
raj gentlemen stay ing with US at present,
merely for the sake of their society; intl-
mate friends of my daughter and myself |,
and as our own family is so very small +,
. We should be at loss for amusement "
we were not trying to make the house
pleasant to agreeable inmates.
/ VERY kind IN you,' said the old gem
, ,eman, very kind, indeed But these
, friends of yours must be shabby fellows
J 70 live this way upon two lone women
/, Shame on them think | won't make
their acquaintance. never could get
along With such chaps.' And he rose to
depart.
ri 'Oh! sir said Mrs Meems, 'pray
5 keep your seat You don't exnctly COM
! prehend me. These are all honorable