The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-04-19
Now ye, who in life's garish light,
MIR. BARToNs HOUsE.HUNTINe

MIR. BARTON'S H0USE.HUNTING. q.
at give it upr' said Mrs. Carmichael.
in despair. 1li = -a
drum which this young American house
Keeper was 'sgiving up" The express
sion was merely an index to the despair
of her inmost soul. 80.
She had been house-hunting all day,
all the week, all The month-in fact, ever
since the stony-hearted landlord raised
the rent of the desirable family man.
sion which they already inhabited twen-
ty-fve per cent, and made it an newt
able necessity to moves and she could
find no home for the sole of her foot.
F" And what's to become of us, I'm
sure don't know" said Mrs. Car
michael. "For we can't stay here, and
we can't live under an umbrella in a
field, and in this climate caves and wig
vans are entirely out of the question. !"
f That's nonsense, my dear" said
Mr.. Carmichael. As if there weren't
plenty of houses to be hadr' 6sI lst
"Then go and try yourself" said his
wife, with spirit. ls.-a5s
i've got my business to attend to, :"
said Mr. Carmichael. 1--WE are always
particularly busy in the spring of the
year with our wholesale orders. Why
can't John goP'' r. ,l ac 7iiI
"John?" repeated Mrs. Carmichael
"Yes. john" said her husband.
81 never thought of that" said Mrs.
Carmichael.
"It's not so bad suggestion" said
Carmichael. "John isn't such slave
to business as am, and
.. But what does John know about a
'house?" exclaimed the young wife pite
Iously.
my dear child" said Mr.. Carmi-
chael. in a patronizing sort of way, Ito
hear you talk, one would imagine that
lhouse-hunting was a science, and re-
iquired a college course. John isn't a
fool. Tell him what YOU want, and
how much you can afford to pay, and
that will be all that is necessary
So it came to pass that Mr.. Barton
Mrs. Carmichaers brother--who was
an enterprising young lawyer, found
himself burdened with the weighty re-
sponsibility of the family house-hunt.
ing.
:. A fine idear' said Mr.. Barton. al
might as well be married man and
done with it."
"Dear John. do oblige mer' coaxed
his sister. I'm sure you won't mind
a little time and trouble; and I'm clean
tired out, with the baby's teething and
little Sammy's neuralgia in the face. -
VERY well, SAID Mr. Barton, purs-
ing his lips up into whistling shape.
"Pll take some sort of house, or IL
know the reason why. And if you re
not suited with it, don't blame me
And he commenced. the next day, in
good earnest, armed with lis; OF
houses which might apparently content
q dozen families.
The very first house was pretty lit
tie Philadelphia-brick mansion. on q
side street, with window full of hya.
cinths, and a sewing-machine singing
away in the sitting groom.
Mrs. Blake was making some pink
frocks for her baby, and her friend,
Miss Datfodil, was sitting with her, in
a dishn6itie of work-apron and crimp-
ing -pins-a pretty, blue eyed girl, with
thin figure and gingham suit, Dor.
dered with as.rick rack, tape. ~
There's the belli', said Mrs Blake,
as she flung the fifth pink froek into
her friend lap, TO beduly finished with
button-holes and buttons.
s'Who can it be at this hour OF the
lnorningr" said Miss Dafiodil, with 8
terrified glance at the mirror.
s'Oh, q house hunter, supposed
said Mrs. Blake. in accents of disgust.
- Please, ma am" said Norah, ap-
pearing at this juneture, "a gintlemar
to see the house." q
Miss Daffodil jumped up and fled
precipitately into the closet.
%" Don't open this door, Maria, what
ever you do!' said she, in a tragic
whisper. @
DO not be afraid, DEAR" said Mrs.
Blake. 81
The next minute Mr.. Barton was
shown into the room.
Sorry to disturb you, madam"
said he, pleasantly, = but was looking
for an eligible house. and the agent has
put this one on my list"
- You are looking for yourself?" said
Mrs. Blake, little obviously.
"Of course,n said Mr.. Barton, who
had been effectually posted" by his
sister. Our family is small-only
two children-and we're quite particrl.
lar about light basement, odplumb-
ing and water-tight roofs.n
C"Good graciousp' said Miss Daffo-
dii, among the tea-cups and saucers,
.' it is John Barton. The base deceiver
to let us all suppose he was an unmar-
ried manr' and the rosy color mantled
to the very crimping- pins as she re-
membered how she had let John Barton
kiss her at the last picnic, when nobody
was looking.) .szfis ss
II suppose" said he, all unconsciou:
of the pretty prisoner in the china
closet, .sthat I'd better write. down .
list of the rooms and things"
YES" said Mrs. Blake; ''and ther
your wife can come and look for her
self. For. of course, gentleman cam
be expected TO understand all abou
these little household conveniences.
'Oh. of course not" said Mr.. Barton
("The deep-dyed villainn' though
Miss Daffodil, Historically claspipg he
hands.1
And the two left the room.
Miss Daffodil could hear them over
head, on the stairs. passing through tn
hall, and finally the front door close,
with reverberating sound, and Mrs
Blake came back to the sewing machin
and pink cambria frocks. --7cz
Miss Dafiodil had by this tim
emerged from her prison-cell and stoo,
1t the window.
..What a very pleasant young gentle
manr' said Mrs. Blake s.6.a
He Is a miscreantr' cried Miss Daf
fodil. whirling around, like an oper
dancer, on one foot.
ie.'Why, Jenny, what's the matter!'
| aid Mrs. Blake, in amazement. 2s
~He has been making love to me q