National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-07-23
To Let--Inquire Within.
The lady fionced out in a rage.


state council in the parlor.
Il like this house very much,
said the spinsteI aunt, ,sOlemnly, sand
with a few alterations, will engage
it for my brothers family
Very well, ma'am, said Nahum,
rubbing his hands, and scenting a
speedy termination to his trials.
Name 'em.'
'The door handles must be gilded,
and | should like the house newly
papered in velvet anu gold, and the
partition between the pariors taken
down and replaced by an arch, and
an extension dining room built on
behind, and new style of range in
.he kitchen, and dumb waiter put
in, and new bronze chandeliers
throughout, and another furnace in
the sub cellar, and
Hold Oh, ma'am- iust hold on
one minute, said Nahum, feebly
gasping for breath.
Wouldn't you like the old house
carted away and new one put in
its place l think it would be
rather less trouble than to make the
tritling alterations you have sugges.
ted.
Sir y said the spinster, lOftily.
Il don't think we can agree,
ma'am.
Very well-very we'll. Come,
girls
With prime dignity the lady mar.
shaIled her two charges out, mutter-
ing something about the 'extortion.
ate ideas of landlords now .a-days ;
While Nahum, wildly rumpling
his iron gray hair with both hands,
soIiloquized;
well, if Job had been alive, and
had "A house to let, there never
would have been any book of Job
written. There goes that everlast-
ing bell again. III haul it out by
the roots if this thing goes on much
longer. I'll tear down the bill, and
put up the place at auction
Another lady, but quite different
from t h G other--a slender, little,
cast,down lady, with a head that
dropped like a lily OF the valley, and
a dress of brown silk, that had been
mended and turned and turned and
retrimmed, and even Nahum Briggs,
man and bachelor though he was,
could see how shabby it was. Yet
she was pretty, with big blue eyes,
and shining brown hair, and cheeks
tinged with a fair, ticeting color,
where the velvety roses of youth
had once bloOmed in vivid carmine.
y nd a golden-haired little lassie
/ clung to her dress, as like TO her as
the tiny lily buds to blooming
chime of flower bells.
AS Nahum Briggs stood looking
at her, there came back to him the
sunshiny days of youth; a field of
blooming clover crimsoncd the June
light like waves of blood, and 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 quarrelled
with years and years ago, and whose
blue eyes had kept him an o. d
bachelor all his life long.
This house is to be let, believer
she asked, timidly, with a little
quiver in her mouth.
Il believe it is, Barbara Wylie.
She looked up, starting with a
sudden flush of recognition.
And then Barbara turned very
pale, and began to weep, with the
little golden haired girl clinging to
her skirts, and crying
Mamma, mamma-what's { he
matter, mamma
Nothing, now,' said Barbara,
rcsolutely, brushing away tie tears.
IF you please, Mr.. Briggs, ! will
look at the house; l am widow
now, and am very Door, and | think
of keeping a boarding.house to earn
my daily bread. ! hope the rent is
not very high ~
'We'll talk about the rent after.
wards, said Nahum, fiercely swall.
owing 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 was not bigger than you.
, Barbara, with her blue eyes still
dropping, went all over the hous,
, without finding II word Of fault, and
Nahum Briggs walked at her side
wondering if it was really ilitccI
years since the June sunshine lay
so brightly on the clover field.
! think the house is beautiful,
said meek Barbara. 'Will you rent
il to me, Nahum 2
'Well, yes, said Nahum, thought
fully. III let YOU have my house i
you want it Barbara
with the privilege Of keeping q
few boardcrs !
!, mo, ma'am.
Barbara stopped and looked wist
fully at him.
But don't think You under.
stand how very poor l am, Mr.
Briggs ,
, yes, l do
'And that ! cannot afford to tax,
the house without the privilege .
keeping boardcrs.
I'm tell YOU what, Barbara,
/ said Mr.. Briggs, dictatOrially, II
4 give you the the privilege of keep
l ing just one boarder, and him yo,
! have got TO keep all your life long
}. if you once take him.
4 .l..aa Al. LII. A ..IIiI IA IIaa1us...l ~.