Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-02-13
TO LET-INQUIRE WITHIN.

TO LET-INQUIRE WITHIN.
Two Young damsels and spinster aunt
'nme in. and after lengthy inspection Of
tbepremises, came to a state council In the
parOr. ;, -,
sinister aunt solemnly, land with few al
terations l will engage it for my brothers
family.
VERY good, madam" said Nahum, rub
bing his hands, and scenting speedy ter
mination to his trials. Name EN-.
''The door handles must all be guided,
and should like the house newly papered
in velvet and gold, and repainted, aud the
partition between the parlors taken down
and replaced by an arch, and an extension
dining room built on behind, and bay style
Of range in the kitchen and a dumb waiter
put in, and new bronzed chandeliers through
out, and another furnace in the sub-cellar,
and"
Hold on, ma 'am-just hold on one min
ute, said Nahum, feebly gasping for breath.
Wouldn't you like the old house carried
away, and new one put in its place? L
think it would be rather less trouble than to
make the trifling alterations you suggest.
Sir" said the spinster lottily.
u don think we can agree ma am.
'Very well-Very welcome girls.
With prim dignity the lady marstaled
her two charges out, muttering something
about the extortionate ideas of landlords
nova days
Nahum wildly rumpling his iron grey
hair with both hands, soliloquized: We'll,
if Job had been alive and had a house to let,
there never would have been any book OF
Job written There goes that everlasting
bell again; I'll haul it out by the roots if
Ibis thing goes on much longer. LII tear
down the bell and put The place up at auc-
ton.
Another lady, but quite different from the
uther-a slender, little, cast down lady with
head that dropped like lilly of the val
lev, and dress of brown silk that had been
mended, and darned and turned and retrim
med. and even Nahum Briggs, man and
batchelor as he was, could see how very
shabby it was. Yet she was pretty. with
big blue eyes and shining brown hair and
cheeks tingcd with a fair, feeting color,
bIOomed in vivid carmine. And golden
haired little lassie clung to her dress, as like
her tiny lilly buds to bloom chime OF flow
er bells.
As Nahum Briggs stood looking at her
there came back to him the sunshiny days
of youth field of blooming clover Grim
sOned the June like waves Of blood, and a
blue-eyed girl leaning over the fence, with
her bright hair barred with level sunset
gold, and he knew he was standing face to
face with Barbara Wylie, the girl he had
quarreled with years and years ago, and
whose blue eyes had kept him an old bach
elor all his life long.
This house is to be let believer she
asked timidly, with little qulyer IN her lips
Il believe it is Barbara Wylie.
She looked up startled with a sudden flush
of recognition And then Barbara turned
very pale, and began to cry, with the little
golden haired girl clinging to her skirts and
Walng-
Mamma-mamma what's the matter
mamma ?''
Nothing, now, said Barbara, resolutely
brushing away the tears. If you please
Mr. Briggs, will look at the house. L am
a poor widow now and very poor. and-and
| think of keeping boarding house to earn
my daily bread. | hope the rent is not very
high p"
Wen talk about the rent afterward, y
said Nahum, fercely swallowing down big
lump in his throat that threatened to choke
him. Come here little girl and kiss me.
/ used to know your mamma when she
wasn't much bigger than you are.
Barbara, with her blue eyes still drooplng,
went all over the house without finding a
word of fault, and Nahum Briggs walked at
her side, wondering if it was really fifteen
years since the June sunshine lay SO bright
iy on the clover fields.
Il thirk the house is beautiful, y sand
meek Barbara, "will you rent it to ME, Ma
hum?
We'll, yes" said Nahum thoughtfully.
I'm let you have my house, if you want II
Barbara
With the privilege of keeping fe"
boarders?''
No ma am -
Barbara stopped and looked wistfully at him
But | don't think you understand how
very poor l am, Mr.. Briggs.
Yes, / do"
And that I cannot afford to take the
house without the privilege of taking board
ers"
''I'll tell you what, Barbara" said Mr.
Briggs, dictatorially, ''I'll give you tn,
privilege Of keeping just one boarder, anc
him you will have to keep all your life long
If you once take him.