The Portland daily press., 1888-01-09
OUR HOUSE HUNTING.
Toledo Blade

ourselves; but can't see that we do. III
our rooms are not dirty, the parlor is. If the
other boarders are not noisy, there is sure to
be piano next door, or vocalist or French
horn across the street, or a church bell
around the corner, or something equally OBJ
jectionable. Here, where 1t is clean and
quiet, we are half starved. What do you
say to fiat, Ethel?"
"Oh, not fiatw 1 cry in horror. 81 saw
enough of that at Aunt Mary's. She had a
piano below her which went-well, all day
and half the night and the gentleman above
her had the habit of coming home in the
small hours and dancing double shuttle in
his boots. Then the trouble with servants,
and the way the elevator gets stuck, and the
danger of fire. Oh, Jack, not fiat, what
ever we dol / never, never could come
down one of those dreadful fire escapes on a
dark night"
''Well. then, what would you think of a
house in the country?" says Jack
"a house in the country?" 1 cry. "Bnt
do you really mean it2 Could we afford it,
Jack?"
81 really think we might" says Jack, pom
dering. my salary is to be raised next
month, and take it for all in all, don't be-
leve that small house in a country town
would cost much more than our board and
washing in the city. Only we can't go for
Iuxuries, you know little woman. A small
house and one servant Do you think you
could get along?"
sect along! Oh, Jackv' Icried, sit would
be heaven. To get out Of this hot, dirty city
that always did hate, aud to have little
house all to ourselves, where can potter
about as much as | like, and perhaps flower
garden, Just little bit of one, Jack. 0h!'
gasp for breath, unable to express the rap
ture which fills my soul at the idea.
Jack looks at me, half laughing. half sad,
and wholly surprised. ''Why, Ethel, had
no idea you felt like that about it, he says
kindly. "Why did you never tell me that
you hate the city so muchP"
"Why should ~" / say. 81 thought you
had to be here, and-and-I don't hate the
city as much as love you, Jack. But you
and the country togetherp' And again /
pause and clasp my hands in speeches.
ecstacy.
So ii falls out tn at on one bright day, Jack,
having obtained leave of absence from the
office, we start together on house-hunting
expedition. 1t has taken us long to decide
where to fix our abode, but we have at length
settled upon the town of Medfeld as the very
place for us. 1t is healthy, it is pretty, the
society is good, and it is near enough to the
city to enable Jack to go in and out every
day. All things considered, and, of course,
provided we can find a suitable house, Med
field seems to be very place for us. Jack has
provided himself with lists of houses from
several agents, and we charter hack at the
station and start upon our exploration.
Really, these house agents appear to have
had very singular ideas. Jack has carefully
told them what we want; small house with
modern Improvements, rent not to exceed a
certain very modest sum. The first house
before which our hack pauses is very elab-
crate affair, standing in rather extensive
grounds. 1t has Conservatives, bay win
dows, verandas and all manner of fauciful
decorations.
Jack" however low the rent may be, this
will never do for us. We should be as hope
lessly lost in it as two mice in dog kennel"
Jack laughs. "You need not trouble your
self, my DEAR" he says. We will take the
next house on our list. The agent has evil
IDENTIFY made a mistake"
The next is small, plain four-square
house, which looks more promising until we
discover that it has no modern improve
ments.
Amy ranger" l ask, timidly.
81 said no improvements answered the
tenant, stiffiy.
''Why jack" gasp, sis range "a modern
improvement never knew that before"
At which both Jack and the tenant laugh,
and we promptly leave.
"The next house has no closets; the one
after that has a cellar kitchen far below the
evel of the street, damp ard musty for want
of light and air.
II could never eat anything that came out
that Kitchen" cry aghast.
The morning is wearing on, and no house
to suit us has been found yet.
"Pll tell you what. little woman" says
Jack, I'VE shall never get on at this
rate. Suppose we separate There are two
lists left; l will take one, and you the other
Then we will meet at the hotel at one o'clock
and compare notes over our lunch. How
will that do?"
1t will do very well, l think; so a second
hack is called, and Jack and start on our
separate ways.
There is no use in dwelling upon all
my disapp6intments, but at last / find
the very house which 1 have seen in my
dreams. Small, snug, convenient; it is, l
am convinced, the very place for us. Time
is just up, as / leave its door, and drive to
the meeting-place with heart swelling with
satisfaction, and a very decided hope in my
mind that Jack has not been equally fortu-
nate; not that begrudge him any success,
but this house suits so perfectly that / am
quite sure no other can do as well, and the
comparison and discussion between the two
would be only so much time lost. Ny heart
sinks at the sight of Jacks beaming face as
he comes forward to help me out, and l am
quite prepared for his first words.
81 have found the very place to suit us,
Ethel"
$50 have l." said family; but Jack does
not stop to hear me.
"Just such house as we decided upon;
small and compact, yet with plenty Of room
for us in 1T.
1t can't suit us as well as mine," cry.
mine has three good bedrooms on the sec
Ond floor"
$50 has mine," says Jack, 'and another
little room besides, which would make cap
ital den for me-"
milne has large, light closet which will
be Just the thing for a storeroom," ] say.
"Mine is only five minutes walk from the
station" says Jack; ''iust convenient dis
lance for me-"
milne is some distance from the station.
am afraid" say; "but the lady who lives
there now says that her son goes in and out
every day. And oh! Jack, it is quite in the
country. The street is heavily shaded with
trees, and there are no houses opposite
only fields sloping up little hill with grove
on it. Think what a change from brick
housesw
MY house has open fire-places with CRATES
all through it," says Jack. 81 looked out
for that the first thing. No proper ventila-
ton without open chmneys, you know"
"Oh, Jack" cry. And / told you that
we must have furnace. How can one SER
want spend all her time making up open fires
every day2 Now mine has furnace-a
most excellent furnace. The lady who lives
there now says she has never needed an ex-
Il