Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-20
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Daily ssrnnebrt sournal.
THE BELEAGUERED HOME.


breakfast with the windows open to the
ground. looking out on the sunny lawn, a
silver streak of river beyond, and the
mountains shining blue in the distance.
The first day of spring, balmy and revivi-
fving l am no believer in presentiment
misfortune descends upon US unawares,
without warning or foreshadowing, and
the house beautiful Of our hopes is swept
into ruin.
We had been very happy in our married
life. a little more than twelvemonth old.
with everything seemingly clear and bright
before us. And now all that was doubt
and gloom: our means had vanished into
thin air.. All nv. fortune that had been
mothers and that my father, Colonel IN
the Indian army, had generously resigned
to me. was invested in the Lahore and
Delhi. and that had collapsed into ruin.
We had settled in Wales on our mar
rage. where l took pleasant little house
situated on a slope of hill overlooking
the valley; well sheltered by trees, en-
powered in fioMering shrubs and covered
with creepers: quite an idylic little place
l had made up my mind to buy it. but the
owner required such heavy price that
hesitated about Withdrawing any OF my
capital from an investment where the re.
turn was so handsome as in our bank :
and now it was all gone.
had no profession, either. to iail back
upon; had served for a few years in my
fathers corps, but the climate of India did
not suit me, and as | was an only child and
we had ample means, retired and came
home at the Colonel's wish. Then mar
ried my old playmate and my father
ward, Jane Hammond, to his great de-
light, be promising to complete another
two years service, and then come home
and live with his son and daughter.
Whilst was reading the letter announ-
ing the fatal news, Jaue saw by my lace
that something dreadful had occurred. us
It papa p she cried, for she always called
my father thus; "has anything happened
to him?" She seemed absolutely relieved
when told her nothing had happened but
the loss Of all our means.
There is kind of excitement about mis-
fortune, when it first comes upon us, that
eases off portion of the shock. We were
quite gay over it, / remember. that first
day. We were young, with the world be-
fore US. We must descend into the arena
of life and fight our way to success hith-
erto we had been spectators only; for the
future we must be actors, heart and soul.
We would sell off everything here and go
up to London, where must try for en-
ployment Jane would go on. as daily
governess.
One circumstance interfered with any
plans of immediate activity on her part.
We we re daily. almost, expecting the adj
vent Of young stranger; and that must
be got over first. Then there were sew
eral other hindrances. We had tine house
upon our hands for another six months at
least.
Something could be done about the
house at once, my wife suggested. We
could write to our landlord and ask him
to take it off our hands. or to accept
specified sum in lieu of notice. With an
impulse of newborn activity, sat down
to write the note at once. Unexpected
misfortunes, wrote, had put it out of my
power to occupy house at such a rent
any longer. Would my landlord kindly
consent to some arrangement for reliev-
ing me OF q portion Of my responsibility.
'sHe must do it; he is sure to do it for
his own sake" said Jane decidedly. IF
he won't we'll put chimneysweep in the
house, or a travelling tinker" But l did
not feel quite so certain. knowing that
lChaNiodS u thSh
rights.
Our landlord was not a native-born
Welshman, but a retired attorney from
one of the large towns, who had bought
the property at a bargain. and was bent
upon making the most out Of it. He lived
in small cottage, about quarter OF
mile away, with rather bold-faced house
keeper. He and l were friendly enough.
100 ,l- tt,n Enh
notice Of the housekeeper, and think the
young woman resented this hautear lit
tie. Mr.. Tranter-that was my landlords
name-eyidently thought me good ten
ant, for / had spent good deal of money
in putting things to rights about the house
which had been before in rathera neglect
ed condition. l paid rather high rent
for the place, as rents went in that out-of-
the-way locality-f90 a year, paid half
yearly. The custom was in those parts to
pay the rent on a specified day, good
while after it was due. Thus the Lady
day rents would be paid late in June, and
the Michaelmas about December.
was great simpleton, Thought after
wards, to write such letter for there is
no need for a man to trumpet his misior,
tunes, which got wind soon enough with
Out MS dtu. Out udu NJ tndl time SUI
pid kind of confidence in the good will OF
people about me, engendered by care
less. good-natured temper, of which it
has taken good deal OF experiment to
rid me.
The day following that on which the
sad news came was the 10Th of March
All the sunshine was gone now; chill
northeaster blowing; all the excitement,
too. attending our mistortunes was over,
and the cold. dismal reality clearly visible.
The news of our trouble had got about
through the medium of Tranter & Co., no
doubt. Every one, al least so we fanced,
looked queerly at US a shower of unre-
membered little bills came drifting in up.
on us. In the course of the day came
reply from Mr.. Tranter-a note, at least,
taking no notice of my letter, but remind
ing me that the half-year's rent was this
day due.
The same evening, about six, was
told that David, the fisherman, was in the
kitchen. and wanted particularly to see
me. David had been my guide and com
panion in many pleasant fishing expedi-
ton; why little fellow; his face lined
and scanned with small-pox. with oninl