Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-09-16
0umorolIs Selections.
The way to Nullify a bad Lease.


There is shrewd and wealthy old Yam
kee landlord away down in Maine who is
noted for driving his sharp bargans"-
by which he had amassed large amount of
property. He is the owner of large num-
Der of dwelling houses, and it is said of him,
that he is not over scrupulous in his rental
charges, whenever he finds a customer whom
he knows to be responsible His object is
always to lease his houses for term of years,
to the best tenants, and get the utmost far
thing in the shape of rent.
A diminutive Frenchman called on him
last winter, to hire dwelling he owned in
Portland, and which had long remained
empty. References were given, and the
Yankee landlord ascertaining that the tenant
was man after his own heart" for a ten
ant, Immediately commenced to Jew"
him. He found that the tenement appeared
to suit the little Frenchman, and he placed
an exhorbitant price upon it; but the lease
was drawn and duly executed, and the ten
ant removed into his new quarters.
Upon the kindling of the fires in the
house it was found that the chimneys would
not " draw and the building was filled with
smoke. The window sashes ratified in the
wind at night, and the cold air rushed in
through hundred crevices about the house
until now unnoticed. The snow melted up
on the roof, and the attics were drenched
from leaking. The rain pelted, and our
Frenchman found natural" bath room
upon the cellar loor-but the lease was 81 gn-
ed and the landlord chuckled.
81 have ben vat you sail call suck in
Wis zis dam maison," muttered our victim to
himself, a week erwards-but n'importe
we sal see vot We sal see"
Next morning he arose bright and early,
and passing down town, he encountered the
landlord.
"A-ha, bon .j0,r, Monsieur" said he in
his happiest manner.
Good DAY, sir. How doyou like your
house.
"Ahl Observation-Disclosures
magnificent En- bjen, UonSieur, | have but
re one regret"
"Ah What is thatr'
Monsieur, | sal live in Eat house but
tree little year"
How so 2"
81 have find by vot you call re lease, Eat
you have give me re house but for tree year,
and yer much sorrow for Eat"
But you can have it longer if you wish
"Ah, Monsieur, | sal be yer mooch glad
if | can have Eat house so long as L please
-eh, Monsieur"
sob certainly, certainly, sir"
I" Tres Jien, MOnsjeur / sal walk rite to
your ofees-and you sal give me Eat you
call re lease for that moisOn, .jeS so long as
i sal rant &c house Eli Monsieur
Certainly, sir, You can stay there your
life time if you like"
"Ah! Monsieur--I have yer mooch
tanks for Zis accommodation"
The old leases were destroyed and new
one delivered in form to the French gentle
man, giving him possession of the premises
for &C such period as the lessee may desire
the same, he paying the rent thereof prompt
iy," etc. etc.
The next morning, our crafty landlord
was passing the house just as the French
mans last load of furniture was being start.
ed from the door and, an hour afterwards
a messenger called on him with "lega
tender" for the rent for eight days, accom-
panied, with note as follows:
Z" Monsieur: | hav bin shmoke-I hav
bin drowned-I have been frees to death,
in re house vat l av hire of you, for re
period as l may desire l hav stay in re
dam house, jeS so long as / please and
re bearer of zis will give you re key Bon
jour, Monsieur"
1t is needless to add that our Yankee
landlord has never since been known to give
up " bird in hand, for one in the BUSH"