Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-11-28
A knock at the door interrupted her

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"There's a gentleman wants to see
you, auntie," said the child. "T'll help
Cora take the basket to the Kitchen"
Miss Moseley at once went to the par
lor, and her odd looking visitor rose to
meet her. If he had expected to see an
angular, hard-featured maiden lady,
soured by disappointment, and hardened
by the hard life of landlady in small
clearinghouse, he must have been
agreeably surprised. The little lady
who so courteously greeted him, was
slight and delicate in figure, with the
sweetest of faces, soft brown eyes, and
waving brown hair. Her neat dress
suited her face and her age, some thir-
ty-five years, and her low-toned clear
voice was like pleasant music.
"Good EVENING"" said the queer little
man, 81 understand you have some va
cant rooms for boarders. 1 want a whole
floor, if you can accommodate me,
bedroom and sitting-room. Iwant my
dinner in the middle of the day, and
I'm so used to my own way that must
have it, no matter what it costs; but
Pm willing to pay for it. should keep
your servant running up and down all
the time Pm in the house, so please have
one that has plenty of lite and activity.
Can have the rooms, ma'am ?"
The little landlady was so taken by
surprise by the appearance and rapid
speech of her visitor, that she scarcely
knew how to reply; like the little girl,
she was prepossessed in favor of the
sweet voice and smile, so she said:
"Will you look at the rooms, sir?"
"Look at them! My trunks will be
here presently, and 1 intend to sleep
here tonight
"But," stammered the lady, "if they
should not suit you?'
"They mustv' If they don'tsuit me,
I'll pitch all the furniture out of the
window, and get what does suit me.
I'm not very rich, ma'am, but you can
have your money every month in ad-
vance, and that's all the reference can
give you, for l am a stranger here.
Will twenty-five dollars week pay for
both rooms?"
Had a gold mine opened at her feet,
the little lady could not have looked
more astonished. Her little rooms had
never brought such a price as that.
cit is too much," she said, gently;
"perhaps, if you are stranger, you do
not know that this is not very aristo-
cratic neighborhood, and you see the
house is very small. NY father built it
for his own use, he was a house carpen-
ter, and he left it to me. 1t is comfort
able, sir, and will try to make it pleas
ant for you; but the bedrooms now."
"Never mind that! Well soon get
the right furniture in. As for the price
you'll soon find you'll have to earn it.
Pm the most troublesome man you ever
heard of. I want hot coffee in bed at
six o'clock in the morning, ,and 1 eat
wait until you see me eat. I'll keep
your girl busy, and, as l said before,
1 must have my own way. What is the
name, ma'am, of the little girl who let
me in ?"
"Jennie Hill, sir.'
"She's bright little thing-an Or
phan, she tells me-"
ayes, sir. Her mother died here last
summer. Will you see the rooms now,
sir?"
certainly. We will go up now, if
you please. Here is your first months
board" and he took from his pocket
book two crisp fifty dollar bills. My
name is Jameson. By the way, to-
morrow is Thanksgiving, and If l don't
have roast turkey, oyster sauce, mince
pies, and pumpkin tarts for::my dinner,
1 shall eat up Miss Jennie, here" and
he turned to the little girl just entering
the room, and laughed merrily. Only
for moment though, for the little girl
was followed by young lady in deep
mourning, whose appearance seemed to
awaken an emotion deeper than merri-
ment in the queer little mans mind.
He bowed respectfully, and then said to
Miss Mosely:
"I will go to my room now, if you
please" ....
Cora Hill was beautiful enough to ac-
count for more than mere passing adj
miration. Her brilliant complexion,
short golden curls, and large blue eyes,
were all more beautiful contrasting
with her black dress; and the subdued
air of sorrow and care on here face,
was touching in one so lovely and so
young. Mr.. Jameson thought of her a
great deal as he paced up and down the
two little rooms, shaking his long shag-
gy hair, and chuckling to himself.
The next day Jennie and Eddy
thought the reign of fairies had GER
tainly come again. The great trunk
they had seen carried up stairs to the
queer little mans room, contained mar
vellous story books, wonderful toys, and
what seemed inexhaustible stores of
confectionery. The Thanksgiving din
ner was "enlarged and improved" by
Jars of most delicious preserves, and
Miss Mosely was almost as much fright
ened as astonished at the arrival in the
middle of the day of a basket contain
ing oranges, nuts, candied fruits, plump
oysters, and various other additions to
the dinner, and also stout, recent ar
arrival from green Erin, who said ga
quare little gentleman had told her the
lady wanted GIRL" and who proved
herself treasure on the instant.
J Itsometimes seemed to Miss Mosely,
herself the gentlest of human beings,
as if her new boarder must be insane,
and again she could have worshipped
him for hiS goodness to the children,
who had become so dear to her own
kind heart. The Thanksgiving dinner
was the merriest of feasts. Master
Eddy, won at the first glance by Mr..
Jameson's smile, made quaint speeches,
: in baby English, about the unusual pro-
: fusion of good things, Jennie was ra-
diantly happy, and seeing her brother
and sister SO pleased, brought flesh of
/. pleasure to Cora's pale face, and glad
!, look into her blue eyes that had not
been there since her mother died.
1t was very soon evident that the
i bouca bo1 raoaiyad mn inm9 To who car