Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-11-10
TAXING BOARDERS.

1t was scandal" the neighbors said
that Miss Della should be obliged to take
boarders, after all she'd been through; and
heaven knows boarders did not helpa body
to work out her salvation. And SO much
money in the family, too, taking it by small
and large. Wasn't ber Uncle Eben, over
at Dover, we'll to- do, and not chick of his
own to care for, except the boy he had
adopted, who was no credit to him? II
was odd, now, that a i.-,.n "l>'- poor reIa-
tlons should takeito stranger when his own
flesh and blood was needy; but sometimes
it does seem as if folks had more feeling
for others than for their own kith and kin.
Then there were cousins in the city, fore
handed and fashionable, who were never
worth row of pins to Della, and there was
her great uncle Johns widow a-larkin ON
the continent, a-gaming 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 had been
known to say that her 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 niece since she was child,
when her Uncle John had brought her in
to their simple life for months visit, with
her French maid and dresses, her jewels
and fallals, which won the heart of her
namesake. Since then Uncle Johns widow
had become q sort of eilded creation. always
young and beautiful; for, though Della had
received little gifts from time to ii ne across
the seas for the last fifteen years, she had
neither heard nor seen Of the being who
had inspired her youthful imagination, and
was puite uncertain if such person as Mrs.
John ROgecsOn was in the land of the llv-
ing. Dead or alive, she seemed to have
made no material difference to Delia's hum
drum life. After having nurSed her father
through long sickness, 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
bestir themselves. AS her mother was al.
ready hedrIdien, the stirring naturally fell
upon Della, and she advertised for summer
boarders:
Good board in the country to the riverside,
at seven dollars week. Large chambers,
broad piazzas, fine views, berries and new
milk. Oue mile from the Station Address
DELLA RoGERsoN,
Croftsborough, Maine.
Cheap enough! commented an elderly
lady who happened upon it.. Della Rog-
erson. An old maid, suppose, obliged to
look out for herself. I've good mind to
try her bread piazzas and new milk. If
don't Ike it, there'll be no harm done"
And so Delias first boarder arrived-an
old lady with false front hair, brown,
wrinkled skin, faded eyes, a black alpaca
gown and hair trunk. Della made her as
welcome as if she mad been a Duchess;
lighted fire in Mrs. Clements room, as
tho -1-Trt and hro1uht ont her
dantiest cup and saucer, with the fadeless
old roses wreathing them. Wonderfully
kind, reflected Mrs. Clement. as she
combes out her whisps of gray hair and
cOaided the false front to a box. "Wonder-
fui kindness for seven dollars Il week!
She's new to the trade. She'll learn better.
Human nature doesn't change with latitudes.
She'll find it doesn't pay to consider the
the comfort OF poverty stricken old crea-
ture. But in spite of her worl lily wisdom
Mrs. Clement was forced to confess that
Della had begun as she ment to hold out,
though other boarders came to demand her
attention, to multiply her cares. The fret
and jar of fconhicting teHlperaments under
her roof was new experience to Della.
When Mrs Griscame complained of the
mosquitoes, with an air as if Miss Rogerson
were responsible for their creation; of tn e
flies, Us II they were new acquaintances; of
want OF appetite. as though Della had
agreed 10 supply it along with berries and
new milk Of the weather, as if she had
pledged herself there would be no sudden
changes to annoy her boarders; or the shabby
house and antique furniture, too old for
comfort and not old enough for fashion,
then Della doubted if taking in boarders
was her mission. What makes you keep
Us, my dear? asked Mrs. Clement, after
a day when everything and everybody had
seemed to GO wrong, why didn't you
ever marry? You had lover. dare say?"
Yes; long, long time ago."
Tell me about him-it?"
"Thele isn't much to tell. He asked me
to marry him. He was going to Australia.
I couldn't leave father and mother you
know they we're both feeble), and he
couldn't stay here. That's ALL"
And you-you-"
Nov all men beside are to me like
shadows"
And have you heard of him since?"
Yes. He wrote; but where was the use?
1t could never come to anything. 1t was
better for him to forget me and marry.
was mllstone about his neck. l didn't
answer his letter.
And supposing he should return some
day, would You marry him?"
cafe say, lauSned Del1a, gently, as II
the idea were familiar "let the neighbors
laugh ever 50 wisely, I've thought of it
sometimes, sitting alone, when the world
was barren ard comm onplace. One must
have recreatior of some kind, you know.
Everybody requires little romance, lit
tie ooetry, to flavor every day thinking and
doing. I'm afraid you think ME silly old
maid Mrs. Clement.
No. The heart never grows old The
skin shrivels, the color departs, the ewes
fade, the features grow pinched; but the
soul is heir of eternal youth-it is as beau
tiful at fourscore as al sweet 20.' Time
makes amends for ravages of the body by
developing the spirit. You didn't tell me
your lovers name. Perhaps you would
rather not.
His name was Stephen Langdon. Some
times Captain Seymour runs against him in
Melbourne, and brings me word how he
looks and what he is doing; though never
ask, and Stephen never asks for me that 1
can hear"
Delia's summer boarders were not sue
cess, to be sure. If they took no money
out of her pocket, they put none in. She
was obliged to exc out her support by copy
ing for Lawyer Dunmore and embroiderine
for Mrs. Judge Dorr. One By one her
boarders dropped away like autumn leaves;
all but old Mrs. Clement.
II believe I'll stay on, she said. "I'm
getting too old to move often. Perhaps
you take winter boarders at reduced rates.
Eh?"
do you think my terms high?"
BY no means. But when ones purse is
low"
Yes; know. Do stay at your own price,
can't spare you" She had grown such a
fondness for the old lady that to refuseiher
at her own terms would have seemed like
turning her own mother out of doors; be-
sides one month more would not signify.
But she found it hard to make both ends
meet, and often went to bed hungry that
her mother and Mrs. Clement might en-
joy enough, without there appearing to be
lust pattern" At Christmas. however,
came ray of sunshine for Della, in the
shape of hundred dollar bill from an un-
known friend.
"It can be meant for me, she cried.
Its directed to Della Rogerson," said
her mother; tfand there's nobody else of