The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-01
THE DIAMOND
DOUGRNUT.
BY G. RICHARDS.

my own llVlAg, salu MISS SJanlOh, the seuluI
sister Of the four Misses Stanton WHO kept
boarders in their old family mansion in
Cambridge, to one who asked her how she
ever came to take up that business.
We lost our father almost before our re-
membrance, but he left this comfortable
home and very ample property to our
mother Then, after she died, we kept on
eur home Just the same, with our old house
keeper in charge, and fitted about like
other girls from the city, to mountains and
seashOre till the summer l was %, and that
year the banking house in which nearly all
of our money was invested failed, and we
were told that our income would be almost
nothing after that.
Then" said Hetty, who was named for
our grandmother, latter we get back from
Newport we must make some other plans, l
suppose"
But we, can't go to Newport" said Eve
lyn. who was always the practical member
of our family. 80 we may as well hold
caucus this very day and decide on our
future plans"
al cannot decide anything today" said.
"Pm too dazed to take IN the situation"
No matter" said Evelyn, firmly. I'VE
shall all be dazed by tomorrow. Come,
Blanche 10 our youngest sister, sit down,
and we'll take an inventory Of our capabili-
=
yourself, Anna?" she asked Of me, as the
Oldest.
Not one thing that 1 know Of" an
ssered, truthfuIiy.
" Nor !, ;" said Hptty.
"Nor l." added Blanche, tearfully.
mo crying" said Evelyn, who herself
spoke in q Sh6ky tone. We've got this
house left and it's abundantly furnished,
and we must have some place to live. l be-
lleve We would do best TO open boarding
bpuaR tax a II
We can GET
" But we don't know anything about prac-
teal housekeeping" said l, Temem beTing,
with dismay, that Mrs. Smith, our long
time head Of the family, had already made
her plans TO 60 TO California to live with q
son.
I'VE can learn" said Evelyn, bravely.
Learn 10 bake and sweep?" asked dainty
Blanche. ''No, cannot, aud truly. Evelyn,
l won't learn, l hate such work, she add
ed yeLemrntly.
Yes l know" said Evelyn, ''but you
love 10 have everything in taste and attrac-
tive in style So that department shall fall
g. your share"
Then ] suppose shall be the dish
washer" said Hetty, severely.
mo, answered Evelyn, quietly, you are
iusg M your element Shopping and bargain
luE IeB shali g0o 80 market and manage
7r~ E4auees. l0u know vOu ETe las only
me OF Us VINO ever saved one penny If her
income"
and what Is my part IL this division Of
talent. 1 asked, curioHsly.
Anna, dear, you are the eldest" said she
gravely. ~ gu must be the general head Of
the house and family, and 1 Will take charge
of the cooking"
Evelyn Stanton" cried Hetty. with a
look OF wonder and admiration blended,
tell me truly, did you ever do any cooking
IN your life besides toasting marShmallOws
when you were ia bOarding-schoOl?"
Indeed I've made chocolate creams" said
Evelyn, laughing;s "but we're all going to
learn, for we've got to-"
Think of the Stanton family taking
bOarders!' said Blanche, with SILVER.
Think of the Stanton family depending
on unwilling relatives" replied Evelyn,
quietly.
And so It came about Within week our
plans were all laid, and We were mutually
pledged to bear our res pectiye parts for
year. We gave up all our pleasant cham
beTs and consolidated ourselves aud cur be-
lOngings in our attics, but even Blanche al
lowed that We still had more room and air
than we had the summer before in the hotel
at Bar Harbor, where we were so much
pleased to be.
Evelyn bought an assortment of books
about housekeeping and cooking, over which
she spent her time, while Hetty fairly cleo
trifed the marketman when he called for his
days orders by appearing In the kitchen and
asking the prices OF various meats. When
she told Kim that he need not call in future.
as she was going to market herself, be looked
as If he thought she had gone daft But
didn't care" said Hetty. q saw by the
newspaper that spring lamb was only 20
cents a pound, while he asked me 25."
Our cook and waitress agreed to stay on
~''h ~ fot while. AZ sny rate, aud we adj
Fltssd for 9oar4er- lie papers, and were
BEGIN cur Iea ife.
EO64 tF E0s "a idea of my own to
carry 1Us" gl2 E,r.-n. We've got a
scod hoase F. dne d Sc. Let us charge
sne highest prices, anu shen give them all
plenty 10 eat. tor Pun convinced that that is
the secret of success. There shall be real
cream in the coffee. and everybody that
wants it shall have gO-tO-bed lunch"
Within a week We had secured four
bosrders-two married couples. They de-
INJURED at our prices, bat we were inlexi-
bic. and the "hoIhelike" look of our house
persuaded them to try Us.
Evelyn put her idea about the eatables in
force at once. In the rear of our big hall
there was small closet with a little win
cow in u, so that 1t was both lighted and
ventilated. Here she kept several cracker
trays and a jar of waters, beside a few
slces of bread and plate of d0ughnuts.
In little refrigerator bought for the pur-
pose, she kept some butter and pitcher of
milk.
1t was her pride to keep a supply OF
goodies here, and every one was welcome to
go at any hour and eat anything, or all that
was there, aud no no questions were ever
asked. any odd piece Of pie was tempting
~ displayed on a clean plate and cold
meats and tumbiers OF jelly stood side by
side. Blanche declared that this refectorv
would prove our ruin, SO much went into
this closet every day
Soon one of our boarders brought two
bachelor friends. who came to join our fam
Fy. For week or two after their coming
really die fear that the refectory would
send US ints bankruptcy, for Evelyn main
tanned the dainty vsisty Of good things.
and allowed nothing TO grow stale or mo-
nOtnnuus.
81 honestly believe" said Hetty, 'that
those men get up in the night 10 eat,
for no matter how much goes into that
room alter dinner it is all gone before break
fast"
'Never mind" said l. eff they pay their
BOARD PROMPTLY"
However after time they ceased to eat
SO feariuiiy, and it was evident that they
were about half-starYed when they came
TO US.
One boarder brought another, till In a
short tlnle our six chambers were all occu.
pied.
Then we tried another plan. Some of our
men were smokers, and we-reluctantly, to
be sure-dedicated the back parlor to their
use, as It's ample fireplace wouId act "a a
good ventllatoT, and, on condition that tnev
should keep the hail door always closed
they might smoke there all they chose.
Here, too, We kept table supplied with
writing conveniences; and the men and
their friends smoked, and read their papers.
and played whist. Only once had to say
that we did not wish any games for money
played In the house, and my wishes have
always been respected, am sure
In the cool evenings we lighted fire
on the hearth, and soon had the satisfac-
ton OF hearing one man say to another that
though he did think our prices were too
high, he saved money by staying with us,
because the easy-chairs ia the sm9kng-room
were so comfortable that be didn't 20 to the
tneateT half as often as he used.
Our house kept filled, and our purse began
20 grOM heavy nnder Hatty,s care W. ii