Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-07-27
MIR. HALLS MISTAKE.

Miss Carson came to Chicago before
the great fire, or, as she always ex-
pressed it, the "great conilagration.
She kept boardcrs, and the struggle she
made to at least come out even at the
end of tho month gave her face a
pinched and worried expression which
her blandest smile could not wholly OBJ
literate.
Her boarders were five in number and
were all gentlemen.
Mr.. Hall, an old bachelor of fifty, had
boarded with Miss Carson for six years,
though he threatened to leave on an
average of once week.
Mr.. wilkins, Mr. Crane and Mr..
Stowe were statesmen in large dry
goods house. They occasionally pre-
sented their landlady with gloves, hand
kcrchiefs, or the latest thing in neck
wear, in return for which Kindness she
darned their stockings and replaced
missing buttons.
Last, though by no means least, for
he was six feet tall, there was Mr.. Fay,
n young lawyer who had taken room
Immediately under the mansard roof,
and who spent most of his evenings
landlady declared made her head ache
even to look at.
AT first Miss Carson was inclined to
weave romances about Mr.. Fay. He
was so handsome, so quiet and reserved.
Was he somebody in disguise, or was he
suffering from an unrequited love? AS
months passed on, however, and moth
ing startling was heard concerning him,
she ceased to think much about him,
merely regarding him rs rather un-
sociable young man totally wrapped up
in his studies.
Miss Carson made it point to always
show ready sympathy with whatever
interested her boarders
If Mr.. Stowe told her that the White
Stockings had beaten .he Bostons, or
some other thrilling item of news con-
nected with the National idiocy, she
would exclaim: 81 am surprised" or
"What pityn' with an interest that
was only equaled by her ignorance of
the great American game.
One cold winter evening the landlady
did not appear, as was her usual Gus
tom, behind the coifee-urn at the dinner
table. "Old girl sickP" asked Mr..
wilkins of the company in general
mo" replied Mr.. Crane; "she has
gone TO the Iwenty,second street depot
TO meet little girl, her niece, who is
coming here to live"
If she is going to take child to
raise that settles it with me-" growled
MIR. Hall, in deep bass voice.
IL shall leave at the end of the month.
What is that in front of you, Stowep A
meat pie of course! Meat pie is an in
vention of boarding house keepers to
save scraps. Miss Carson says she
never gives us hash, but she either puts
it between crusts and calls it meat pie,
or she adds onions and calls it an Irish
stewr
"a rose by any other name would
smell rs sweet observed Mr.. Wilkins.
Tomorrow will be Sunday" con-
tinued Mr.. Hall, "and that means cod
tish-balls for breakfast. Will somebody
tell me the connection between Goldfish.
balls and Sunday morning, that they
should appear regularly on that particu-
lar day. Is there any creed that insists
on codfish-ball for Sunday broakfast2"
AS no one volunteered an answer to
this question Mr.. Hall finished his din
ner with the remark that he hoped soon
to take his meals where he would be
served as gentleman ought to be, and
not be fed like tramp.
Miss Carson's boarders were rather
surprised to find her niece full-grown
young lady instead of the little girl they
had expected to see. II would be q
difficult matter to describe Flo Sheldon
She was not beauty. Her nose was 9
tritle "tip-tiltcd and her mouth 9
little too large, though her teeth wert
white and even; but her eyes were the
glory of her face. They were large
dark and bright; they were shaded by
long curling lashcs; they were such al.
Turing, provoking, bewitching eyes!
% have always mentioned Flo as my
little niece" said Miss Carson at thu
breakfast-table. ~ can scarcely real
ize that this tall young lady is the little
girl in short dresses parted from five
years ago. All, we'll! fhave changed 9
great deal in that time myself"
"Not at ALL" said Mr.. Hall, with ,
sudden and most unaccountable attack
of politeness 'I assure you you lool
as young and as er-er-rosy as you
did six years ago. Time has not pu
silver threads among the gold, or ere
-trifed with your appearance in any
way" This was true. Miss Carson's
hair was drab, and her complexion
matched it. Time could make no start
ling change in either.
A gradual but very perceptible chang,
came over the house after Flo's arrival
She was a very industrious girl, an,
knew how to employ her time. Th
curtains were looped less primly, tn
parlors had more comfortable, home
like appearance, while delicate pud
dings, flaky pics and delicious coffe
showed her acquaintance with the Gull
nary art.
"You are certainly the personifica
tion of youth, health and happines
combined, Miss Flo," said Mr.. Fay, a
he found her late one afternoon singin
gayly as she was spreading the cloth fo
dinner "It does one good merely +
look at you.''
me then, by all means. AS to the frs
observation you made, / can say that
deserve it. am young, am certainl
healthful, and / am very happy, for to
night am going to the opera. Whe
you learn that am fond Of music, an
that / never saw real opera in my life
you will not be surprised to hear that
can scarcely keep from dancing wit
glee. as well as singing"
Your parents do not approve Of tha
kind of amusement. supposeP"
"Oh, that was not the trouble. w
live in the country, and my father coul
not afford TO take his six daughters to
city merely for pleasure trip. Yo
have no idea how glad / was to get m
aunt's invitation to come TO Chicago
and how much enjoy myself when
go downtown. 1t is stale to city pee
pie, ! suppose, but like to watch ii
crowds, 70 study tho different faces, an