Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-02-22
From the Milwaukee Wisconsin
JOHNNY'S SUMMER BOARDER.
BY EMILY HEWITT LELAND.

II the nel2hbOrhOOd ever called him
anything but Johnny, even though he
was grown to be a tall young man six
eet high, with shoulders accordingly,
and trim brown whiskers that gave
his healthfully tinted face an English
touch. only he was not aware oft. Yes,
everyone, from the long settled half
farmer minister who preached in the
old church, down to the dozen boys and
girls who trudged over the hills to the
district school, called him 'Johnnv" in
the meTrlest and most affectionate man.
ner, and were always sure of pleasant
response and generally a happy smile
that showed row of teeth as white and
clean as hounds.
But there came time, alas, when
JohnHy's smile vanished from his face
and his kindly brown eyes returned but
sad greeting. 1t was the time when,
within week, his father and mother
were borne to the burying-ground on
the hillside that lay remindIngly in view
OF the church windows. They were SO
happily united in this life, it was but
natural that they should 90 away to-
gether into the great new country that
awaits US all. But their going was
almost more than Johnny, their only
child, could bear. At first he thought
he must sell the farm and 60 lar away
into new scenes and try to forget his
grief somewhat Yet, after few slow
passing weeks, this desperate condition
feeling that the old home was now
doubIy dear, because wherever he
looked and whichever way he turned
everything reminded him-more
strongly than when the father and
mother were living-of the faithful
hearts who had toiled and planned and
saved solely for him.
A widowed aunt remained with him
alter the burial-announcing her deter
mination to stay until the poor boy could
collect his wits and know what ne was
going TO do. She was a melancholy little
woman who had been in mourning" for
somebody or other nearly all the days
OF her lite, and this loss of dear sister
only freshened the Grape on her black
bonnet, and gave narrower and soberer
stripe to her iavorite black and white
bingham gowns. 81 did think" she
contided to a neighbor, ''that I'd have a
black sateen with sprig in it for this
summer-just to Hven up a little, you
know-but now sister Mary's gone |
can't fare out in any sprigs. An, me
how soon the vapor flies ~
And yet in spite OF Aunt James apti-
tude for mourning she was, in sad and
composed way, very fond OF the bright
and stirring things OF life. Having
lived :or long time in large manufac-
turing town she found quiet farm-life
very depressing. She sighed audibly
for electric lights and street cars, missed
the clamor OF mill-whlstles and church
bells, and even bemoaned the abs nee
OF the strong voiced buyers of old iron
and paper rags.
Johnny tried his best to cheer her sad
spirits. Every time lie went to the
junction" as their little railroad town
was locally designated, he brought home
a Danbury News or d Detroit Free Press
for her special reading, and IN the even
lngS he played his least mournful airs on
his Vlohn; but Aunt Jane remained IN
-cheered. ''Such a lonesome little family
to do or-t!!at's the trouble with me-
she grumbled What is the good of
going through all the rigmarole OF house
keeping just to feed a hired man and
hired girl-for Johnny's appetite is no
where in keeping with his size and was
always small eater"
Probably it was from tasting about for
offsets to lone someness tat Aunt Jane
idea. There are the two jront cham
.bers and the parlor that could be spared
Just as well as not. And then I'd have
something to take up my mind" she
argued.
So Johnny wrote some advertisements
and sent them to Boston and New York
newspapers.
They were modest and truthful adver-
tisements. There We're only two or
three Wary and never 10 be caught old
trout In all the length OF Cherry Creek,
so he made no illusions to capital fish
ing" and as no boat could turn about in
the creek, even at it's widest part, he
refralned from mentioning fine boat
ing" Mosquitoes sometimes insinuated
themselves In and about the place, so he
did not affirm that they were entirely
-unk nown. And as there was little TO
hunt but a family O crows who had their
nest III Hemlock Swamp, he put forth
no tempting statements to yearning
nimrods. He only mentioned "rooms
and board IN quiet family III pleasant
country REGION and 80 lived on at ease
with his conscience. The family was
certainly quiet one. and pleasant
was almost too mild a term for the truly
noble scenery i'll which the farn was
located.
Greatly to Johnny's surprise and to
Aunt James perturbstion-lor the parlor
was to be repapered before the recep-
ton Of auests-there came a speedy re-
Spouse to the advertisements.
A young lady, little i'll from over
study, wanted board in quiet and
pleasant region, and wished to bring
with her maid, pony and dog. She
would frankly state that the dog was a
very large one, and if objected to she
must try some other place. The note
was signed Mary Fleming"
johnny after losing himself for few
nom ents in admiration of the neat and
fowe rike grace of the writer's penman-
ship, and breathing in faint delightful
frag. nee from the creamy paper, wrote
reply-statlng that the dog could come
and welcome, and that if Miss Fleming
would kindly name the time of her ar
rival at the Junction wagon would be
in waiting tor her. Others might have
used the word conveyance" but it was