The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-12-08

which pas fortunately Saturday, ! put
on nv bonnet with an air Of great res
clinton, and bore down upon Mr.. Port
man.
Had / been a boy / should have en-
eournged myself by whisting all the
way there. but as il was / could only
keep up an incessnnt thinking and
wonder what my old friend would say
when be saw me in his Office aud, still
more. what he would say when ! told
him my erraud. This, however was 20
be approached 10y gradual steps; aud ]
tried 10 feel composed when ! called to
mind all the kindnesses | had received
in the shape Of handsome Christmas
presents, and various attentions that
rich old bachelors are apt to bestow on
their friends children.
For MIR. Portman had been my faith
er's friend, and | bad seen has face ever
since | could remember He had very
kindly said that he regretted not hay-
ing twenty children to send TO my
school, and he had done all that he
could toward establishing it, But
would he now feel disposed to lend me
three or four thous and dollars
/ peeped III timidly but to my great
delight, he was entirely alone.
MY dear Miss Berenice / he exclaim-
ed, warmly, taking me by both hands;
this is indeed pleasure Sit right
down here. and tell me what is the
matter-for ! know that you never
would have bearded the old fellow in
his den for nothing.
There is great deal the matter,
said l desperately, as began to feel my
nicely prepared speech slipping entire
~ away from me.
Il am sorry to hear it, he replied,
looking grave immediatelyand evident
ly expecting some overwhelming com
municauon.
/ tried to begin as / intended, but it
would not come, and, exhausted with
nervous excitement, | burst into tears
Then every thing came out in perfect
stream, without being sorted at all
and there was the strangest mixture OF
my hopes and fears and projects, and
my intention of buying house in the
same breath that / acknowledged my
self unable to pay for one room, until
my hearer looked stunned, and evident
ly began to wonder if | had lost my
senses.
Then he looked amused, and present
ly he said; My dear girl, there's no need
of crying; let us examine this matter
nationally. You wish, you say, to buy
small house, that you may have a
more desirable room for your school
and lessen the expense of rent; that
strikes me as a particularly sensible
idea As to the money part, you will
not be obliged to pay the whole sum
down; how much have you at your
commando
i have just one thousand dollars in
the world, l replied, shortly.
One thousand dollars! +! repeated Mr.
Portman, in amazement. You cannot
really mean it The daughter Of my
old friend Edward Mapleton reduced tc
this ! Why did you not let me know il
before2 2
4 would not have told you noU, said
|, proudly, had you not asked me-
The old gentleman walked abodt the
office, shaking his head in very disap,
proving way. Poor child 7 said he
poor child =
i am not so very much to be pitied,
said |, determined to assert myself tC
the last; / have youth and health, and
although | do labor under the disad.
vantage of being q woman, / intend tC
accomplish something yet. viii new
ca be dependent on any one except fol
kindness; but if you ae willing Mr.
Portman, to lend me whatever is re
4 quired above my thousand
"'Hiiiing F' he exclaimed warmly;
wonld be willing Berenice to do fa
more; but if this the only assistanc,
you will accept, let us go at once anc
look at the house
My heart was considerably lighteneC
as we set forth, and directing our step
to No 40 Plum-st., we found Messrs
Broad and Long in the shape Of on
hard looking gentleman, who was nei
ther broad Aor long, except by name
He eyed us critically, and then sal,
in an indifferent way; Yes eat httl
house present owner going west No
! 80 Lumbago-st.-take look at it?
Mr.. Portman nodded assent and
short walk brought us to a very eleal
little street, about the centre of whic
stood my house its dimensions re
minding me Of very delicate slice @
cake. TWAS just the place for a school
as | saw at the first glance; and MI
, Portman thought so too, although h
was very quiet aboutit. A long salooI
parlor--the very thing for a school
room--a cunning little dining -roor
back, and nicely furnished chamber
above, with a third story above then
Mr.. Portman examined every part {
the house very critically, and when th
agent left us for moment be told m
! that it was very well built, and that th
price, $4,000, was extremely moderate.
You could probably get $4,000 for i
after little time, il you wished to sell
said be.
This was a new view Of the case: an
it set me thinking more desperatel
than ever Make clear $1,000, afte
paying Mr. Portman what owed hiu
and thus double my money 1t va
quite exciting; and felt disposed t
60 at once into the real estate bushes.
Thn cn1 20 a al srae ihal tn hnneI