The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-08-17
THIS HOUSE TO LET"
How Nahum briggs Broke Up Bache+
lOr Quarters.


Tor Quarters.
There it was most unquestionably-
In fat, black letters. !
This house to leland no mistake
about it, either" unused Mr.. Briggs,
stirring his cup Of cold coffee and look
ing distastefully at the one boiled egg
that lay before him. THE fact is, I'm
sick of keeping house; coal always out,
taxes always due. won't stand it any
longer"
He turned lively scarlet as the door
slowly swung open and his housekeeper
stalked majestica11y in.
In fact, Mr.. Briggs was little
afraid of Mrs. Farley, but Mr. Briggs
was resolved to break the baleful spell.
MIR. Briggs began the lady, SOL
EMMY, cam believe my eyes?'
well, ma'am," said the old bachelor,
Il never heard that anything was amiss
with your eyesight.'
rs it possible that you have posted a
bill on the front of this house without
consulting me?''
Quite so, ma'am,'' responded Nahum.
And you intend
ITO shut up shop-tO close the estab-
lishment-to break up housekeeping"
said Nahum; that's exactly my inten-
tion.''
Very well, sir" said Mrs Farley,
grimly, IF you will settle the trifing
question of salary between us, I will
take my DEPARTURE
Mrs. Farley withdrew and Nahum
was left to his own meditations. They
took the shape Of a species of war
dance executed in the middle of the
room.
"Bravo bravo! Three cheers and
tigerr' chuclled our hero. IF ever
there was 4 miserable slave I've been
Ole to that hatchet-faced old woman,
and now I'm free.'
He stopped abruptly; there was a
ring at the door bell.
A specialized old lady stood on the
door steps, in a shabby bombazine and
furs that looked as if they might have
grown on the back of some dissipated
cat.
This ere house to let?'
Yes, ma am"
water pipes in order? Cellar dry?
Paint new? Furnace work good? Roof
sound? Chandeliers so with the house :?
Possession right off? Neighborhood
good? Methodist church anywhere
near? Any objection to children? Ven
tilators in the rooms? CHEEKY closets
off the dining room?
''Ma'am" calculated poor Nahum
fairly stunned by the torrent of cues
lions.
whats the rent?'
Twelve hundred dollars
'"Twelve hundred tiddle-sticksw
shrieked the old lady. "Why, you must
be crazy. Say nine hundred dollars.
and iii look at the rooms"
II won't say anything of the Sort
So saying, Nahum Briggs closed the
door in the face of the old lady with
the furs.
Scarcely had the old lady got safely
round the corner and Mr.. Briggs re-
covered his rutf1ed faculties, when there
came another sharp tintinnabul ton of
the bella langllid young lady this time.
with stiff-looking gentleman who ap.
peared to be engaged in holding on his
mustache. With this couple MI Ma
hum trotted to the very top of the
house and down again.
''Adolphus, my DEAR said the lady.
WELL my dear?"
Don't you think these ceilings are
very low! And then the back yard i;
so very small. And the dining room is
so inconvenient. And-l'm really afrail
there are obnoxious insects in the bed
rooms"
Really, ma'am,' said Nahum, brist
ling up, lis there any other fault t.
find? Because, if there isn't, there!
the front door,"
o. - md y S~:ns+n1
aunt, followed, anl after Il lengthy in
siection of the premises came to Il stat,
council in the parlDrs. p.
rs Il like the house very much, - said thu
spinster aunt, solemnly, land with
few slight alterations I will engage i
for my brothers family" .-,,
Every good, ma'am," said Nahum
rubbing his hands and seeming a speed,
termination to his trials Name EN-
4 1.-The door handles must all be gilded
and I should like the house new pa
pered and repainted. and the partition
between the parlors taken down and re
placed by an arch, and an extensive din
ing room built out behind and la,
window thrown ont Of the parlOr, an
new style Of range in the kitchen
and a dumb-waiter put in, and ney
bronze chandeliers throughout, and III
o1her furnace in the sub cellar, and -
Hold on, ma'amjust hold on on
minute said Nahum, gasping 60
breath. ''NVouldn't you like the oil
house carted away and Il new one pll
in its place? I think it would be lathe
4 less trouble than to make the trifiiI
alterations you suggest.
With prim dignity the lady MARSHALL
her two charges out mutterlT;: some
thing about 1.-The extortionate ideas 9
some landlords nowadays.