The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-01-02
MY LANDLADY.

! board now, and think have one of
the kindest landladies in the world. She
seems to think a great deal of me, and l
sometimes almost decide that should weep
if any harm came to her.
! She is very particular about her boarders.
Before she would take me in | was CON-
PEELED to get certificate from three clergy
men, two bankers, and lawyer, stating
that had never been hung for murder or
sent to State Prison for horse stealing. l
bargained for front room locking out on
the campus martius, and it was understood
that l was to have the room alone. On the
third night | went home and found a stran-
ger in bed, and when I began to raise
row, Mrs. Dolby caught my arm and whis-
pered:
There, now, be good, dear man, and
say no more. He's preacher, and, as he
is going away tomorrow l thought you
wouldn't mind Just one night
At the end of the week she beckoned me
aside, and smiling like load of fresh hay
she wanted to know if would do her
favor-a favor which would place her under
eternal obligations to me. replied that
would die for her, and then she asked me
to give up the room looking out upon the
grand square and take one looking out
upon grand alley, full of ash barrels and
oyster cans. She had new boarder COM
ing who was awful particular, and she
knew would do anything to accommodate
her.
made the change, and the grateful look
she gave me was enough to melt vest but
ton. had only got fairly settled when
was told that she wanted to see me in the
parlor after dinner. found her in tears
She said that a very nice man and his very
nice wife wanted to come and board with
her, but she had no room, and it grieved
her to think that she must turn them away
when she was so hard pushed to get along.
told her that if had hundred lives l
would lay them all down for her and then
borrow hundred more and add to the
pile, and she seized my hand and said that
Heaven would surely rewar2 ne for being
good to a fatherless orphan. l moved into
thO SoiiOb, IhO Nlul illal luONCu
into my room, and the very nice man and
his very nice wife moved into the from
room.
In about another week Mrs. Dolby wills
pered to me and wanted to know if had
snake in my stom lcha She said that she
had observed that 1 was very hearty
eater, and she didn't know but had
snake. l set her right, and when prom
Used to take full lunches down town and
urge all the other boarders to do the same,
she put her hand on my shoulder and re-
marked that Heaven had place for me.
That night my bed was made without
sheets, and when went to raise row she
took me by the hand and said that her
experience went to show that it was health
ter to sleep without sheets. l was going
to argue the question, when tears came to
her eyes and she hoped wouldn't say any
thing to hurt a poor, lone widow whose
life had been one long struggle with pow
erty. The next night the feather bed and
one of the pillows went, but l didn't say
anything. Then she wanted to borrow my
tooth brush for boarder who hadn't any,
and she took my stove to use in the lower
hall. l didn't say a word until she wanted
to know if | couldn't spare the old rag-car-
pet off the floor, and if l wouldn't set the
other boarder an example by drinking
nothing but water, and not taking second
biscuit. Then told her that l was going
to leave that house and try to tear her
image from my heart.
She seized both my hands, tears rolled
down her cheeks, and she asked:
:" Mister Quad, will you deliberately plot
to kill a lonesome widow, who is working
her life out to make your position here
comfortable, happy and luxurous.'
l couldn't go. I'm there yet. l sleep
on the floor, put up with cold bites and use
the boot jack for chair when l have COM
pany. l wish wasn't so tender hearted,
but | can't bear to think of hurting Mrs. |
Dolby's feelings by looking up another
place.