The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-08-25
A Faithful and Life-like Portrait.

THE BOARDING HOUSE LANDLADY OF TIL
PERIOD.
| board now, and think l have one o
the kindest landladies in the world. Sht
seems to think great deal of me, and
sometimes almost decide that I should
weep if any harm came near her.
She is very particular about her board
ers. Before she would take me in l was
compelled to get a certificate from three
clergymen, two bankers and lawyer, stat.
ing that had never been hung for horse
stealing. l bargained for a front room
looking out on the campus martius, and il
was understood that l was to have the
room alone. On the third night l went
home and found a stranger in my bed, and
when | began to raise a row, Mrs. Dolby
caught my arm and whispered:
"There now, be good dear man, and
say no more. He's preacher, and he is
going away tomorrow, l thought you
wouldn't mind just one night"
| At the end Of the week size beckoned
me aside, and smiling like load of fresh
hay, she wanted to know if would do
her favor which would place her under
great obligations to me. l replied that l
| 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 the alley, full of ash barrels and
oyster cans. She had a new boarder COM
Ing, who was awful particular, and she
knew would do anything to accommodate
her.
l made the change, and the grateful look
she gave me was enough to melt vest
button. had only got fairly settled when
l was told she wanted to see me in the
parlor after dinner. found her in tears.
She said that 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 if had hundred lives |
would lay them all down for her and then
borrow hundred more and add to the
pile, and rs she seized my hand said that
heaven would surely reward me for being
good to tatherless orphan. moved into
the garnet, the awful particular man moved
into my room, and the very nice man and
his very nice wife moved into the front
room.
In about another week Mrs. Dolby wills
pered to me to know if l had snake in my
stomach. She said that she observed that
was heavy eater, and she didn't know
but | had snake. | set her right and
when promised to take full lunches down
town and urge all the other boarders to do |
the same, she put her hand on my shoulder
and remarked that heaven had place for
me.
That night my bed was made without |
oil, xx,l, 7
she took me by the hand and said that her
experience went to show that it was
healthier to sleep without sheets was
going to argue the question, when tears
came to her eyes, and she hoped | would
not say anything to hurt poor lone widow
whose life had been one long struggle with
poverty.
The next night the feather bed and one
of the pillows went, but didn't say any
thing, then she wanted to borrow my tooth
brush for boarder that hadn't any, and
she took my stove to use in the lower hall.
| didn't say word until she asked me if |
could spare the old rag carpet off the floor,
and if | wouldn't set the other boarders an
by drinking nothing but water,
and not taking second biscuit. Then |
tod her that | 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:
"Mr. Quad, will you deliberately plot to
Kill Lonesome widow, who is working her
life out to make your position comfortable,
happy and luxurious ~
couldn't go. Tm there yet. sleep on
the floor, put up with cold bites, and use
the bootjack for chair when l have COM
pany. | wish wasn't so tender hearted,
but | can't bear to think of hurting Mrs.
Dolby's feelings by looking up another
place.-M Qudd.