Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-04
MISCELLANY.


pered IN velvet and gold. and re-paint-
ed, and the partition between the par
lOrs taken down and replaced by an arch,
and an extension dining room built ont
behind, and bay window thrown out
of the FarlOr, aud new style of range
IN the kitchen, and dumb waiter put
10, and new bronze chandeliers through
out, and another furnace in the subject
lar, and"
''Hold on. ma'am- Just hold on one
minute, said Nahum, feebiy gaspiDg
for breath. '.W0uld't You like tile old
In its place? think it would be rather
less trouble than to make the trifliDg
alterations you suggest.
''Sirl" SAID the spinster, lOitilY.
81 don't think We can agree, ma Fam.
every well-very welcome girls. "
With prIm dignity the lady mar
shaded her two charges ont, muttering
something about the ''extortioDate
ideas of landlords nowadays"
While Nahum, wildly rumpliDg his
iron gray hair with both hands, solilo-
quized:
''Well, If job had been alive, and
had house to let, there never would
have been any book of Job written
There goes that everlasting bell again.
III haul it out by the roots ii THIS thing
goes on much longer. I'll tear down
the bill and put the place Up at auc-
ton"
Another lady, but quite different from
the OtheT-a slender, little cast down
lady, with head that dropped like a
lily of the valley, and dress of brown
silk that had been mended and darned
anu turned aud Fetrimmed. until even
Nahum Briggs, man and bachelor
though he was, could see how very
shabby II was. Vet she Was pretty,
with big blue eyes and shining brown
hair, and cheeks tinged with a faint
heeting color, where the velvety roses
OF youth had once bl0omed III vivid
carInine. Aud the golden haired little
lassies who clung to her dress were as
like her as tiny lily buds to a full bloom
ell chime of flower bells.
As Nahum Briggs stood looking at
her, there came back to him the sun
shiny days of his youth-a field of
blooming clover, crimson IN the June
light, like waves of blood, and blne-
eyed girl leaning over the fence, with
AEI uAlknL ltdAA bhAIGsl Will lrcNEl HuuSEI
gold, aud he knew that he was standing
face to tace with Barbara Wyhe, the
girl he had quarreled with years and
years ago, aud whose blue eyes had
kept him an old bachelor all his life
long.
''This house is to be let, I believer"
she asked timidly, with a little culver in
her mouth.
81 believe it is, Barbara Wylie.'
She looked up, started with sudden
flush of recognition.
And then Barbara turned very pale,
aud began tO cry, with the little golden
haired girls clinglng to her skirts. aud
wailing, mamma, mamma-what's the
matter, mammal"
Nothing, now" said Barbara, reso-
lutely brushingaway the tears. ''IfyOG
please, Mr. Briggs, l will look at the
house. am a widow now, and very
poor, and-and think of keeping a
boarding house to earn my daily bread.
I hope the rent is not very high?"
"We1l talk about the rent after
wards" said Nahum, fiercely swallowing
down big lump II his throat that
threatened to choke him. 'fCOme here,
little girls and kiss me; used to know
your mother when she wasn't much
bigger than you are.
Barbara, with her blue eyes still
dropping, went all over the house with
out finding a word of fault, and Nahum
Briggs walked at her side, wondering if
it really was fifteen years since the June
sunshine lay so brightly on the clover
field
81 think the house is beautiful, " said
meek Barbara. ''Will you rent it to
me, Nahum
''Well, yes" said Nahum, thought
fully, ''Tll let yOu have my house if you
want it, Barbara
with the privilege of keeping few
bOsrders?"
mo, nld'am.f"
Barbara stopped and looked wistfully
at him.
"But 1 don't think you understand
how very poor L am, MIR. Briggs"
Eyes, do"
'sAnd that cannot afford to take the
house without the privilege of board
ers"
'.Tu tell you what, Barbara" said
Mr.. Briggs, dictstOrislly, "Tll give you
the privilege of keeping just one board
er, and him you've got to keep all your
life long, If you once take him."
81 don't think / qnite understand
You, MIR. Briggs" said Barbara, but
She blushed very becOmingly, and We
are rather inclined to think that she
told naughty little fib.
"What do you say to me for a board
er, Barbara" said the the old bache
lOr. taking both the widows hands il
his. Barbara, we we're young fcOl'
once, and that is no reason We should
be old fools now. / like You as well a.
/ ever did, and I'll do my best to be 1
good husband to you, and a good fathel
to your little girls, If you'll be my wife.
Barbara blushed again, and hesitated
but Nahum was not TO be eluded thus
ssShall / take down the TO Let,
Barbara"
ssYes," she muTmursd almost unde
her breath.
So Nahum went deliberately out anC
cooIly tore down the bill, to the grea
establishment and disappointment of
party of rabid house hunters who wer
Just ascending the steps.
s'And when shall We be married, Bar
bara?" he next demanded.
''In the summer, perhaps, " said Mrs
Barbara, shyly.