Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-10-11

IAN look sweet again, | have feel
IN ing that it will be pleasure
and relief if tell some things
Last year Mrs. Spalding, who lives
in the new house on what we call "the
avenoo,n took few boarders through
July and August.
She said they were just as agreeable
as they could be, and never looked
down on her, and paid a large price, so
that they, the Spaldings, bought new
set of purple rep for their parlor in the
fall, after their ''guests" had gone.
We did not want purple rep, but we
did want new l. on the back of the
house.
We knew that to live on a farm in a
town where there is no railroad near,
and to keep few hens, and a COW, and
a Gordon setter is not the way to get
money enough to build an l.. Mrs
Spalding's example was before us. Ear
ly in June we began to advertise for a
few quiet bOarders, who could be ac-
commodated in large, old-fashioned
farmhouse, shaded by gigantic trees.
For the first week no one replied
But the answers began to come very
rapidly after that. Nearly all the notes
were written by people who wanted
hot and cold water in their rooms, and
who desired to be on the same floor as
the bathroom. 1t seemed superfiuous
to take any notice of such letters. But
was much pleased with a note that
came from Boston. 1t was so sweet
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
stiffness as a salve for wounded sensi-
bilities. She should need no society
whatever save that of pet dog, who
went withher 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 so much dlfference-only a
place in which to rest a weary head
when the sun had sunk in the west and
the burning stars were in the skies.
/ do not know why it was that Cath
arine, that is my sister, did not approve
of this note. She said she knew it was
sweet; she was afraid that Miss Billings
was almost too sweet. But as she did
not require hot and cold water and cleo
trio 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 young
as thought she was. But, then, she
was younger than Catharine had
thought In point of fact, it was i'm
possible to guess her age.
She brought an immense amount OF
luggage and she was dressed with an
irreproachableness that was very dis
couraging to those, who never bought
more than one gown year. Her dog
who was the only being who under
stood her, was pug, and did not look
at first sight, as if he understood any.
thing. But the appearance of pugs is
very deceiving. 1t cannot be said, ever
by their admirers, that this kind of a
however, as | learned this last summer
that pug can know great deal. This
particular specimen was dressed in 8
very much ornamented harness of Rus.
STA leather. The ornaments appeared
to be of gold and precious stones. His
nose turned up after the manner of his
kind. His eyes bulged out and were
watery. His whole aspect was the as
pect of one whose ''little body is aweary
of this great world" He would sit il
the front hall on his launches by the
hour together, and doze and wake t6
catch fly or to snap at some one who
wanted to go out at the door. Then his
harness would jingle for an instant anC
his mistress, who was just outside the
door, would say plaintively:
''Now, Ferdinand, you must be ami
able"
Ferdinand would wag his tail cur
when he heard his friends voice, anC
would then go to sleep again, and his
little bells would be silent.
Miss Billings often explained thai
Ferdinand did not mean the least thing
in the world by swapping it was only
cunning little way he had, and she
hoped that nobody would mind it.
When she used to say this we would
IL smile and simper-all except one o
ur gentlemen bcarders, who wore {
srocious face every time he saw the
uy or heard him mentioned.
When he thought he was unobserveC
used also to kick Ferdinand. | saw
III do this once, and from thu
eature's manner, when hr. Heater
|proached, | am sure he did 1t NOR,
an once.
am one who loves dogs; / can ever