The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-11-05
TAKING BOARDERS.

Miss Della should be obliged To take 0oarucrs,
after all she'd been through; and heaven
knows boarders did not help II body to work
out her salvation. And so much money IN the
family, ton, taking 1t by small and large. was
not her Uncle Eben, over at Dover, well-todo!
and no, chick of his own to care for, except
the boy he had adopted, who was no credit TO
himy IL was odd, now, that man with poor
relations should take stranger when his own
| flesh and blood were needy; but sometimes IL
does seem rs if folks had more feelings for
others than for their own klth and KIN. Their
there were cousins IN the city, toIehanded and
fashionable, who were never worth row OF
p,n, to Della, and there was her great uncle
Johns widow a-larkin on the Continent
a. gaming AT Baden Baden, and trying the wa
tiers 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 we're too rich already, and probably she
would endow some hospital with her wealth
Plainly, wealthy relatives were OF no value TO
Miss Della To be SURE, she had never seen
her g:cataunt since she was child, when her
Uncle John had brought her into their simple
life for a mouths 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 a sort OF gildcd Gre
alton, always young and beautiful; for, though
Della had received little gifts from time to
time across the seas for the last fifteen years,
she had neither heard nor seen anything OF
the being who had inspired her youthful I'M
aginaiion, and was quite uncertain II such
persOn as Mrs, John RogersOn was in the land
of the living. Dead or alive she seemed to
have made no material difference to Delas
lhumdrum life After having nursed her faith
or through long sickness Della found that he
had left heavy mortgage on the homestead
and her mother and herself on the high road
to the poor house, unless they should bestlr
themselves. As her mother was already bed
ridden, the stirring naturally fell upon Della,
and she advertised tor summer boarders:
CRoFTsBoRoUGm, Mcleod board in the
|country to the riverside at 81 a week. Large
chambers, broad plazzas, fine views, berries
and new milk One mile from the station.
Address, DELLA ROGERsON.
"Cheap enough I" commented an old lady
who happened upon it. Della Rogerson
An old maid. suppose, obliged to look out
for herself. I've good mind to try her broad
piazzas and new mix. If don't like it there
will be no harm DONE
And so Dcia's first b0arder arrived-an old
lady. with false front hair, brown, wrinkled
skin, faded eyes, black, alpaca gown and a
HAIR trunk Della made her as welcome as II
lSllc llNu DteD u uuCuCoo, IlSuUu q NOOu hiS
in Mrs. Clements room, as the night was
damp and brought out her daintiest cup and
lsa,cer with the fadeIess old roses wreathing
them.
Wonderful kind" reflected Mrs Clement
as she combed out her wisps of gray hair and
contided the false front TO a box. "Wonderful
kindness for 81 week. She's new to the
trade She'll learn better Human nature
doesn't change with ATTITUDES. She'll find II
doesn't pay TO consider the comfort of a pow.
erty stricken old creature" 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
demand her attention, to multiply her cares
The fret and jar of conflicting temperamcnts
under her roof was new experience of Della
When Mrs. Gresome complained of the mos
luuitoes, with an air as If Miss ROgersOn was
responsible for their creation; Of the flies, as
if they were new acquaintance; Of the want
of appetite, rs If Della had agreed to supply
!, 1t along with berries and new milk Of the
weather, as if she had pledged herself there
would be no sudden changes to annoy hel
boarders; of the shabby house and antlquated
furniture, "too old for comfort and not old
enough for fashlOn''-then Della doubted il
taking boarders was her mission. -- -,., 80.
What makes you keep us, my dearg asked
Mrs. Clement after day when everything
and everybody had seemed to 60 wrong. "Why
didn't you ever marry? You had lover,
dare say?" g.. I.r.-.
"Yes; a long, long time ago"
"Tell me about hint"
"There isn't much to tell He asked me ia
marry him. He was going to Australia.
couldn't leave father and mother, you know
Uhey were both feeble, and he couldn't stay
here That's ALL"
"And you-you-"
Now all men beside are to me like shad
ows"
"And you have never heard of HIM since p
' ayes. He wrote; but where was the use
1t could never come to anything. 1t was bet
I ter for him to forget me. and marry. was &
i. milestone around his neck. l didn't answer
his letter" E ..
"And supposing he should return some day
would you marry himg'
: 81 dare say' laughed Della, gently, as i
1 the idea were familiar, 'let the neighbor'
i, laugh ever SO wisely. I've thought OF 1t some
times sitting alone, when the world was barren
and commonplace. One must have recreation
n of some kind, you know. Everybody require
t little romance, little poetry, to flavor every
day thinking and doing. I'm afraid you thinl
. me silly old mail, Mrs. Clement"
mo The heart never grows old. The ski
shrivels, the color departs, the eyes fade, Thu
features grow plnched but the soul is heir o
y eternal yOuth--it ID as beautiful at fOur-scOr,
as at sweet 90 Time makes amends for TIT
r ravages of the body by developing the spirit
" You didn't tell me your lovers name. Per
@ haps you would rather not?'
!, "IIis name was Stephen Langdon. Some
;, times Capt Seymour runs against HIM in nj 81
bourne, and brings me word how he looks AM
d what he is doing; though | never ask ant
n Stephen never asks tor me, that can hear"
;, Delia's Summer boarders were not success
y to be sure If they took no money out of he
3 pocket, they put none in. She was obliged Il
= exc out her support by copying for Lawye
@ Dunmore and embroidering for Mrs. Judg
Dorr One by one her boarders dropped ava
like autumn leaves; all but old Mrs. Clemen
II believe III stay ON, she said. "I'm ge
: ting too old TO move often. Perhaps you tax
y winter boards at reduced rates. EhT