The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-08-05
SUMMER BOARDERs.

SUMMER BOARDERs.
School was over for the day, and Miss
Merritt stood by the open window,
breathing in the fresh air from the May
woods.
All the grimy states and pencils were
in their places; the dogs cared books
piled up; the copy books in the big desk.
Even little Tommy Pepper, the
prettiest and worst behaved boy in
school, had been let off from his diurnal
half hours detention, under solemn
bonds of never offending again in the
bent pin and spitball question, and Miss
Merritt was drawing long sigh of
relief, when the door flew open with a
jerk, and Irene Evans came in, carrying
bundle of books.
Miss Merritt opened her eyes.
"Why, Irene, / thought you must be
sick," said she. You have not been in
school for two days"
Irene was tall and shapely, with large
blue eyes, black hair growing low on her
brows, and very red cheeks Her calico
gown fitted her badly, and the ribbons
on her coarse straw hat were faded in
the sun, and spotted by many shower.
NO." said she, jerking out the words
somewhat as she had jerked open the
door, 81 amt sick. But l amt comm
to school any more. Father, ne says its
waste o. time"
sob, Irene!"
The girl sat down on one of the hacked
and Whitfield benches and burst into
tears.
"If 1 knew anywhere to rum" said
she, "Pd run away. Yes, l would.
Father don't treat me more'n half
decent, and he hain't since mother died.
. l amt nothin but drudge, and hain't
no CLOTHES to wear, and he won't pay me
cent wages, beg and implore as will.
And I'd sort o. set my heart on tallin'
summer boarders this year, like Ellen
Holt did last season, but he says he's
hired extra farm hands, an I've got to
cook for 'em for nothin'. Oh, Miss
Merritt, what shall do?"
Miss Merritt smothed down the black,
crinkly hair with kindly touch, as she
stood over the girls dropping form.
But Irene," said she, eff he puts all
this additional work upon you, he surely
should allow you some of the profits"
Irene gave short laugh.
"Catch him!" said she. "He just
WON'T
Creme" said Miss Merritt, "haven't 1
always heard that half the farm was
yours?"
at was Mothers" said Irene. Gle
was only mothers second husband, you
know, and their farms joined. It's mine
by will. But father he don't care nothing
about wills
isn't there an old house on the
placer"
Eyes" Irene answered. "But it amt
so modern as the one we live in. Faith
er's always talkin' about lettin' 1t to
some O them Swede farmers up north O.
here
rs it in tolerable repair?"
''For all know it is" Irene answered.
''Then why don't you fit it up and 60
into the boarder business yourself?
You're eighteen and past, for all you're
so behind in your rule of three and geog-
raphy. And you are an excellent cook
and good housekeeper, and you've
managed for Mr.. Parsons ever since your
mother died"
"Me!" gasped Irene; ''all alone?n
81 would come and be your first
boarder," said Miss Merritt. "My present
home is too far to walk, now that the
warm weather has set in. l must make
some change"
''But 1 amt got no furniture" said
the girl
81 will lend you little toward that"
smiled Miss Merritt. II can take it out
in board afterward. Mating for the
floors, and cheap pine furniture cannot
cost much. City boarders care more for
fresh milk, plenty of fruit and strict
cleanliness than they do for style"
Irene's eyes sparkled.
Two of the Jersey COWS is mine,"
said she. ''And there's an early straw
berry pasture on the side hill just beyond
the old house, and lots o. blackberry
tangles all along the river shore. Do
you think we could venture, Miss
Merritt?"
81 don't know why not" said the
school teacher, refectively.
''What!' roared old Medad Parsons,
when the first load of furniture passed
under the willows along the road beyond
his doorway; Irene furnishin' up that
old ramshackle shell of house for
boarders? Why, we've got boarders
here hain't we? Four on 'em for haydn
time. An who's gOin' to cook an wash
an scrub for me, I'd like to knOw?"
mot Irene, l guess" said old Mrs.
Simmons, who stood by the gate.
''Irenes got sort O. tired o. the way you
manage matters, Deacon Parsons"
But" suffered the deacon, It'll
cost me dollar an harf week to get
Nancy Nutting here"
81 shouldn't WONDER" said Mrs.
Simmons.
81 guess" snarled Parsons, 'Trene'll
find I've got word to say on this ere
question"
But Irene had more spirit than he had
given her credit for.