Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-07
Country Board.



to work out her salvation. And so much
money in the family, too, taking it by small
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 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 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
row of pins to Della; and there was her
Great-uncle Johns widow larking on the
Continent, gambling at Baden Baden, and
trying the waters of every mineral spring in
the three kingdoms, for no disease under
the sun but old age. She'd been known to
say her own folks were too rich already, and
probably she would endow some hospital
with her property" Plainly, wealthy rela-
tives were of no value to Miss Della. To
be sure she had never seen her great-aunt
since she was child, when her Uncle John
had brought her into their simple life for a
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 sort
of gilded creature, always young and always
beautiful for, though Della had received
little gifts from time to time from across
the seas for the last fifteen years, she had
neither heard nor seen anything of the be-
ing who had inspired her youthful imagina-
ton, and was quite uncertain if such per-
son as Mrs. Rogerson was in the land of the
living. Dead or alive she seemed to have
made no material difference in Delias hum
drum life. After having nursed her father
through long illness, Della found that he
had left heavy mortgage on the home
stead, and her mother and herself on the
high road to the poor house, unless they
should bestir themselves. As her mother
was already bed-ridden, the stirring natu
rally fell upon Della, and she advertised fol
summer boarders.
GOOD BOARD IN THE COUNTRY, by the riverside. al
seven dollars week Large chambers, broad piazzas
Croftsborough. Maine
"Cheap enough!" commented an elderly
lady who happened upon it, "Delia Roger
son. An old maid, l suppose, obliged tC
look out for herself. I've good mind tC
try her broad piazzas and new milk. If
don't like there'n be no harm DONE"
And so Delia's first boarder arrived-ar
old lady with false front of hair, brown
wrinkled skin, faded eyes, black alpaci
gown and hair trunk. Della made her a
welcome as if she had been duchess, Lighted
a wood fire in Mrs. Clements rooms, as tn
night was damp, and brought out her daint
lest cup and saucer, with the fadeless olC
roses wreathing them. I" Wonderfully kind |
reflected Mrs. Clement, as she combed ou
her wisp of gray hair aud confided the falls
| frNpt tr, how WnnIarful RinIpaoS fO
seven dollars week she's new to the trade
She'll learn better. Human nature doesn'
change with lattudes. She will find
doesn't pay to consider the comfort of
poverty.stricken old creature" But in spit
of her worldly wisdom, Mrs. Clements wa
forced to confess that Della had begun a
she meant to hold out, though other board
ers came to demand her attention, to multi
ply her cares. The fret and jar of conflict
ing temperaments under her roof was nev
experience to Della. When Mrs. Gresom
complained of the mosquitoes, with an air a
if Miss Rogerson were responsible for thei
creation; of the flies, as if they were neS
acquaintances; of want Of appetite, as i
Della had agreed to supply it, along wit
berries and new milk Of the weather as i
she had pledged herself there should be n
sudden changes to annoy her boarders; O
the shabby house and its antiquated furni
ture too old for comfort and not old enoug
for fashion then Della doubted if takin
boarders was her mission. "What make
you keep us, my dear ?" asked Mrs. Glen
ents, after day when everything and every
body seemed to 60 wrong. "Why didn
you ever marry You had lover, dar
say?"
ayes; long time ago."
"Tell me about hint :"
"There isn't much to tell. He asked m
to marry him. He was going to Australia.
couldn't leave mother and father, you kno'
they were both feeble, and he couldn't sta
here. That was all"
"And you-you-"
"Now all men besides are TO me like shat
ows."
"And you have never heard of him since
"Yes. He wrote but where was the use
1t could never come to anything. 1t wa
better for him to forget me and marry.
was a milestone about his neck. didn
answer his last letter."
"And supposing he should return som
day, would you marry him p
al dare say" laughed Della, gently, as
the idea were familiar, I" let the neighbol
laugh ever so wisely. I've thought of
sometimes sitting alone when the world wa
barren and commonplace. One must hay
recreation of some kind you know. Ever,
body requires little romance, little poetr
to flavor everyday thinking and doing. II
afraid you'll think me silly old maid, MIR
Clement"
"No. The heart never grows old. Th
skin shrivels, the color departs, the eye
fade, the features grow pinched, but th
soul is heir of eternal youth-'is is beautif,
at four score as at sweet sixteen and twenty
Time makes amends for the ravages of th
body by developing the spirit. You didn
tell me your lovers name Perhaps you ha
rather not"
"His name was Stephen Langdon. Som
times Captain Seymour runs against him i
Melbourne, and brings me word how b
looks and what he is doing, though l neve
never ask, and Stephen never asks for mt
that can hear"
Delias summer boarders were not su,
cess, to be sure. If they took no none
out of her pocket they put none in. St
was obliged to exc out her support wit
copying for Lawrence Dunmore and EN-
broidering for Mrs. Judge Dorr. One
one her boarders dropped away like the az
tumn leaves all but old Mrs. Clement. "
believe I'll stay on" she said. "Im gettin
too old to move often. Perhaps you tak
winter boarders at reduced rates. Eh 2"
ado you think my terms high 2"
"By no means. But when ones purse
low"
"Yes, know. DO stay at your own pric
| can't spare you" She had grown such
fondness for the old lady that to refuse h,
at her own terms would have seemed lik
turning her own mother out of doors b
sides one month more would not signif,
But she found it hard to make both enc
meet, and often went hungry TO bed that he
mother and Mrs. Clement might enjo
enough, without there appearing to
just a pattern" At Christmas, howeve
came ray of sunshine for Della, in th
shape of hundred dollar bill from an ur
known friend. alt can't be meant for me,
she cried.
"It's directed to Della Rogerson," sal
her mother sand there's nobody else G
! that name, now your Aunt Della is dead.