The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-06-27
ROSES DANGER.
The summer Boarders

The Summer BOarders.
Farmer Harrington had advertised for
summer bOarders. His good wife said
that they had plenty of room, and, as
their family was small, they might as
well have an extra mouth to feed. So it
all ended in the good farmers trudging
off to the city, one sunny morning, with
tiny slip of paper hidden in his coat
pocket Those few sensible words found
their way into city paper, and in less
than week an answer came to the cOun-
try advertisement.
"Would they he so kind as to make
room for lady and child? Would pay
literally. Object, rest and freedom.
Then farmer Harrington hesitated. l
think he rather liked the idea of having
lady boarder, hut he hesitated simply
on account of his wife, for she could not
endure the fine ways of city ladies; they
were such useless pack, always 'under
FOOT" too proud to make bed or lift a
finger to look out for their own room.
Then they were never satisfied. They
wanted to wash some trifiing thing when
it inteIfered with everybody, or wanted
horse when the men were in the midst
of work. In fact, she could not, and
would not, when she wasn't obliged to,
endure them or their fine ways. Then
the idea of having a child about! Why,
in less than week-yes, in less than a
day-every bit of corn, grain and vegeta-
BILE would be pulled up. Her house
would be entirely ruined, and herself
and one rosy-cheeked daughter would be
"worn to death"
But after a serious talk with the farm
er, Mrs. Harrington changed her mind.
Perhaps it was because the old man so
continually sighed fnr the patter of little
feet that she was thus obliged to give in
but at any rate she did, and she and Rose
worked for a whole week, night and day
to be ready for the expected bOarders.
They came at last, Rose had been into
the spare chamber they were to occupy,
and had given the last pat to the tiny
crib, brought from the dusty attic for the
smallest stranger, when the old-fashiOn-
ed stage numbered up before the front
door with its brightly secured knocker,
and deposited the expected visitors.
Rose ran to the. window to watch
while she deity united her huge check
cred working apron.
Was there ever prettier lady? Tall
slender, perfect in form, with dark eyes
dark hair, beautifully arched eyebrows
tiny hand, shapely foot, and a musical
vOice-oh! Rose drew a deep breath,
and shut her teeth hard, for the first time
realizing how great was the difference
between the city lady and the country
girl.
Then the childl What a fairy-like
creature! What head of curls! What
sweet mouth! And what blue eyes
And was she not dressed rich? Why
the mere embroidery upon her cloak and
dress cost more than all Roses slender
wardrobe put together.
Yet, she was laughing and cooling IN
the arms of the good farmer. So perfect
gift and only two years old. Rose
could hold out no longer. The babe had
won her, and when she went down tC
meet the strangers she was as eager tC
claim the child as the farmer was 10th
to give her up.
The lady, Mrs. Ariel Raymond, was
widow, only twenty four, wealthy with
al, and mother to the child with her. HeI
husband had been dead one short si1
months, and as she had passed through
many a severe trial since, she merely
wished to he left alone, and she would
| give no trouble.
| Her words proved good, for she sci
dom ventured inside the farm kitchen Oh
allowed her babe to go unattended ovel
the meadows or gardens. So Mrs. Har
| ringtOn had no cause to complain of hel
Il
disturbed, and she by and by began tC
coax the child over the sill whenever she
would peep shyly around the kitchen
door on her way to the big barn, hel
cherished play hOuse.
Even Rose would sometimes leave hel
work to get her an apple, or beg for {
kiss; and thus a week passed before they
fully learned the chiid's name
They often asked it, and the mother
would smilingly say, at such times, "Tel
the ladies, dear" while the baby woulC
laugh knowingly, an answer to nont
other name than Tot" and TOT, it was
until one day, in q fit Of desperation
good Mrs. Harrington declared that i
wasn't half sweet enough for her, and i
she hadn't better one, she would Civ,
her one herself.
/ She was spreading her linen out upOi
the green grass as she said this, close b,
the open window, near which Rose wa
washing the breakfast dishes, and Will,
she was hoping that the sun would COM
out and whiten the clothes, she talkes
fof the child necessarily, Rose answerin;
as she rinsed and wiped the silver mu;
Mrs. Raymond had brought as the ba
by's drinking cup, till at last, in answe
to the good wife's appeal, came the lad,
across the neatly shaved lawn, with tn
| little girl clinging TO her hand, Through
the window nodded Mrs. Harrington =
Rose, as if to say, IN find out now !;
land as they paused beside her, to watcl