New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-09
FERDINAND.
THE STORY OF A FEW BOARDERs

have a feeling that II will be pleasure and a
relief II I tell some things.
Last year Mrs. Spalding who lives in the new
house on what we call the avenoo," took few
boarders through Jul" and August
She said they were just agreeable as they
could be. and never looked down on her. and
paid a large price 80 that they. the Spaldings.
bought new set % purple rep for their parlor
In the fall. after their guests" had gone
We did not want purple rep. bu, we did want
a new l. on the back Of the house.
We knew that 10 live on a farm In town
where there is no railroad near. and to keep
few hens. and COW. and Gordon setter. Is not
the way to get money enough to build an L.
Mrs. Spalding's example before us. Early
in June we began to advertise for few quiet
boarders. who could be accommodated In large.
old-fashoned farmhouse shaded by gigantic
trees.
For the first week no replied. But the
answers began to come very rapidly after that.
Nearly all the notes written by people who
wanted hot and cold water in their rooms. and
who desired TO be on the same floor as the bath
room. 1t seemed superhuous to take any notice
Of such letters. But was much pleased with
note that came from Boston. 1t was so sweet
I told my sister. who Is joint proprietor Of the
place. that hoped this person would come. The
note was signed Flora X. Billings. 1t said she
wanted utter quiet. She longed for perfect still
ness as salve for wounded sensbiities She
should need no society whatever save that Of a
pet dog who wen; with her everywhere. and
who was the only being who understood her
Her tastes were perfectly simple. She liked TO
breakfast on fruit and sup on bread and milk
She should be out Of doors most OF the time
communing with nature; therefore her room
would not make 80 much difference-ony place
In which to rest a weary head when the sun had
sunk In the west and the burning stars were In
the skies.
I do not know why II was that Catharine. that
Is my sister DID not approve Of this note. She
said she knew Il sweet: she was afraid that
Miss Billings was almost too sweet. But as she
did not require hot and cold water and electric
light we were only too grateful to have her
come.
She arrived early In July She said she could
not endure the noise Of the Fourth In town. She
was not as youn;. as thought she was. But
then she was younger than Catharine had
thought. In point OF fact. II was impossible TO
guess her age.
She brought an immense amount Of luggage
and she was dressed with irreproachableness
that was very dlscoursging to us, who never
bought more than new gown a year Her
dog who was the only being who understood
her was n pug. and did not look at first sight. as
II he understood anything. But the appearance
of pugs Is very deceiving. IL cannot be SAID.
even by their admirers. that this kind of dog
looks intellectual The fact Is however. IA |
learned this last summer. that pug can know
great desl This particular specimen was
dressed In a very much ornamented harness OF
Russia leather The ornaments appeared to be
IL
after the manner Of his kIr<l His eyes bulged
out and were watery. His whole aspect was the
aspect Of one whose little body Is aweary OF this
great world" He would sit In the front hall on
his launches by the hour together. and dOze
and wake TO catch n ny or to snap at some one
who wanted to 60 out at the door. Then his
harness would Jingle for an instant and his mis-
,resa who was lust outside the door. would say
paintively:
Now. Ferdinand. you must be arniable
Ferdinand would wag his tail curl when he
heard his friends voice. and would then go to
sleep again and his little bells would b. silent.
Miss Billings often explained that Ferdinand
dl not mean the least thing in the world by
swapping; It was only cunning little way ne
had and she hoped that nobody would mind IT.
When she used To say this We would all smile
and slmper-all except one Of our gentlemen
h. saw the pug or heard him mentioned
When ne thought he was unobserved he used
also TO kick Ferdinand. saw him do this once
and from the creatures manner. when Mr.. IIea-
ton approached. am sure he did 1t more than
once.
am one who loves dogs: can even be friend
ly TO a pug but | not prepared to have this
little beast when spoke kindly to him. stand
up brace his front legs. Jingle his gold bells ana
show his front teeth at me. | trust may be-
pardoned If say too much about Ferdinand but
he was one OF the most prominent OF our board
ers. and he helped to increase the fund for our
l.. still. though lover or dogs, was not
pleased when. tie third morning after her
arrival Miss Billings entered the kitchen. where
my sister was beating eggs and ! was rolling
ou, tho nie-crust She had on an almost divine
,oa gown: her hair was nuffed down to her eye
brows and | was uncertain than ever
about her age She held a pen In one hand az
II she had been what we call composing. she
had let drop the fact. at her first breakfast with
us, that she sometimes did compose verses She
said they relieved the pent-up volcano within
| her She did not look In the least as II she
were carrying about a pent-up volcano but
one can never tell about those things.
She said she thought she would mention that
| II was the morning for Ferdinand's bath Cath-
arine had stopped beating eggs to hear what our
| boarder had to say She now replied that Miss
| billings might have a foot-bath tub for Ferdi-
| nand's use II she wished.
Miss Billings looked at her In cool surprise. as
she heard this response. She did not speak
| for several moments and my sister resumed her
! work The lady put the glittering end OF her
| penholder TO her lips. and appeared TO ne
| shocked. At last she said that she never
| washed Ferdinand herself
Catharine said. "Indeed!' and I rolled out
| pe-crust.
"Where I boarded last year and the year be-
fore" went on Miss Billings the washing OF
Ferdinand was thrown In"