North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-02-09
To Let...Inquire Within.


To Lett. Inquire Within.
The LADY aounced out in rage.
Two young damsels and a spinster aunt
followed, and after lengthy inspection
Of the premises, came to state council
in the parlor.
II like the hosse very much,' said the
spinster aunt solemnly, land with few
alterations, will engage it for my bro
ther's family"
''very good, ma'am," said Nahum,
rubbing his hands, and scenting speedy
termination to his trials. "Name 'em."
"The door handles must all be gilded,
and should like the house newly papered
{ in velvet and gold, and repainted, and the
partiton between the parlors taken down
and replaced by an arch, and an exten-
sien dining.room built on behind, and q
new style of range in the kitchen, and. a
dumb waiter put in, and new bronze
chandeliers throughout, and another fur
mace in the sub-cellar, and
'Hold on, ma 'am-just 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 triAing altera-
tiors you suggest"
.'Sir r. said the spinster loftily.
II don't thiPk we can agree, ma'am. !"
''Very well-very welcome, girls"
With prim dignity the lady marshalled
her two charges out, muttering something
{ about the .'extortionate ideas of landlords
nowadays"
While Nahum, wildly rumbling his
iron-grey hair with both hands, solilo.
qu;z.d:
"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 Ill
haul it out by the roots, if this thing gees
on much longer. I'll tear down the bill,
and put up the place at auction"
Another lady, but quite different from
the other-a slender little cast-down lady,
with head that dropped like lily of the
valley, anda dress of brown silk, that
had been mended, and turned, and re
trimmed. 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, 6eet>
ing color, where tho velvety roses oi
youth had once bloomed in vivid carmine.
And a golden haired little lassie clung to
her dress, as like the tiny lily buds to
blooming chime Of flower bells.
AS Nahum Briggs stood looking at her,
there cane back to him the sunshiny days
Of youth; field Of blooming clover
crlms,ned the June light like waves ol
blood, and blue-eyed girl leaning ovel
the fence with her bright hair barred with
! level spnsst gold. and be knew that he
Was standing face to face with Barbars
Wylie, the girl be had quarrelled with
years and years ago, and whose blue eyes
had kept him an old bachelor all his life
ivpg.
ssThis house is to be let, believe p
she asked timidly, with little quiver in
hSr mouth. S& 4S
~ 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 c.inging to her skirts, and
wailing- A s9
mamma, mamna-what's the matter
mamma 2" @t>>I
"Nothing now" said Barbara, rsso'
iutely brushing away the tears.
IF you please, Mr.. Briggs, / will look
at the house; ! am widow now, and
very poor, and think of keeping a
boarding house to earn my daily bread.
hope the rent is not very shigh?"
."'We'll talk about the rent afterwards u
said Nahum, fercely swallowing down a
big lump in his throat that threatened to
choke him.
"Come here, little girl, and kiss me
nsed to know your mamma when she
wasn't much bigger than you are" 13t5.
Barbara with her blue eyes still droop
: jpe, went all over the house, withou,
finding . word of fault, and Nahum
Briggs walked at her side, wondering il
it was really fifteen years since the June
sunshine lay so brightly on the clover
field.
II think the house is beautiful said
meek Barbara. "Will you rent it to me,
Nahum p ',e'g''
Well, yes" said Nahum thoug ghtfully.
fH'll let you have my house, il you want
IS, Barbara
with the privilege of keeping few
bosrders?''
"No, ma'amv