New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-07

The only gentleman, single or otherwise whom
had secured, walking up the yard two days be-
fore he was expected. l sitting on the piazza
fighting mosquitoes after an exhaustive attack of
cleaning house.
The stranger was fat he was middle aged he had
close-cut gray musache and a purplish, red face.
He said this must be the place, for there the
noble elms-he called them eums.' The piazza, he
went on to say, must be four feet wide: he had not
expected 1t TO be three. He intended to ap.
precate his blessings He laughed thickly. He took
of his hat and said he presumed he addressing
Mrs. Nondas He would like to go to his ROOM II
he gould have more than pint of water with which
take off the dust of travel he should be grateful
pint about what the usual large farm-houses
furnished for extensive abluton.
l was dreadfully confused, but managed to con-
duct him upstairs As we walked along tho upper
hall he remarked that no missed the asparagus
branches from over the family portraits AS he
spoke he looked at two Oil paintings of my father
and mother done sixty years ago by travelling
artist of great ability. Then he informed that
he would like dinner at z, particular about his
soup. With the door In my hand told him We had
supper at g. and 1t would be convenient to have din
ner an hour after that. went down stairs all of
rembe, thinking that though l could make a first
class beef stew with dumpllngs l knew nothing Of
SOUPS. Our DOdfutr was nOJ tApeCItu, am III was
dreadful TO think that all really had for supper
huckleberry sweet cake and cucumbers. My brother
suggested more cucumbers he said they might kill the
stranger and then the question of O'Clock dinner
would be disposed Of Besides what does he expect
for 30 week?'
Let me here give scrap OF advice. If you have
never taken boarders don't ever do it: or II
you insist don't advertise for single gentlemen. for II
you do, It Will be single women that you will get
III L. ho1tt facf Uhi I
not understand. and my brother will not explain. II he
knows, which doubt.
At the end Of the following week 1 had six ladies'
most of them Of certain age. whatever that phrase
may mean All of them had crochet work ready TO
duce at a moments notice. All Of them had very
sweet smiles-and the reverse It seemed to me
when we met at the dinner table the next day that
had never seen so sweet smiles all at once l
was greatly strengthened by them. Ny brother
whispered to me that II this continued should save
on our sugar The youngest lady was not as pleas
ant She was Miss Scott and she devoted herself
to her food in what seemed to very mate1iaistlc
way. These smiles lasted several days. Then /
overheard Miss telling that she thought
the last batch of huckebery pies had been baked on
the piazza She had not seen them there. but she |
Judged the heat there would be about right for Piles
that were doughy In the under crust. She further
more averred that II she had that piazza she would
cOOkst0Ne In upe summer. tut iir mcr-
cury averaged about what It must be in ordinary
range.oven with good fire going. did not feel as
II could ever forgive Miss Scott: but somehow liked
her better than any of the She had seemed
70 think any more about gentleman than she did |
of me- or anybody. Mr.. Shoemaker was from Phila- |
delphia He had oratoHcal way OF saying " Good
morning ladies' II he were beginning speech. !
Then he would glance down the table with great air.
There would be lutber of interest and gentle eager
~ hfn0 ha urhf he kind enough
m saw He talked very ungrammatically but with a |
curious way Of emphasizing and then word as
II he we're speaking with extraordinary correctness.
I think he thought he was model Of exactness He |
was 90 sure he was something great he almost made
every one share his belief l used TO SIT and look
at him and think how interesting st TO have a |
gentleman from the great world in poor house.
was proud to have him smoke his evening cigar on
the WIDE cool piazza. lie had such a orlly Of
nuiing out the smoEe. II good 10 see him. l |
could only have glimpscs Of him. however. for
ALWAYS cooking or setting the table, o. clearing IL |
away The ladies' usteTed around Mr.. shoemaker
he smoked They used 10 exclam about his goodness
I'm smoking so as drive away the mosquitoes. They
told him he was real benefactor They chped at |
him they lowered they listened for his words. some
times he would grip HIS cigar hard with his eethhe
never removed the weed from his mouth when ne |
spoke-and saw with his emphasis on the wrong verb.
that ladies' was always kind TO him ladies the |
light Of creation: sometimes he tried to picture the
world without ladles-here he would wave his hand |
and suck away at his cigar. Miss Scott would laugh
In queer way she had When he heard her laugh. Mr..
shoemakers red face would grow more red. and I |
felt lust as used to feel when TO school and
the master was going 10 strike somebody
Epsmlnondas carved at side table for me. His
temper became horfd. lie would say be could not
believe all women were so. but what could you ex-
pect from tina, had responded TO an advertise
nent for single boarders = This. l have said.
was enc Of his speeches which did understand and
which he would not explain by the end Of two
weeks was about out. did not know women
were SO peculiar. When said this to my brother