Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-11-27


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 thirty
five years, and her low-toned, clear voice
was like pleasant music.
Good-evening p said the queer lit
tie man, "I understand you have some
vacant rooms for boarders. want a
whole floor, if you can accommodate me,
bedroom and sitting-room. want
my dinner in the middle of the day, and
I'm so used to my own way that 1 must
have it, no matter what it costs but
I'm willing to pay for it. L shall keep
your servant running up and down all
the time I'm in the house, so please
have one that has plenty of life and
activity. Can / have the o0ms 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, STRIP
"Look at them My trunks will be
here presently, and 1 intendto sleep here
to night"
But" stammered the lady, eff they
should not suit you?'
"They must ! If they don't suit 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 / am stranger here VIII
twenty-five dollars a week pay for both
rooms 2"
Had gold mine opened at her feet,
the little lady conld not have looked
more astonished. Her little rooms had
never brought such price as that.
"It is too much," she said, gently !;
perhaps, if you are stranger, you do
not know that this is not a very aris-
tocratic neighborhood, and you see the
house is very small. My 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 1 will try to make it
pleasant for you, but the rooms are
small, sir, and they are both bed rooms
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.
I'm the most troublesome man you ever
heard Of 1 want hot coffee in bed at
six o'clock in the morning, and / eat
wait until you see me eat, I'll keep
your girl busy, and, as 1 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-"
eyes, sir. Her mother died here
last summer. viii 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 rs Jameson. By the way, to-mor-
row is Thanksgiving, and If L don't
have roast turkey, oysters sauce, mince
pies, and pumpkin tarts for my dinner,
l 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
Mics MoSalv
g / viii go to my room now, if you
please"
Cora Hill was beautiful enough to
account 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 Gale on her 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 shaggy
hair, and chuckling to himself.
The next day Jennie and Eddy
thought the reign of fairies had certain
ly come again. The great trunk they
had seen carried up stairs to the queer
little mans room, cOntalne' marvellous
story books, wonderful toys, and what
seemed inexhaustible stores of confect.
ionery. The Thanksgiving dinner was
/" enlarged and improved" by jars of
most delicious preserves, and Miss
Mosely was almost as much frightened
as astonished at the arrival in the mid
d. of the day of basket containing
oranges, nuts, candied fruit, plump
oysters, and various other additions to
the dinner, and also stout, recent ar
rival from green Erin, who said GA
quare little gentleman had tould her
the lady wanted girl, and who proved
herself treasure on the Instant.
1t sometimes proved to Miss Mosely,
herself the gentlest of human beings, as
if her new boarder must be insane, and
again she could have worshiped him for
his goodness to the children, who had
become so dear to her own kind heart.
The Thanksgiving dinner was the mer-
riest of feats. Master Eddy, won at the
first glance by Mr.. Jameson's smile,
made quaint speeches, in baby English,
about the unusual pr0fusion of good
things, Jennie was radiantly happy, and
seeing her brother and sister so pleased,
brought flush of pleasure to Cora's