Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-07-19

The wood-brd's lays
Chime with the songs OF sacred praise.
-George ". BungaR
--
TAKING BOARDERS.
at was scandal, the neighbors said
that Miss Della should be obliged to take
boarders, after all she d been through and
heaven knows boarders didn't help body
TO work out her salvation. And so much
money in the family, too, taking it by and
large Wasn't her Uncle Eben, over at
Dover, well TO do, and not chick of his
own to care for. except the boy he had
adopted who was no credit to him 1t
was odd, now, that man with poor rela-
tions should take to a stranger, when his
own flesh and blood was so needy but
sometimes it did seem as If folks had more
feeling for others than for their own kith
and kin. Then there we're cousins in the
city, forehanded and fashionable who new
er were worth a row of pins to Della and
there was her Great Uncle Johns widow a
larking on the continent, a-gambling at
Baden Baden and trying the waters of ev-
cry mineral spring in the three kingdoms,
for no disease under the sun but old age.
one u Dttu huOhu W say LihL htI ONl
folks were too rich already, and probably
she would endow some hospital with her
property"
Plainly, wealthy relatives were of no
value to Miss Della. To be sure, she had
never seen her great aunt since she was
child, when her Uncle John had brought
her into their simple life for a months Wis
it, with her French maid and dresses, her
Jewels and fallals, which won the heart of
her little namesake. Since then her Uncle
Johns widow had been a sort Of gilded ere
alton, always young and always beautiful ;
for though Della had received little gifts
from time to time across the seas for the last
fifteen years, she had neither seen or heard
anything Of the being who had inspired her
youthful Imagination, and was quite as un-
certain if such person as Mrs. John ROg
erson was in the land of the living. Dead
or alive, she seemed to have made no mate
rial difference in Delias humdrum life.
After having nursed her father through a
long illness, Della found that he had left a
heavy mortgage on the homestead, and her
mother and herself on the high road to the
poor house, unless they should bestir them
selves As her mother was already bed
ridden, the stirring naturally fell upon
Della, and she advertised for summer board
ers:
Good board in the country by the riverside at
seven dollars week. Large chambers, broad
piaZzas, fine views, berries and new milk. One
mile from station. Address
DELLA ROBERTSON Croftsborough, Maine.
"Cheap enough ~ commented an elderly
lady who happened upon it. ''Delia Rog-
erson. An old maid, l suppose, obliged to
look out for herself. l have a good mind
to try her broad piazzas and new milk. II
don't like, therel be no harm done"
And so Delia's first bOarder arrived-an
old lady, with a false front of hair, brown,
wrinkled skin, faded eyes, black alpaca
gown, and a hair trunk. Della made her
as welcome as if she had been a duchess,
lighted wood fire in Mrs. Clements room,
as the night was damp, and brought out
her daintiest cup and saucer, with the fade
less old roses wreathing them.
wonderfully kind, reflected Mrs. Glenn
ent, as she combed out her wisp of gray
hair and confided the false front to a box.
Wonderful kindness for seven dollars a
week Shes new TO the trade. She
will learn better. Human nature doesn't
change with ATTITUDES. She'll find it doesn't
pay to consider the comfort of a poverty
stricken old creature"
But, in spite of her worldly wisdom, Mrs
Clement was forced to confess that Della
had begun as she meant to hold out, though
other boarders came to demand her atten-
ton, TO multiply her cares. The fret and
jar Of conflicting temperaments under heI
roof was "a new experience TO Della. When
Miss Gresome complained of the mosqui-
toes, with an air as if Miss Rogerson were
responsible for their creation; of the
flies, as if they were new acquaintances
of want of appetite, as though Della had
agreed to supply it, along with berries and
new milk of the weather, as if she had
pledged herself there should be no sudden
changes to annoy her boarders; of the shah
by house and antiquated furniture, "toC
old for comfort and not old enough for
fashion"--then Della doubted if taking
boarders was her mission
"What makes you keep u.s. my dear :!
asked Mrs. Clement, after day when ev'
erything and everybody had seemed to g
wrong "Why didn't you ever marry
| You had lover, dare say :"
"Yes long, long time ago"
Tell me about hint"
There isn't much to tell. He asked me
to marry him. He was going to Australia
| couldn't leave mother and father, yol
know, (they were both fsebe), and h,
| Nphihh Z obo1 hNAN" AhoN "No NA''
And you-you-"
"Now all men besides are to me like shad
ows."
"And have you never heard of hin
since I"
Eyes He wrote but where was th'
use 1t could never come to anything L
was better for him to forget me and marry
| was a mill stone about his neck | didn'
answer his last letter"
"But, supposing he should return som'
day, would you marry him y
81 dare say" laughed Della, gently, a
If the idea was familiar, ''let the neighbori
laugh ever so wisely. I've thought of i
sometimes, sitting alone, when the worlC
was barren and commonplace. One mus
have recreation of some kind, you know
Everybody requires a little romance, lit
tie poetry to flavor everyday thinking an,
doing. I'm afraid you will think me a sill,
old maid, Mrs. Clement"
"No. The heart never grows old. Tn
skin shrivels, the color departs, the eye
fade, the features grow pinched but tn
soul is the heir of eternal YOUTHS as beau
tiful at fourscore as at sweet and twenty.
Time makes amends for the ravages of tn
body by developing the spirit. You didn'
tell me your lovers name. Perhaps you'
rather not.
"His name was Stephen Langdon Some
times Capt. Seymour runs against him il
Melbourne, and brings me word how h
looks and what he is doing though | new
err never ask, and Stephen never asks 70
me, that can hear.
Delia's summer boarders were not a sue
cess to be sure. If they took no none
out of her pocket, they put none in, Sh
was obliged to exc out her support with COP
wing for Lawyer DunmoTe and embroideI
ing for Mrs, Judge Dorr. One by one he
boarders dropped away, like the autum
leaves, all but old Mrs. Clement.
II believe I'll stay on" she said. "I'I
getting too old to move often. Perhap
you take winter boarders at reduced rates
Eh Z"
"Do you think my terms high :"
"By no means. But when ones purse
low"
"Yes know Do stay at your ow
price. l can't spare you"
She had grown such "a fondness for Oh
old lady, that to refuse her at her ow
terms would have seemed like turning he
own mother out of doors besides, on
mouth more would not signify. But sh
found it hard TO make both ends meet, an
often went hungry 10 bed that her mothe
and Mrs. Clement might enjoy enough
without there appearing TO be 'just pa
tern" At Christmas, however, came
ray of sunshine for Della, in the shape {
hundred dollar bill from an unknow
friend
1T can't be meant for me, she cried.
Its directed TO Della Rogerson," sal
her mother "and there's nobody else {
that name, now your Aunt Della is dead