The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-03-04
TAKING BOARDERS.


said. "that Miss Della should be
obliged to take boarders. after all she d
been through; and Heaven knows
boarders didn't help body to work out
her salvation. And 50 much money in
the family. too, taking it by and large.
Wasn't her Uncle Eben, over at Dover,
we'll to do. and not a chick of his own
to care for. except the boy he had
adopted, who was no credit to him? 1t
was odd, now. that man with poor
relations should take TO a stranger.
when his own flesh and blood was
needy; but sometimes it did seem as il
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-lark-
ing on the Continent, a-gambling at
Baden-Baden, and trying the waters of
every mineral spring in the three king
doms. for no disease under the sun but
old age. She'd been known TO say that
her own folks were too rich already,
and probably 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 a month $
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
received little gifts from time to time
across the seas for the last fifteen wears,
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 hum
drum life. After having nursed her
father through long illness, Della
found that he had left a heavy mort
gage on the homestead, and her mother
and herself on the high-road to the
poor-house. unless they should bestir
themselves. As her mother was al
ready bedridden. the stirring naturally
fell upon Della, and she advertised for
summer boarders:
Go0D BOARD IN THE COUNTRY, BY
~ the riverside. at seven dollars a week.
Large chambers. broad piazzas, fine views
berries and new milk. One mile from the sta
ton. Address DELLA ROBERTSON,
Croftsborough, Maine.
Cheap enoughr' commented an
elderly lady who happened upon it.
"Delia Rogerson. An old maid, sup
pose. obliged to look out for herself.
I've good mind to try her broad
piazzas and new milk. If don't like,
there II be no harm DONE"
And so Delia's first boarder arrived
an old lady, with false front of hair,
brown, wrinkled skin, faded eyes, a
black alpaca gown. and a hair trunk.
Della made her as welcome as if she
had been a duchess; lighted wood fire
in Mrs. Clements room, as the night
was damp. and brought out her dainti-
est cup and saucer, with the fadeless
old roses wreathing them. wonder
fully kind" reflected Mrs. Clement, as
she combed out her wisp of gray hair
and confided the false front to box.
a" Wonderful kindness for seven dollars
a week! She s new to the trade. She'll
learn better. Human nature doesn't
change with ATTITUDES. She'll find it
doesn't pay to consider the comfort of
a poverty old cleature." But,
in spite of her worldly wisdom. Mrs.
Clement was forced to confess that
Della had begun as she meant to hold
out, though other boarders came to de-
mand her attention, to multiply her
cares. The fret and jar of conflicting
under her roof was a
new experience to Della. When Miss
Gresome complained of the mosqui-
toes. with an air as if Miss Rogerson
were responsible for their creation; of
the flies, as if they were new acquaint-
ances; of want of appetite, as though
Della had agreed to supply it, along
with berries and new milk; of the
weather, as if she had pledged herself
there should be no sudden changes, to
annoy her boarders; of the shabby
house and the antiquated furniture,
"too old for comfort and not old
enough for fashion then Della
doubted if taking boarders was her
mission. "What makes you
my dear?' asked Mrs. Clement, after a
day when everything and everybody
had seemed to 60 wrong. "Why
didn't you ever marry? You had a
lover, dare say p
Yes; a long. long time ago."
Tell me about him-it?''
There isn't much to tell. He asked
me to marry him. He was going to
Australia. couldn't leave mother and
father, you know (they were both
feeble), and he couldn't STAY here.
That was ALL"
"And you-you-'
Nov all men besides are to me
like shadows"
sincer'
Yes. He wrote; but where was the
use? 1t could never come to anything.
1t was better for him to forget me and
marry. l was a milestone about his
neck: ! didn't answer his last letter.
And, supposing he should return
some day, would you marry himr'
:. l dare say" laughed Della, gently.
as it the idea were familiar, "let the
neighbors laugh ever 80 wisely. rye
thought of it sometimes, sitting alone
when the world was barren and COM
monplace. One must have recreation
OF some kind. you know. Everybody
REQUIRES a little rOunonno a 1;%<lc~c