The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-02
How They Went HOuSe-hunting.

l was sitting in my room smoking my
pipe, and dreaming of things that per-
haps wifi never be, when l was inter-
rupted in my meditations by rap at the
door.
-''Come In !" I shouted.
The door opened and in walked Mrs.
johnson. am still living with her, and |
l am half afraid that l shall still con-
tinue to reside in her mouse, notwith- |
standing my great love for buckwheat |
cakes and Mrs. Johnson's lamentable |
failure in the manufacture OF that ar.
ticle.
Fate seems against me.
"Ab, Mrs. Johnson" said |, as soon |
as she entered; ''whars the matter~
knew ! owed her no money for board, |
so l was rather at a loss to know the
| cause of her visit.
go, Mr.. Toddle," began Mrs. Johnson,
sitting down and putting the corner OF
her apron in her eye, that ever should
live to see the dayP
"To see what day, Mrs. JohpsonW l
mildly asked.
"When my poor, dear johnson was
alive he used to say to me: Polly, my
dear, never you 20 into housekeeping
| look after the kitchen range, for in your
range lies happiness.'" ..
| Mrs. Johnson paused, and screwed a
tear out of the corner other eye. Think
| ing l ought to say something, l NUT
tered:
| "lndeedw
"Yes, Mr.. Toddle, you may well say
indeed, for ii there is a miserable woman
in this world, l am that woman. My
kitchen range is out Of order, and my
happiness is gone"
Here Mrs. Johnson sobbed convul-
sively.
"Can't it be repaired?" asked feebly;
for, to tell the truth, am half AFRAID ol
MRS. johnson.
"Repaired! Listen to the man.. For
: three days l have been on thorns. am
sitting on thorns now; deny 1t II you
camp
OF course didn't venture to deny it,
but as Mrs. johnson was sitting in my
, easy chair, l presume her language was
more tigurative than literal.
| "Mr. Toddle. you like buckwheat
cakes; how can cook buckwheat cakes
, properly when my range is OUT OF or
, derw
Mrs. Johnson screwed up her face, as
though the range was part OF her III.
ternal system, and she was suffering In
) tense agony theretrom.
cam to put up with this Kind OF
thing, Mr.. ToddleW
; "No, indeed" said.
+ "Well, them" resumed Mrs. Johnso n,
e getting excited as she went on, 81 am
, determined to leave this house, and 1
mean to say that the landlord is great,
NASTY, mean, ugly, stingy wretch, thoug
!, perhaps you mean TO say he amt, SIT r.
. so, no, no." said hurrledly, 81 quite
agree with you."
: Though why l agreed with her, for
u am sure the landlord is mild, ino1en-
y y sive man, am unable to say.
"Then tell you what We'll do, Mr.,
Toddle, we'll 60 out this morning and
i look Tor house." ....
81 should like very much to co." said
n I, "but the fact is, I'm SO busy can'l
8 spare the time."
e 60, that my poor, dear, dead johnson
l. was alive noW!" exclaimed Mrs. John
n SOP, laughing hysterically, "to hear mt
s insulted in my own house."
'l 81 am sure, Mrs. Johnson, l didn'I
u mean"
8 Don't speak to me, sir" and Mrs
Johnson swept out OF the room.
W l was not at all sorry that Mrs. John
10 son had lett, 80 1 reflled my pipe, ant
Is resumed my meditations.
s. In about hall an hour another tai
e came at my door.
It Good heayenv thought L, "here'
D. Mrs. Johnson, again." l looked rount
a hastily for some hiding place, but f,pd
IL ing none bade the Taper come in. T(
my great relief it was only the servant
"a ''What do you want" asked.
~ "Lt you plaze, sur, misses is ready"
N "Is sheW
IN "Yis, and she says you would com
40 down, right awayl'
N l saw there was no help for it. Mrs
" johnson Was determined that l shoul
it go, so with the best grace possible, L dc
Il. sired her to tell Mrs. Johnson that
ia would be with her in one minute.
In less than that time l joined Mrs
johnson, who was waiting Tor me in th
u hall. She gave me whitening looE
N N took my arm, and off we started on ou
~ house-huntlng expedition.
VI Heaven help me!
e. When we got into Broadway, Mr.,
% johnson regretted our not havin
te lunched before we started.
ae l readily agreed, and was rather SUI
az prIsed at the expensive lunch Mrs
~ Johnson was ordering, but, when th
bill was about being paid, she disco,
cred she had left her. purse at. home,
T. Or course had 10 pay for it.
IL Mrs. Johnson mad wild idea of tai
A ing house in fashionable neighbol
th hood, up town, and Keeping BOY viii
ST buttons all up MS front, W wait upo
lr the Doarders.
Lh so toward up town we wended GU
+, way. l am afraid TO tell the number {
le houses we called at; if did, am sur
le l would never be believed. am poo
10 man, and have only my veraclty to d,
pend on, SO l would rather not mentio
s. The number.
a Mrs. Johnson kept me on the trot a
n. the while. l Was continually dartin
" across the road to read small pieces ,
is paper stuck up on sides of houses
be More often than not, they simply int
c. mated to the world that board could {
I'd had there, and not informing them Thu
De- the house was to let.
in began to get tired.
le Not 80 with Mrs. johnson. 1 beliey
y, that house-hunting and visiting Dir
ll- goods stores has the same effect upo
,n women as drink does upon men. L. e.
ne CITES them-tne more they have the MOI
es they want.
he In Thlrty-seventh street Mrs. job
sons eyes were gladdened, for about tt
fitch time that day, with the Iollowin
Id notice: "ihis house TO let. Inquil
an within" We ascended the steps, an