Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-04-19


a house she desired. She had heard that
elegant mansions were rented very reason
ably in the upper part of the city, and full
of hope and expectation, she walked light
ly on. Having no definite view, and not
knowing whittier to bend her course, she
necessarily traversed many uselessly.-I
Bills there were in plenty but upon inqui-
ring the rents they entirely exceeded her
limits. Wherever in the long vista OF
houses she caught glimpse Of white piece
of paper, thither trudged poor Mrs. Brown,
and her trouble was often rewarded by see
ing the words This House for Sale or
experiments to Let. Some houses seemed
10 come pretty near what she desired, and
these she looked through, thus consuming
more time than she was aware of.-When,
being at lost thoroughly wearied, she look
ed at her watch, and found to her utter a.
mazement and distress that it wanted but
an hour to dinner time. She was long
distance from home, and her route was not
direct one, so that she could not avail
herself of an omnibus, but tired and anxious
she hurried home.
Although very much exhausted she could
not allow herself time to rest, for Mr..
Brown was very punctual, and she dreaded
that this first day of house hunting should
interfere with her household arrangements.
Despite all her endeayorS. however, dinner
was not quite ready wheE her husband came
in; aud when the meat was put upon the
| table the vegetables were but half cooked:
and the meat though burnt 10 crisp on the
surface, was scarcely warmed through {;
while she. from fatigue and vexation at The
i'll cooked dinner, had little appetite, and
felt ready to burst into tears. Mr.. Brown
made no remaks upon his uncomfortable
meal. He asked his wife if she had been
out, and upon her replying in the atfirma-
tive, seemed to understand it all without
further questioning.
/ After he was gone, Mrs. Brown threw
herself on the sofa in fit of i'll temper
She was angry at herself and everybody
else. Besides the uncomfortable sensation
of extreme fatigue, she felt the unwelcome
convection OF having mispent her time and
marred her husbands pleasure. Provoked
and weary, she fell asleep, and awakening
more refreshed, was able to meet her hus-
band at tea with a cheerful countenance.
She told him of her morning occupation,
> and felt little provoked again, when he
shrugged his shoulders and smiled, without
any further answer.
The next day, Mrs. Brown felt the et-
fects of her fatigue too keenly to admit oi
another attempt, and she contented herself
at home in performing her usual duties, land
providing for her husband dinner that
> should obliterate from his memory the un-
savory one of the day before But the en-
suing morning, with renewed strength and
undimniShed courage, she sailed forth
Being hnacquanted with the upper part OF
the CITY, she often found herself traverSine
streets and reading bills that she had seen
the dav before. She began to think OF
labylnth, and of looking for needle in a
haystack. She saw many houses with I'M
posing fronts but with one stack OF CHM
news or without a yard. Some objection
existed to each and when her watch again
prompted her TO return, the search was still
frutless and thus another morning. was
wasted.
Many days were spent in this manner,
and she almost began to despair, when she
found at last what seemed the very object
of her search, handsome house in res
pectable neighborhood, at a very reasona-
Bile rent Quite eiated at her success, she
returned home, after having ascertarned
where the landlord resided. The house
was at present unoccupied, and they could
have possession Immediately, which was
very desirable as it would enable them to
avoid the confusion OF May day. When
Mr. Blown came in his wife informed HIM
that she had found a dwelling that would
suit them, and asked him to go with her to
see it. He complied, and after having ex-
amined the house, he SAID he saw no posi-
tive objection to it it was rather out OF his
way to be sure, but he should be conten. it
she was satisfied, and he promised to call
upon the owner the following morning.
Mrs. Brown felt perfectly happy, and
when her husband that evening pasted
bill upon the present dwelling, she checked
the rising emotion of regret, by indulging
in visions of handsome 2arlors, stylish fur
nlture, and all the etceteras which their
projected removal would bring in its train.
( When Mr.. Brown left the next morning her
last injunction was that he should immedi-
ately see the owner lest another more for
tunate applicant should obtain the coveted
dwelling; and after his departure, unable
to content herself at home, so accustomed
had she become to her daily journeys, she
proceeded to the new house, having meas
/ ured the rooms, busted herself in selecting
and cheapening carpets, IN hopeful and de-
! lightful anticipation. On returning home,
she was told that several persons had call
| ed to see the house, and one lady in partic-
ular was much pleased with it, and wanted
to rent it.
! 1t must be confessed that Mrs Brown had
a rather ''dog ln-the mangerish feeling a.
bout the house she did not relish the idea
of strangers dwelling IN the old familiar
/ home which she nevertheless effected TO
deSpise and with some depression of spirit
she met her husband at dinner, who in-
creased her unhappiness by saying that he
! had been unable to see the owner OF the
new house, as he had left the city to return
on the day following. How vexatlouS !"
thought poor Mrs. Brown. In the evening
Mr.. Brown told her he had an applicant tor
their house. The proposed tenant, he said,
was a verJ desirable one, but he had de-
ferred renting him the house, until their
own affairs were positively settled. His
wife was glad of this arrangement, and
waited with increased anxiety the result of
the following day.
Morning came, and Mrs. Brown devoted
herself assiduously t. her duties, with a
grateful warmth playing about her heart
towards her husband who had so kindly