The Washington critic., 1885-11-19
MRS. FERGUSON'S STORY

"Ies, sir. ain Mrs. Ferguson and
do take boardcrs; but you say your
friend is an invalid, aud / can't. indeed
cant think of it.. Yes, sir, no doubt,
a most excellent gentleman, | have
every reason to believe, since you tell
me so; and rs you say attendance
would be well paid for, and 1t Is airy
here and very pleasant, doubtless il
would be very beneficial to the poor,
dear gentlemen, but can't take him.
/ don't take invalids. Because Of the
trouble? Oh, dear, no. That isn't il.
Trouble ! never mind What is It,
then? Wouldn't the boardcrs like il?
Let the boarders mind their own affairs.
If 1t was nothing catching, and neural.
gia and nerves amt catching that /
ever heard Of No. no. but n scaldel
dog breads cold water and have had
invalids before, One invalid-ho was
enough for me.
ole was brought in in a chair,
wrapped up in countcrpanc, and |
must say thought he had very red
face; but that might be apoplectic, you
NhbNs VI NV ihlEiiN illNN NNAliiAiNNN''
himself into It, as an invalid might
easily do, you know, and not to blame
If the doctor recommended it, And he
was taken into the best front room,
next to the one Mrs. Jcrrup had-my
diamond boadcr, used to call her; she
had so many of 'em in her ears and on
her fingers and at her throat. And az
soCn ms he was comfortably fixed i
90, l,;p, aud 4
"'Mr. Bolter, says THAT was his
name-'Mr. Boltcr, is there anything |
can do for your
"And he says, as politely as you
could wish: No, ma am; there is not.
All shall need is little cruel
at in the morning, and If the boarders
have any of 'cm habit of singing
hymns in the evening, as I've known
In pious boarding houses, to set the
parlor door open that | may hear
en-.
Now, was there anything more
touching than that2 went down
stairs with tears in my eyes, and says | ::
If there ever was saint on earth it is
poor, dear Mr.. Bolter lie is too good
TO live, and I'm as sure that we shall
lose him And it was remarkable
incident that the widow of the Rev. Mr..
Spicer did board with us, and did
sing hymns, an she sang EN- that
night, and set the parlor door open;
and Mr.. Boltcr rung his bell and sent
down word that he was very much re-
freshed, with his compliments, by the
waiter. He did take stimulants,
smelt: and ! said to myself: And who
can blame him if it's ordcred? And it
was brandy, if / have a nose.
"We as we parted for the night,
we all spoke of the poor, dear gentle
man"
"Another gentleman had called to
speak of him. jest as you have called
about your invalid friend. Yes. And
you mustn't think l mean any hints or
anything. And he told us he couldn't t
put his feet to the ground, and hadn't
for ten years"
g And what would he do in case of
fire?" says Mrs. Tibbs, who was
timid.
"I should rescue him, of course
said Mr. Beckett, our young boardcr,
who was in a dry goods store, and
who was as big, take him altogether,
as one of the invalid's arms.
But you'd have the ladies to save,
you know said Mrs. Squizzle, the
widow, who always llirted with every
thing and anything like man, from
so to 1S.
The ladies first, said Mr.. Beckett,
of course Only if he'd started with
Mrs. Squizzle he'd never have got
back for any more, for she weighed
200 pounds, and he'd have been
squashed at the first step.
" i shall keep my eye on him, said
Mrs. Smith, and I'll tell Mr.. Smith to
do so. I'll step in tomorrow and tell
him our views about magnetism. /
wonder if he's ever tried magnetism.
"'Poor gentleman, said Mrs. Jerrup,
how he is afflicted to be sure. I've
had neuralgia myself, and / know. He
ought to go to the Sulphur springs
that is what cured me. | shall tell him
so.
az shall pray for him. said Rev.
Mr. Spicer's widow. And | shall
take him my late husbands excellent
tract on the uses Of afiliction to-mor.
row.
"'And ! wouldn't mind reading the
bible to him one bit, said Miss Annie
Spicer,' if he liked it,
GLOW you express yourself said
her mother. You should determine
to do 50 whether he liked it or not, and
you should rejoice to do it, Wouldn't
mind, indeedv
"Then we went to bed. There was &
light in his room still, and called
through the key-hole (hc slept in his
reclining chair; Mr.. Bolter, are you
comfortable for the night? and hC
answered
Thank you, ma'am, | am. an
having an hour in meditation
Excuse me for interrupting you,
says ].
"'Oh, not at all, says he, and away
| went; and | went to sleep thinking
how glad was, with all my troubles
i was not an invalid.
II guess it was about o'clock when
| woke up with noise of bursting il
my ears, and there was Il light in tho
room. 1t was queer light, bright ali
in one spot, and thought, though
don't believe in 'em, 1t was ghost
And says |, out loud, 'Oh, Lord ant
covered my head with the sheet.
hadn't had it covered but minute
though, when felt n big hand on my
throat and just the roughest voice ever
/ heard growled in my ear;
"'Now, old lady, be sensible. / aim
goin to hurt you if you're quiet, Keel
your head covered and lay still. I've
got six X-shooter here, and If you
screech fire.
care you a burglar ? says |.
"Form your own conclusions, say,
he, only don't shrek. | shouldn
| ,,.n,,I A.. lie 10 ,,.n.. III ...n....... a.