Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1898-05-20
AN INVALID BOARDER

~ oAA' LII uIk6SOu ana
do take boarders; but you say your
friend is an invalid, and can't, in
deed l can't, think of it. Yes, sir, no
doubt, most excellent gentleman, I
nave every reason to believe, since you
tell me so; and as you say attendance
would be very we'll paid for, and 1t is
airy here and very pleasant, doubt
less 1t would be very beneficial to the
poor, dear gentleman, but I can't take
him. I don't take invalids. Because
of the trouble? Oh, dear, no. That
isn't it. Trouble never mind. What
Is 1t then? Wouldn't the boarders
like 1t? Let the boarders mind their
own affairs. if it was nothing catch
Ing, and neuralgia and nerves amt
catching that ever heard of.
mo, no, but scalded dog breads
cold water, and 1 have had invalids
before. One invalid, he was enough
for me. 1t ain't boarders, 1 think of
though. 1 had twenty-four silver
small and twenty-four heavy plated,
that you couldn't tell, and dozen
tables, solid, and four salts and ten
desserts, and a scallop-shell shaped
that came two in a velvet-box--a pres
ent to me when I was married. Board
ers? No, of course 1 don't mean
soarders. Spoons. / had that number
when took the invalid, and you don't
know the straits I'm put to now, and
the cheap rubbish I've had to buy.
All on account Of that invalid. But
this one will take all his medicine in
his own spoons. All, that isn't It,
either! Your poor dear friend Is
doubtless a perfect gentleman; only
1 am prejudiced against invalids.
He was brought in in chair,
wrapped up in counterpart, and 1
must say thought he had a very red
face; but that might be apopleptic, you
know, or he might have stimulated
himself into it, as an invalid might
easily do, you know, and not to blame
IL the doctor recommended it. And he
was taken into the best room, next
to the one Mrs. Jerrup had-my dia-
mond boarder, I used to call her; she
had so many Of 'em in her ears and
on her fingers and at her throat. And
as soon as he was comfortably fixed
1 went up to see him, and says 1:
Mr.. Bolter.' says THAT was his
name-'Mr. Bolter, is there anything
I can do for your
And he says as politely as you
could wish: No, ma'am, there is not.
All that shall need is little water
cruel at six in the morning; and IL the
boarders have any of 'em a habit of
singing hymns in the evening, as I've
known in pious clearinghouse to set
the parlor door open that may hear
EN-
Now, was there aver anything more
touching than that? 1 went down
stairs. with tears in my eyes, and
says 1: If there ever was a saint on
earth, it is poor, dear Mr.. Bolter. He
is too good to live, and I'm as sure as
sure can be that We shall lose him.
And 1t was remarkable incident that
the widow Of the Rev. Mr. Spicer did
board with us, and did sing hymns;
an she sang 'em that night, and set
the parlor door open; and Mr.. Boil
ter rung his bell, and sent down word
that he was very much refreshed
with his compliments, by the waiter.
He did take stimulants, l smelt; and
I said to myself. Aud who can blame
him II it's ordered?' And 1t was
brandy, If have a nose.
well. as we parted for the night,
we all spoke Of the poor. dear gen.
tleman.
Another gentleman had called to
speak Of him, just as you have called
about your invalid friend. Yes. And
you mustn't think mean any hints
or anything. And he told us he
couldn't put bis feet to the ground,
and hadn't, for ten years.
And what would he do in case of
firef' says Mrs. Tibbs, who was tim
i'd.
II should rescue him, OF course
said Mr.. Beckett, our young boarder,
who was in dry goods store, and who
was as big, take him altogether, as
one OF the invalid's arms.
But you'd have the ladies to save,
you know said Mrs. Squizzle, the
widow, who always fiirted with every
thing and anything like a man, from
eighty to eighteen.
"'The ladies first,' said Mr.. Beck
ct. of course Only IL he'd started
with Mr.. Squizzle he'd never have got
back for any more, for she weighed
two hundred pounds, and he'd have
been squashed at the first step.
"'I shall keep my eye on him. said
Mrs. Smith, and I'll tell Mr.. Smith to
do so. I'll step in tomorrow and tell
him our views about magnetism.
wonder II he's ever tried magnetism
Poor gentleman said Mrs. Jer-