Daily Republican., 1889-06-20
OUR ROOAIEIs.
by MRS. NJ. l.. RAYNE,

We ndu ono spare room when We
moved into q new house on Fountain
square, and as our rent was high WI
went into an immediate session OF wayt
and means to utilize it.
''Let us take lodger," said father.
''Or boarder," suggested Sister Lou,
who was school teacher and supposed
to be practical.
"No woman, said mother. ~ won't
have woman puttering round doing her
washing and ironing by gas stove on
the burner. If we take anybody 1t must
be O man."
"And one that is employed by the
day." suggested Lou.
"Wouldn't it do If he were employed
by the weekl" asked father.
81 mean he must be out every day. OF
course he must be employed, or he
couldn't pay his room rent. Now, are
we to board him or not?" queried Lou,
"There are advertisements In the Sun
day paper constantly for board In pri-
vate family" suggested.
Hump answered Lou tartly, "how
long will family be private after 1t has
boarder In It'll He will expect to share
all our rys and SORROWS and give us his
in exchange. would make him a
roomGr.p
1t wasn't so easy, however, to get
roomers, as majority Of our applicants
wanted to board, SO We changed our
plans, and took the man who took the
room, to board.
We had specified In our advertisement
for roomer or boarder, that references
would be exchanged, and we were firm
on one point-our boarder must be OF
good moral character, and not given to
the use OF intoxicating liquors in any
shape whatever. We were cold water
prohibitionists OF a severe type, and
touched not, tasted not aud handled not
the wine, nor allowed anybody else to do
so If we could help It..
Well, the man came, and he seemed to
be gentleman, both in manners, appear
ance and character, but he looked as II
he might be diiliSeis - please, or As = ~;
that he did have 1t in its worst and most
agr ravated form.
The second night after his coming we
were sitting in the family parlor wonder
ing If our boarder would respect our
privacy, and keep to his own room or
join our Charmed circle" when a
sepulchral voice was heard over the bal
ulster:
Hot wa teri Oh, h-o-t water!
quick! quickl"
Mother hurried to the staircase.
What is It," she inquired sympa.
thetically.
"Cramps," was the simple word
gasped from above.
The kitchen fire was OUT and rather
than have the girl leave, mother made II
up herself and father took up pitcher OF
boiling water and some mustard, and
soon the unearthly groans subsidized and
the household was quiet the rest OF the
night.
AT breakfast the boarder stated that no
was victim OF Indigestion. He said he
ate nothing for his breakfast but four
poached eggs on toast, n slice of bacon
and cup Of chocolate. Oatmeal or
brown mullins did not agree with him.
1--WE found out what his business is, "
announced triumphantly on the second
day of his stay with us; ''he's writer"
oh, then he has writer's crsmps,"
said mother. 81 thought it wasn't Just
ordinary collie"
"W riting isn't business; it's pro
fesson," said Lou, lofty.
well, then, he PROCESSES to write, " l
said. ''it is novel, and there is char
acter in 1t named Hannah"
That was the name of our girl, but as
the new boarder could hardly US yet be
aware of her existence, we did not sup
pose she was the heroine.
Such room TO keep In order / never
sawl On the second day new gas stove
was sent to oiir number. 1t was for our
boardcr.
Gle must be a women in Disguise, re-
marked father.
"Piano, gas ard us @ of bath included"
quoted from our advertisement.
- | wonder If the man intends to do
light housekeeping" queried mother.
We had never known much about
boarders, nor had We ever weighed the
question in our minds, rs to whether 1t
was the people who boarded or those who
took boarders, who were the most pecu..
liar, but we were likely to know some
thing about 1t now. There was rot a
day that some new utensll for that room
did not come home. The man cooked
and ate in his room and at the table both
and he was taken with cramps at all
hours. He drank gallons of hot wate.,
aud used all the mustard we would sup |
ply but he never paid his board bill ex-
cept undsr threats of expulsion. We
brought father into the fracas then, as
rent collector. We all decided that he |
was genius, because he was so odd, but |
1t is very trying to live with genius, and |
we tried to get rid of hin, but In vain. |
He would take neither hint nor pro- |
test.
By this time our best trout bedroom |
had become temporary kitchen. Our
genius made midnight coffee, and fried |
over the gas.
One morning Hannah presented herself
With her things on.
'Im goin', num-" sue said to mother
n her most aggressive manner. 81 don't
noiud bein' Greek slave, mum, but If
tay here I'll be a Roman Maniac, an
h IT'S quite beyant me.'
She had pickcd up her phrases as tiuer
aides do. She had hea Il some one say
roaming MANAGE" AID the term pleased
Ter fancy.
"i'Il not stay here to be murdered"
he ppf, 1YuUyl iragfplllu batsi,,, nit Ia |