The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1871-05-18
VINO TOOK THE HoUsE.
~ ntrrlE DYER BRirrs.

meut, 40 doubt be would have found The
balance ON the other side. But there WAS
uo Mrs Stokes for Simeon was au old
bachsl0r.
Forty years he had patiently endured
the horrors Of a boarding house, and
then, finding himself la tbe possession Of
a pretty good income, he bought himself
a house hired a housckeCper aud two or
three servants, and set up an establish
meat Of lis own.
But the experiment had not succe ded.
He was worried 10 death by u cross
housekecpcr, until be supplantcd her by
one who came recommended as perfect
gem And SO she might have been but
that She was subject 10 weekly attacks OF
nervous headache, which Mr.. Stokes soon
discovered TO have some connection with
a bottle Of applc-iuck. So she was depos-
ed, aud another one hired, who couldn't
manage the servants or herself either. lie
was at the mercy Of dishonest domestics
aud pIunderipg tradcsmen, and finally, in
despair Of doing anything else, MIR.
Stokes resolved to let his house, aGd 20
back to boarding.
wont sell the place, lac thought, be-
cause I've got two or three pretty nciccs
. =
I they're big enough, III get one Of them
+ to keep house Cor me, and zee IL | can't
have a home.
Aud then Mr.. Stokes thought about a
pretty girl who grew up when he did,
and the recollection of whose bright ewes
and peacly checks had kept him an old
bachelor ever since.
! All, now, he sighed, if / had only mar
ried Sallie Harvest.
But, alas, Sallic Harvest had married
/ Tom llarlowe while Simeon was making
/ up his mind, aud all that was years ago.
SO he sighed again, and went to stick a
huge placard, bearing the words "To
+ Let, in his front window.
/ No, it must be more definite than that.
+ | can't have the house run over all day,
/ he said, after he had surveyed the effect
+ from the front door step.
+ Aud accordingly he took the placard
down, wrote upon II in staring letters
Inquire from to l2 a. m, and replac-
/ cd il in the window.
I At nine O'Clock the next morning he
I took up his position in the library, pre-
I pared to answer in person all applica-
+ lions for his premises,
For the first hour nobody came, then
/ the library door was thrown open 10 adj
+ nit large, pretentious looking lady, who
swept her yoluminous tlounccs backward
/ and inquired with condeScendng air
for Mr., Stokes.
Pray, sir, are you the agent of this
/ place?
Madam, ! am the owner of this place,
returned Simeon, somewhat stitfiy.
I All, indeed said the lady, looking at
I him Rs if she doubted it somewhat.
I You wish TO rent, then, | suppose?
/ Yes, madam.
Well, | should like to see the house.
Certainly, madam.
The little man showed the big woman
( through all the apartments aud belong
7 ings, ending as they had begun, in the
. library.
/ Its all pretty well, remarked the Lady.
Only pretty well, however, for perceive
( the marble mantles are ont OF style.
/ They are stylish enough for me, grimly
observed Simeon.
The lady gave him another condesccn-
ding gancc.
Oh. YES dare say they suited YOU but
for frst-class family, now Pray, what
SOFT Of a ncighborhood Is III
have always found il will enough,
said Mr.. Stokes.
But is it gcnteel enough for a iirst-class
family
First.class fidlcstlck exclaimed Sim
con, raising, unable to keep his temper
longer. / dare say madam, the ncighbor-
hood would suit YOU bette. than YOU
would suit the neighborbood. They are
not used to people who put on airs
The lady looked at him In astonish-
ment.
Oh, well, If you mean TO be insulting
there s All cad to the matter. | wish you
good morning, sir
She took herself of la search OF more
irst-ela,s neighbOrhood aud dwelling,
and Mr. Stokes was glad TO see the last OF
her,
The next callers were two old maids in
eorkscrcw curls and artificial flowers who
wanted to hire desirable tenement in
which 70 set up select school.
Now, the old maids Simeon might have
put up with, bat the idea of q troop Of
children rampaging over his house, max
lag pencil marks on the window sill.
aud holes IN the plastcring was too much
for an orderly Old bachelor so Mr..
Stokes refused to let the house for such
purpose, aud the fair aud ancient maid
ems retired in high dudgcon.
Next came Methodist preacher, In
white crayat ard gold speclacles. who
wanted a nice, quiet home for small
family consisting Of the preacher. bis
wife. nine small children aud a grand
mothcr-s0 be wouldn't come 70 terms,
aud the preacher was as unsuccessful as
thc rcst.
A0er him came a bouncing big Dutch
woman. who wanted 10 keep d beer sa-
loon ia the front parlor, aud after her a
p0mpoas doctor, who wanted TO put
gratings oH Tie upper windows aud e..
labli,h private luhatie asylum.
Following him WAS most geutlcmanly
iookiu. person, who bad only three la
h,s family, and 10 whom hr Stokes bad
almost lei the house when Ne discovered
that his applicant was i dancing MASTER
and Intended 20 take private classes in
tbc front rooms Think Of IT, 4 mem-
Der 81 tie Presbyterian church fl good
standing renting his house fJr q dancing
academy.
Mr Stokes bowed oui the dancing mas.
ier aud resolved 70 take down bis placard
and ~ 10 keep house another year rath-
e. than stand tBis any iouger
lie walked up aud down the foom 10
cool bis lenper aHd had iu.l finished bis
promenade wbgu the door wAs opened
again.
Another u en- th0aght Mr. Stokes 10
y. 4 "a.