The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1864-08-24
Mrs. TibbS Boarding House.


hslcd the smoke Of London and the house n Mrs.
Iibbs was decidedly the nea,est in oil Great Corain
street. The area and tic area steps and the strees
door and the street door-steps and tho brass hsn
die and the door-pla,e and the knockcr, and tho
Twilight, were AL clean and IA bright indeiat.
igable whitewashing, and hearth -etonin9. and
sribbins and rubbing could make them. The
wonder was TIA, the brs-s door-plato, with the in
6restinR Inscription "Nns. TIDps-" had never
caught FIRE from constan, friction no rprssvering-
y was u poslished. There were Misunderstanding
wire blinds In the parlor windows, blue and gold
curtains in the drawing room, and spring roller
blinds as Mrs. Tihhs WAS wont, In the pride Of her
heart " boast. AL the way up" The tell-lsinp
IN the passage, looked ~ clear nss soap bubble
you could yourself in all tho tables and French
polish yourself on any one u tho chair the ban
nistcrs were 1ceswsSel, and the very stair wires
made your eyes wink, they were 20 pli,,erng.
Mrs. Tibbs wss somewhat short Of stature and
Mr.. Tibts was by no means q large man he had.
moreover, very shor, legs but, by way Of inlcu.
n'hcaton, HIS face was peculiarly long {; he WAS to
his wife what tho o ia in 9o--he was Of some Inn
por'ancc With hcr-hc WAS nothing without her.
Mrs. Tibbs WAS always talking. Mr.. rbts rarely
spoke but Nj were a, any time possible to put in
word, just when he should have said nothing a,
all. he I'D II. Mrs. Tbbs detes,ed long stories,
and Mr.. Thbs had one, the conclusion u which had
never been heard by he mos, intimate friends II
| always began II rccol'oct when In the vol
| unocr corps In 1SOG"-but as be sJoke very slowly
| and softly. and hs better half very quickly and
loudly, be rarely got beyond the introductory
tonee. lie was a melancholy specimen ~ the story
teller. lie was the wandering Of Joe Millerism
ever pursuing and ever Stunned.
Mr.. Tibhs niiyed small Independence. HIS
father, mother, and FIVE interesting scions from the
Same stock drew from the revenue ~ y grateful
country, for what particular service II was never
| distinctly known. Rlt as this said Independence
WAS no, quite sufficient 10 furnish two people with
al the Injuries 81 this life II had occurred 10 the
busy little spouse II Tihbs that the best thing size
could do with n legacy ~ 1850 would he TO fur
n.sh stoersbls house, for the reception Of board
| ers. Great Corun street was the spot
pitched upon. The house hal been furnished ac-
cordingly two females and an advertisement IN.
serted IN the morning papers informing the pub
| lie that - individuals would meet with all the
| comforts Of cheerful mutcal home select pr
vatc family, residing within ten minutes walk Of
| everyvhcre." Answers out % number were re-
ceivod, with all sorts Of initials Ill the letters Of
| tho alphabet seemed TO be seiz. tn n sudden
| wish to 60 out boarding and lodging voluminous
| was the correspondence between Mrs. Tibbs and
tho applicants, and most profound was the sccresy
/ winch WAS - te O'sfFNefl. r. aunt IKE tnlS
| and 81" couldn't think Of putting mp with that
81. o. T." didn't think the terms would suit him
| and ~. r." hsd never slept In French bed. The
result however, WAS that three gentlemen became
inmates Of Mrs. Tibb-' house. on terms which were
agreeable to all parties" In went tho sdvcrtise-
mcnt again. md lady with her two daughters
| proposed to increase--not their two families, but
| Mrs. Tlbbs."
'Char,nins woman. that Mrs. Maplcsone :" said
Mrs. TlObs, as she and her spouse we've sitting by
| tie tire aner breakfast the gentlemen having gone
| out on their several avocatons. Charming NO
| man. indeed !" repeated little Mrs. Tbbs moro by
| way Of sooquy than anything else, for she never
| thought Of consulting her husband. "And the two
| daughters are delightful. We must have some hsh
to-day they'll join W. At dinner for the frs, time
| Mr.. Tbbs placed the poker at right angles with
che hre-shove aud essaycd to speak. but rccollect
| ed n" had nothing to say.
Tho young ladies'" continued Mrs. T., "havt
| kindly volunteered to bring their own piano"
T.bbs thought n tho volunteer story, but did moi
venture It. A bright Thought struck him-"lt'
very likely" said he.
spray don, lean your head against the paper
interrupted Mrs. Tibbs-'and don't put your fee
| on the stec fender that's worse"
Tbcs took his head from the paper, aud ms zee
from the lender and proceeded. ITS very I'VE
" one OF the young ladies may set her cap" '0un'
mr.. simpson, and YOU know MARRIAGE
| IA what ~ shrieked Mrs. Tibbs. Tibos modest
| ly repeated ms former suggestion.
VI ueg you won't mention such thinB' SAC
Mr.. i. "A marriage indeed to rob me oil u!
| boardcrs-no not for the world"
| Tibhs thought In his own mind thst the even
was By no means unlikely, but M he never agrees
| with his wife, he put stop to the dialogue by Oh
serving II WAS slime To 20 To business" He NJ
ways went ont at ten o'clock in the morning, am
returned at five in the Afternoon. with an exceed
ingly dirty face and smelling very mouldy. No
body knew what he was, or where he went to ; b,i
Mr.. Tihbs used 10 say, with an air OF great i'm
portance, that he WAS employed by the City.
The Mas Mtplcsones and their accomplished pn
rent arrived IN tie course Of the afternoon in
hsckney coach, and accompanied by most aston
: shing number OF packages. Trunks bonnet
boxes, mufi-hoxes, parusols- guitar-cascs ; an
parcels Of all imaginable shapes. done up in brow
paper, and fastened with pins, allied the pasusag,
Then There was such running up and down wit
the luggage, such scampcrng for warm water "a
the ladies' TO wash in. and such a hustle and co:
fusion. and heating Of servants and curlinJ-!ron'
as hal never hccu known In Great Cnram-stres
before. Little Mrs. Tibbs WAS quite In her element
busting about, talking ncesssn Nv, and distribu
ing towels and soap and all the - cefer1s, like
head nurse in n hospital. The house was not r,
sturel 10 its usual state O. quiet rcpose until III
ladies were safe shut up In their respective bec
rooulG, engaged in the important occupation
, dressing for diuner.
care these gals ands,mc ?" inquired Mr.. SIM
son Of Mr. scp,imus II cks, another Of the board
crs, MS they were amusing themselves in the diaS
ing room before dinner by lolhDS on SOFAS an
contemplating their pumps.
: "Don't KNOW" replied Mr.. Septimus HICKS wh
| was n tillish, white iAced young man, wan spe,t
cles- and black ribbon round his neck inste AL
! a handkcrchief-a most interesting person. irt
: cal walker OF the hospitals and a VERY talent"
| young man" lie was very fond OF "Iugglng
into conversation all sorts of quotations rom 10
Juan. without lettering himself by the propray
y their amp, lc.tion, in which particular he was r.