Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-08-11
THE LITTLE RED HOUSE.

The one disagreeable object which met
Mrs Wharton's eyes, when she glanced
from the window of her stately country
q seat, was little red eottage-quite a
common, vulgar place, you know-low
down by the sea shore. 1t spoiled the
elegant effect of the lawn and trees, and
the broad gateway of Wharton Villa
especially when at the door sat in the
summer, twilight, with his pipe-the
old man who was its master-old John
Bowling. 5.t.
He had been sailor once, and salt
as the sea-rough in dress and mien,
and altogether unpleasant to fastidious
Mrs. Wharton but there he would stay
and there he meant to desc he said
Good wiling
GAS if, said little Mr. Wharton, any
vulgar place wouldn't suit him, instead
of the very gate of our villa"
In fact the lady had grown quite Sc
rious on the subject, and was busy with
plans and plots to drive the old sailor
from his home. Twice had she been
to old Van Klout, who owned the
ground on which the little house stood,
to buy it from him; but Van Klout
had answered i7a ns'
"Vell, veil. l should sell de grount
but dare is mine goot friend, John Bow
ling-you would turn him off," '
Exactly my object" said the lady.
$50 2" replied the German. "Vell,
veil but den John Bowling wants to
live dare.'' .+.-s
And the ground was not to be had.
So, in her anger at this refusal, and
John Bowling determination not to. be
paid for his cottage, and move, Mrs.
Wharton hardly answered his 'Saryice
mum , always uttered when she passed
and from the window of the home she
loved, stared angrily upon the home of
another loved as we'll. Even little Mel
lie Wharton had learned to talk with
her baby lips of that ugly red house,
and the nasty old sailor
And now, when the lady had begun
to despair of her object, who should die
but old Van Klout, and who should
come into bis property but rapacious
young east who was willing enough to
sacrifice any number of homes for little
money, and who elegantly promised
Mrs. Wharton to sell her the gore
lot, "and if old Bowling didn't like it,
let him lump it," -.-
So the red shanty was to come down
as soon as the papers were signed. Of
course they should pay the sailor the
value, and what more, in the name of
goodness could they do =? rh
Old Bowling had heard the news,
and wretehed enough was he in conse-
quence. When the lady went to tale
her walk by the shore, watching the
little pleasure boat. in which servant
was sailing with her child, with moth
er's eyes, the old sailor came to her.
"Sarvice, num-" pulling lock of
hair. l..,t. -
GOOD evening, JOHN said the la
dy. "What do you want p
'To ask you favor, mum, said he.
Don't send me off. The wally o the
house amt to be had in money. l love
it so dear. It's all Pve got You have
a husband and a child, and lots of
friends and fine things. Let me keep
my house." i7sq -
"Any house will be as good" said
the lady sl p
"To you, mebbe; not to me. What
does my house hurt i? 1 never annoy
nobody If do, tell me, and what
ever it is shan't be done no MORE"
The lady shook her head. Ta
"There's no use talking" she said.
"You couldn't understand The house
is in my way" assfee
The sailor looked at her. W
whats that in the bible our chap
lain used to read US aboutthe poor mans
eve lamb p he said "Do you remem-
Der herring Of it p leH .si
"Don't preach, John Bowling" said
the lady. II have no more to say you
had better co. pa "a .sqas 81 A.
'sThey say women has tender hearts,
said the old sailor. sn"If that's true,
you can't think what you're doin'. The
house is as dear to me as that child is
to you"
He pointed to the boat as he spoke,
and the lady looked.
The little thing was fitting before the
breeze like white winged bird. Butt
/
there was something unusual in its