The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-03-17
THE FIREsIDE.
To Let-Inqulre Within.

AlleTdUOUS,
family"
Very well, ma'am," said Nahum, rub
b;no his hands, and seeming speedy ter
minat;on to his trials. Name 'em."
oTbe door handles must all be gilded,
and should like the house newly papered
in velvet and gold, and reprinted, and the
partition between the parlors taken down
and replaced by an arch, and an extension
dining room built on behind, and new
style of range in the kitchen, and dumb
waiter put in, and new bronze chandeliers
throughout, and another furnace In the SUBJ
cellar, and"
"Hold on, ma'am-just hold on one min
ute.n said Nahum, feebly gasping for breath.
"Wouldn't you like the old house carted
away, and a new one put in its place7
think it would be rather less trouble than
to make the trifling alterations you sug-
gest."
"Sir !" said the spinster, loftily.
az don't think we can agree, ma'am."
every well-very well. Come girls"
With prim dignity the lady marshaled
her two charges out, muttering something
about the "extortionate ideas Of landlords
nowadays"
While Nahum, wildly rumpliug his iron
grey hair with both hands, soliloquized:
"Well, if Job had been alive, and had a
house to let, there never would have been
any hook of Job written. There goes that
everlasting bell again! I'll haul it out by
the roots, if this thing goes on much longer.
I'll tear down the bill, and put up the place
OF auction.
Another lady, but quite different from the
other-a slender little cast down lady, with
head that dropped like lily of the valley,
and dress of brown silk, that had been
mended, 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
fair, fieeting color. where the velvety roses
of youth had once bloomed in vivid carmine.
And golden haired little lasse chung to her
dress. as like the tiny lily buds to bloom
ing chime of flower bells.
As Nahum Briggs stood looking at her,
thers came back to him the sunshiny days
of youth; field of blooming clover GRIM
soned 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 that lie was standing face
to face with Barbara Wylie, the girl be 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 CULVER in her
mouth
"I believe it is, Barbara Wylie"
She looked up, starting with 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 wailing-
Mamma, mamma-what's the matter,
mamma I"
Nothing, now," said Barbara, resolute-
ly, brushing away the tears.
i" If you please, Mr.. Briggs, will look at
the house; am widow now, and very
poor, and 1 think of keeping boarding
house to earn my daily bread. 1 hope the
rent is not very high 2"
"We'll talk about the rent afterwards, "
said Nahum, fiercely swallowing down big
lump in his throat that threatened to choke
him
"Come here, little girl, and kiss me; 1
used to know your mamma when she wasn't
bigger than you are"
Barbara, with her blue eyes still dropping,
went all over the house, without finding a
word of fault, and Nahum Briggs walked at
her side, wondering if it was really fifteen
wears since the June sunshine Law 80 bright
ly on the clover field.
al think the house is beautiful" said
meek Barbara. "Will you rent it to me,
Nahum 2"
"Well, yes" said Nahum. thoughtfully.
"pll let you have my house, if you want it,
Barbara"
with the privilege of keeping few
boarders?"
No, ma'aml"
Barbara stopped and looked wistfully at
him.
aBut don't think you understand how
very poor am, Mr.. Briggs"
"Yes, do"
"And that 1 cannot afford to take the
house, without the privilege of boarclers."
AZ tell you what Barbara" said Mr.
Briggs, dictatorially, ELL give you the
privilege of keeping just one boarder, and
him you have got to keep all your life
long, if you once take him."
"I don't think l quite understand you
Nahum 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 boarder
Barbara 2" said the old bachelor, taking
both the widows hands in his. Barbara
we were young fools once, but that is ne
reason why we should be old fools now.
like you just as well as I ever did, and II
do my best to be good husband to YOU
and good father to your little girl, if you'll
be my wife"
Barbara blushed again, and hesitated. bu
Nahum was not to be deluded thus.
"Shall 1 take down the sign 'To Let
Barbara"
@Yes," she murmured, almost under he
breath.
So Nahum went deliberately out. ant
coolly tore down the bill, to the great as
Constituent and disappointment of a part,
OF rabid house hunters, who were Just as
cending the steps,
"And when shall we be married. Barba
ra3" he next demanded.
Hln thesummer, perhaps" said Barbara
shyly.
Tomorrow" said Nahum decisiyey, am
tomorrow" it was.
"Opon my word, Barbara" said Nahum
on the first day of May, as he watched hi
wite's blooming face behind the coffee urr
you can't think how much jollier it is wit
you for q housekeeper than that nag, Mr..
Farley"
Barbara only laughed, and said she wa
dear, good old stnpid."
SO the probabilities are that neither M
Nahum Briggs nor his brown stone hous
will De in market again as $40 let--inquil
within"
LEAcHED ASHES FOR APPLE TREEs.-A
=. Bateham says in the Ohio Farmer til,
ieached ashes are the best manure that ca
be applied to old orchards on Sandy Iah.
Ashes should be gathered in the winter tim