The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-12-08

am prepared 10 give u, lhat leaves ebiY
one thing to he arranged, should like
my breakfast at eight precisely every
morning.
But We did not propose to give hrcak'
fast
know you didn't but I'll give you
another liberal equivalent for IL You
can he very well of, or You wouldn't take
a lodger; and the more liberal equivalents
you get from him, the better. viii you
be kind enough TO show me to my rooms
Yes, ssr replied. meekly, completely,
suocumbing TO the hig black eyes, and
strong will.power Of the frail looking old
man, aud totally forgetting to ask for the
references insisted upon in the advertise
menE whereupon he stepped to the front
door, and beckoued TO the man outside,
who, taking the trunk upon his back. fol
lowed him, as he followed me, 10 the sec
ond story front room.
All, said our lodger, as he entered 1t,
this is not bad-not at all bad.
And 1t wasn't. AS have said before, it
was the pleasantest room in the house and
| had arranged it as prettily as could
with the means at my command Fortu-
nately these included number Of nice
engravings and vases, and capacious
bamboo chair with crimson cushion. and
footstool OF like coler. And the fragrance
OF the honey suckles that stole in the WIN
dow from the balcony, and the two or
three sunbeams that had found their way
through the half closed blinds, aud dane
ing in triumph on the WALL and half-dozen
gayly bound books (mine) on the mantel.
aud the ivy growing from red pot on the
bracket in one corner all combined to
make the room a pleasant place indeed
Mr. Griffin who had been our lodger ex-
actly two years, during which / had pre-
pared and superintended the serving OF his
breakfasts and taken entire charge OF his
room, as well as though ! had been
brought up to that sort of thing, as my
cousin Cleanthe remarked, and the rest of
the family, with the exception of uncle,
who became quite friendly with him, had
only met him some dozen times-at which
time they assumed their most.dignifed dig
nity-when he was taken sick.
It's On old complaint. which will carry
me off some time, said he to me; but !
hope not this time Anyhow, Little Hon
esty IA name he had given me from the
first-I hope / deserved), live or die, in
tend to remain here. Nowhere else could
| be as comfortable. You must engage an
extra servant, and you and she together
must nurse me. l should certainly die of
q professional By-the-by, who Is your
family physician?
told him.
II lam no better send for him tomorrow.
| am going out only few steps, meeting
NV look Of surprise | want to see my
lawyer and | shan't take to my bed for
several days yet.
That afternoon, taking care not to re-
peat the old gentleman's exact words, but
putting his remarks in the form OF re-
quest to remain, | stated the case to the
family,
Going te be i'll? exclaimed Alethea.
Dear me! how disagreeable!
Tn sure don't want him to stay; he
might die here, said my aunt, who had
the utmost horror Of death.
He's an old nuisance, anyhow, proclaim
ed Ethel, and always has been, and blush
that any relative of mine. should have de-
graded herself so far rs to be his servant
maid.
Here will mention that my cousin Ro-
land, month or 30 before this, had mar
ried young lady with large fortune,
and out OF this fortune he generously pro-
posed to make the family yearly allow
ance, besides which came many gifts from
the married sisters, whose husbands had
prospered, and there upon been obliged
by their wives to share their prosperity
with u.s. that we might live at least, as
Minerva expressed it, with e'egaaf economy.
And so we were not entire dependent upon
our lodger for desserts and several other
things.
But to 90 back. He is not an old NUS
ance, said / Indignantly, He is a kind
hearted old man, and I'm very fond OF
him.
Good gracious
Yes. Miss Ethel ] went on, repeat it,
am very fond Of him. And if my aunt
will allow mel am sure my uncle will
will take all the extra care resulting from
his sickness upon myself, aud no one else
shall be annoyed in the least. After liv-
ing beneath our roof two years, and con.
trbuting SO bountifully to our comforts
YOU needn't glare at me, Cleanthe; he has,
| for am quite certain no one else would
have paid us so liberally-it would be the
bssest ingratitude, not to say cruelty, TO
send him among strangers now that be
most needs care and kindness.
Are you quite through, Miss Reynolds2
asked my aunt, sarcastically. / had no
idea you were so eloquent never having
heard you preach before. Blu. one thing
am determined, you shall not call in our
/ Ha Ia foot
aristocrat, and has no idea that we keep a
lodger, and do not wish him to know it.
There's young saw-bones few doors
below, drawled my Youngest gentleman
cousin, who resented my waiting upon
any one but himself, he'll do for your
fine old--nuisance.
That very evening Mr.. Griffin had bad
turn, and sent for the young saw-bones a