Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-07-23
From the Chicago Tribune.l
MRS. RAYS LODGER.


Why, my dear, do you remember her
Yes, I know you did meet her, but only
once-that was the day you spent with
me when you were going east, through
from Dakota.
"Well, I need not wonder that you
do remember her. Twas a face to
make an impression on one, am sure.
A dear, sweet, tender face, indeed. Of
course, my dear, am only too well
pleased to tell you about her.
'Let me seel We were in that cozy
fat on the North Side then, and it was
altogether the most desirable place I
have lived in since we came to Chicago
six years ago. [ was sorry, indeed, to
make change.
"Ohl my dear, many things hap
pened then which would interest you
to hear, am sure. We took dodgers,
you know. Oh not to make money,
but to help about rent, and I like to
have people about me. You see Mr..
Ray and [ are growing old. Yes, cling
to middle-aged as our rigntful title.
And not dear child of our own have
We ever had. So we had room in our
hearts for all who came under our roof,
and sooner or later all my dodgers have
come to seem like our own family.
Why, there are those three boys who
had the north room for two years.
Noble lads, and away from their homes
and their mother in great city. My
boys I always called them, and think of
them as my boys to this day. Those
are their photographs on the mantel,
my dear, and one of them was quite an
artist. L will show you some bits of his
work by and by.
"But about little Miss L. I always
called her that, and 7 came to love her
dearly; did, indeed. ~ ..s-.
"She was IN my house almost year,
you see, and she crept into my heart,
and [ had no reason to regret it. 7
liked her the very first time I saw her,
and the little parlor and bedroom
pleased her so much that she engaged
them at once, and brought her few be-
1ongings in the. very next day. was
pleased to see her as she went about
putting her knick-knacks here and
there in quiet way of her own.
"Quiet contentment there seemed to
be in ner face, and yet saw shadow
of something, could not tell what, in
her eyes, which I came to long to
drive away. I wanted to see her mer-
ry. She was not old enough to be so
quiet, and nothing she told me after
ward about herself seemed to explain
it to me. But I don't think she seemed
unhappy. How well I remember her
saying after two or three days: Dear
Mrs. Ray, haven't been in so home
like a place for years. You have no
idea how contented I am That
pleased me, don't you see That was
what I wanted it to seem, my dear,
homelike. Well the light housekeep-
~. Yes, my dear, she had her little
oil stove and cooked for herself and I
coaxed her to use my oven whenever
she liked. Indeed, I was only too
pleased to have her do so. Then /
began TO think that she did not eat
enough of hearty food, and I tried to
persuade her to eat more meat. Now
you need not laugh, my dear. MY
hobby? Well, better meat than medi-
cine, any how, 1 shall always say. I
wanted her to grow bright and merry,
don't you see?
"But no; in spite of the fresh air and
healthy food there was the same quiet,
and almost knew it wasn't her natural
manner. To be sure; there were
reasons for her to be sad sometimes.
she was all alone. She told me about
her dear, dear mother, and how tender
ly she said it:
"Her mothers picture was in little
frame on a bracket, and there was a
tiny bunch of pressed violets pinned
against it.
"Mamma died when I was twelve,
she said one day, and after while pa
pa married again Then she waited
for a moment and then said, with a
firm look coming around her mouth,
'and I felt happier to take care of my
SELF
"And she earned enough money, my
dear, to do it. There was the piano
pupils almost every day she was away
down here on the South Side giving her
lessons. Then, between times, she
painted the prettiest little things, and