The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-04-15
TAKING BOARDERS.

ut was scandal" the neighbors
said, "that Miss Della should be Obliged
TO take boarders, after all she'd been
through; and heaven knows boarders
didn't help a body TO work out her
salvation. And so much money in the
family, too, taking it by and large.
Wasn't her Uncle Eben, over at Dover,
well to do, and not chick of his own
to care for, except the boy he had
adopted, who was no credit to himp 1t
was odd, now, that man with poor re-
lations should take to stranger, when
his own flesh and blood was needy; but
sometimes it did seem as if folks had
more feeling for others than for their
own kith and kin. Then there were
cousins in the city, forehanded and
fashionable, who never were worth a
row of pins to Della; and there was her
Great-uncle Johns widow a-larking on
the Continent, a.gambling at Baden
Baden and trying the waters of every
minera. spring in the three kingdoms,
for no disease under the sun but old age.
She'd been known to say that her own
folks were too rich already, and prob
ably she would endow some hospital
with her property" Plainly, wealthy
relatives were of no value to Miss Della.
To be sure, she had never seen her great
aunt since she was a child, when her
Uncle John had brought her into their
simple life for months visit, with her
French maid and dresses, her jewels and
fallals, which won the heart of her little
namesake. Since then Uncle Johns
widow had become a sort of gilded
creation, always young and always
beautiful; for, though Della had re-
ceived little gifts from time to time
across the seas for the last fifteen years,
she had neither heard nor seen any
thing of the being who had inspired her
youthful imagination, and was quite
uncertain if such person as Mrs.
John Rogerson was in the land of the
living. Dead or alive, she seemed to
have made no material difference in
Delia's humdrum life. After having
nursed her father through a long i'll
ness, Della found that he had left
heavy mortgage on the homestead, and
her mother and herself on the high road
to the poorhouse, unless they should
bestir themselves. AS her mother was
already bedridden, the stirring naturally
tell upon Della, and she advertised for
summer boardeIs:
GOOD BOARD IN THE COUNTRY, BY
~ the riverside, at seven dollars week
Large chambers, broad pazzas, fine views
berries and new milk. One mile from the
station. Address
DELLA ROBERTSON,
Croitsborough Maine.
Cheap enough!" commented an
elderly lady who happened upon it.
Della Rogerson. An old maid l sup
pose, obliged to look out for herself.
I've good mind to try her broad
piazzas and new milk. If l don't like
there'll be no harm DONE"
And 80 Delia's first boarder arrived
an old lady, with false front OF hair,
brown, wrinkled skin, faded eyes,
black alpaca gown and a hair trunk.
Della made her as welcome as If she had
been duchess; lighted a wood fire in
Mrs. Clements room, as the night was
damp, and brought out her daintiest cup
and saucer, with the fadeless old roses
wreathinR them, WonderGully kind -
reflected Mrs. Clement, as she combed
out her wisp of gray hair and confded
the false front to box. Wonderful
kindness for seven dollars week. She's
new TO the trade. She'll learn better.
Human nature doesn't change with lati-
tudes. She'll find il doesn't pay to con
slider the comfort of poverty stricken
old creature" But, in spite of her
worldly wisdom, Mrs. Clement was
forced to confess that Della had begun
rs she meant TO hold out, though other
boarders came to demand her attention,
to multiply her cares. The fret and jar
of conflicting temperamrnts under her
roof was new experience TO Della.
When Miss Gresome complained of the
mosquitoes, with an air as If Miss Roger
son were responsible for their creation;
of the flies, as IL they were new acquain-
tances; of want Of appetite, as though
Della had agreed to supply II, along with
berries and new milk of the weather,
as II she had pledged herself there