River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-04-08
Mrs. Bliss, suppose it is time we

"Mrs. Bliss, / suppose it is time we
settle for the four weeks board?"
GAS you please" said the landlady,
adjusting her gold spectacles, and look
ing all kindness.
81 have been talking the matter over
with my wife, madam, and we both
conclude your terms are very high for
accommodations"
"Dear me, sir" replied Mrs. Bliss,
"you are the first gentlemen who ever
offered me such a suggestion"
Hargrave turned pale. He felt morti-
fled that he had opened the discussion,
but not liking to "back out, in attempt
ing to vindicate his cause, he said just
what he ought not TO.
81 have no fault to lind with your
| food, or the manner in which 1t Is fiav-
ored or served-it suits me admirably.
only do think considering'-and here
| he paused-"consideri there is no
more UaIity upon your table. madam,
we paw too much for what we con-
sumo, and Arabella thinks SO too"
The last quotation weakened his
4 thought.
mir. Hargrsve," said Miss Bliss. 81
am glad you have opened a discussion
upon this very subject. Do you imag-
inc, sir, you only pay for what you eat 2
The rent OF this house, sir, Is S700-you
occupy two good rooms in it. The fur
/ Riture of your apartments cost me 1922.
/ hired an extra servant in consequence
of receiving yourself and lady as board
ers; her business has been to run at
your call. Mrs. Hargrave has had
free access to my china closet for a
lunch whenever she pleased. priv
ilege to clear starch in my kitchen,
and all accommodations | could fur
nisn; so you see, sir, there is something
| besides food in the items. Then, too,
you run over a new Brussels stair car
| pet whose edges will soon tell the fact,
| you grind out the flowers on the painted
canvas, which will much sooner need
| replenshing, while the wear of continu-
| ally trotting about is something which,
III the long run, materially dir nishes
the contents of my purse. And then,
as to food. for example:I pay 2 shillings
per dozen for eggs, 2 shillings per pound
\ for steak, 81 and over for flour, and a
number of other ingredients too numer-
Gus to mention, which only an expert
enced house-keeper takes into the ac-
count. Suffice it to tell you, for to-day's
marketing alone, l paid So, exclusive of
all groceries, and many articles I'M
named, which are called into requisition.
Now, Mr.. Hargrave, you are practical
accountant. Will you have the good
ress to give me the amount OF profits
after you have deducted all the articles
used, broken, wasted and otherwise dis
posed OFF
Arthur Hargrave blushed to the very
roots of his HAIR.
st is all right" said he; 81 thank
you for setting me on a correct theory
in judging. My inexperience must be
my apology for the thought that paid
too much. | do now see we board too
eheaply, and when my means will
admit, will cheerfully add 81 more per
week for extra kindnesses, which you
have not enumerated. Your attentions
to Arabella when i'll, your cheerful well
come to our friends al your teatable,
shall be considered; and will you, Ms.
Bliss, excuse me for even suggesting
that | paid you too much ?"
Mr.. Hargrave was heard that even
ing in earnest conversation with his
wife; and her look the next morning
gave evidence of perfect satisfaction
with her landlady and her accommoda-
tiOnS