Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-08-10
NO. 1873.
MISS GRIMP'S BOARDERS.


tie points that jut out into the ocean, and
take the wild beatings of the stormy At
lantic with an equanimity that is born of
beng used to it.
Almost every habitable place in in the
tain air, or any air at all, has been discov-
quite lately that Miss Selma Grimp, a
mild-looking spinster OF fifty summers
and winters, fell into state of unwonted
excitement over her first boarders. There
was no hotel at Wilkins Cove, and none of
the dozen or two families in the place had
ever put up company" That SO strange
Miss Selma seemed like snch malicious
freak of fate that she could scarcely get
reconciled to it.
1t came about in this wise:
A cousin of hers, when both of them
were girls together, had married city
clerk, and from the day of her marriage
Jane Hopkins had pushed her husband
ahead with steady hand. There was
one drawback, however. to his success
He had kind and generous heart; and
when his only sister died, within year or
two of her husbands death, Mark Hop
kins insisted upon taking her little girl
to his own home and heart. The frugal
Jane objected to this, declaring that II was
taking the bread and butter out of his own
children's mouths. But on this one point
he was firm; and little Juliet Selingwood
had at least nominal home under his
roof
Her childhood was rather gray in hue.
She was not pretty by any means, was
shy and sensitive, and seemed to have no
CAP acity for making friends. She grew up
somewhat tall, thin, and dark, with fine
eyes and capabilities for beauty; but she
was seldom becomngly dressed, and she
did not in the least know how to make the
best of herself.
Aunt Jane was too busy with her own
daughters to pay much attention to "her
husbands niece"-as she always designat-
ed her-until one day the unwelcome truth
was forced upon her that Juliet was nine
teen years of age, and could no longer be
treated as child. The girl was presum-
ing TO look pale and thin, too, with no ap-
petite and little energy; and when the
question of the summer hegira was dis
cussed. the most troublesome point was to
dispose of Juliet.
Hitherto she had been left in the city "to
toke care of her uncle" by which arrange
ment the expense Of her sojourn at the
fashionable watering place patronized by
her aunt and cousin was avoided, and un-
Gle and neice were equally pleased. But
Mr.. Hopkins stoutly declared that Juliet
needed country air this season, and insisted
upon her going to B--Springs, in spite
of Mrs. Hopkins. curtain lectures on the
palpable folly of chaperoning three girls
at once.
The good lady had never known her
husband to be so obstinate; but having,
like Mrs. Joe Gargery "a master mind"
she spent one sleepless night in perfecting
a plan that appeared like genuine flash
of inspiration. In the midst of her dis
quietude the spare figure of Cousin Selma
had risen from the depths of memory like
IA very earthly angel, and come to her re-
lief.
Selma was lone woman, living by
herself in 1.-The homestead" frame build
ing of moderate dimensions, with about
twenty acres of land attached to it; while
the hired man resided in the bosom of his
family near by. 1t would be capital
thing for Juliet to spend the summer with
Cousin Selma, at a very moderate board;
and as Mr.. Hopkins offered no objection
to this plan, provided that Juliet was will
ing-and Juliet was more than willing to
get off from B Springs-Miss Grimp
speedily received an epistle from her city
cousin that threw her into an alarming
state Of not-know observation-disclosures.
On reflection, however. Mrs. Selma
rather liked the idea of having company,
and she was decidedly pleased with the
prospect of regular income for what
would cost her very little. But, according
to the invariable custom at Wilkins Cove
(having fully made up her own mind on
the subject) she put on her sun-bonnet and
went to consult her nearest neighbor
The neiShbor gave her some not very
accounts of boarders with
whom her husbands sister had contended
at various periods of her exercise, from
which it would appear that boarders were
the natural enemies OF the people who
boarded them, but advised her neverthe-
less to take the young lady so unexpectedly
offered. and Miss Selma lost no time in
writing her acceptance to cousin Hop
kins."
She was in the midst of grand renova-
ting of her best chamber, when the hired
nran screamed to her from below that "a
teller wanted her in the settn'-room.''
"Fellers" in the "settin' '-room," or.
indeed, anywhere else, were rare COM
and when Miss Grimp, with her
nair hurriedly plastered down with water.
and her face shining with soap. adjourned
10 the parlor, her first glance at the "fel-
Ter" established there assured her that
whatever the object of his visit might be,
he would be pretty sure 10 get it. Every
one who looked into those steady, smiling
eyes very generally arrived at the same
conclusion.
Miss Selma was afraid the man had
books to sell, and nerved herself accord
ingly, but her CONSERVATION was extreme
when he proposed himself AS boarder.
1t seemed to her that it was raining board
ers, and she wanted TO run away some
where until the shower was over.
The lady had opened hei mouth, evil
dently to demonstrate. but the stranger
smilingy proceeded;
IL will promise to live out of doors
most OF the time, and you may feed me on
bread and milk. There are some very
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