The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-06-15
OUR BALCONY BOARDER.
By Eva Rice Moore.

HIHEN we moved out to Spring
Wy Creek we were, to say the
least, hard up. For years we had
been experimenting with life in the
city, and somehow had made fail
ure of lit financially. So we went
back to the old farm life again, tired
enough of the city and it's crowded,
dusty ways. Still, we wanted to be
in close touch with it, so as to be
able to drive in with our products,
which were to be fruit and vegeta-
bles.
Sister and 1 counted over our lit
tie pile, all that remained after the
above mentioned experiences. 1t
amounted to $3.50. Rent, a horse,
seeds, hired labor and our living to
come out of that" said my sister.
lit can't be done, Amy"
Summer boarders would help" !
responded, laconically.
$50 they would; and it's such a
dear little place, so retired and ro-
mantle around that old creek back
of the house; and yet it's SO con-
yenient to town, with the new trolley
line right past the door. and one fare
to the city"
Consequently, 1 had taking little
advertisement inserted in the Daily
Liar, and we were only fairly settled
in our birds nest of n cottage" os
sister insisted on calling it, when
we received a letter from lady in
delicate health, Mrs. Avery, ask
ing for particulars, which were soon
given and room forthwith engaged
1t was to be the front room up
stairs (there were only two above),
and the windows opened upon n small
balcony. We had fitted the room up
beautifully, really having put about
everything nice We had in that room
and the parlor, leaving our own rooms
skinny enough; but then, bless you,
we were going to get Sc a week for
board, and il the lady in delicate
health remained through July and
August (as she limited in her letters
would be the case, il suited), it
meant half years rent paid on our
little place.
When Mrs. Avery got off the trolley
car we were surprised to see rosy
checked little woman of about 80, who
looked the picture of health and hap
piness excepting for q little sad look
in her eyes. She assured us she was
not very sickly (Which we easily be-
lieved), and only needed quiet rest
ing time and good nourishing food.
As we fingered on the veranda she
inquired how soon we could go for
her trunk, which was now at the sta
ton two miles away. She had a suit
ease and large telescope valise with
her.
II brought all my summer things"
she explained, because l hoped to
like it here very much"
"And it won't be our fault il you
don't" returned sister, as she started
for the barn to harness up old Flora,
our horse of all work.
Well, Mrs. Avery proved queer
boarder. She was little, slender
woman, with a refined, sensitive face,
and you couldn't help be surprised
at the way the food set before her
disappeared. Such quantities of meat,
vegetables, fruit and everything! She
had most of her meals sent to her
room, and nothing ever came back.
We sent up half a chicken one day,
with all the fiXings, salad, cheese, a
plate of fresh biscuit and half a
cherry pie. The chicken bones alone
returned to the kitchen.
II see no profit in this summer
boarder," remarked my sister, with q
-comical lifting of her brows.
Bat she's so little trouble" pro.
tested. "She stays up there in her
bower"
ut is a veritable bower" inter.
,rupted my sister. "since she's put
that bright awning around the bal.
.cony and trained those vines around
1t. She is completely screened from
view, and yet can see as much as she
likes herself"
One morning another boarder ar.
rived. She was woman of some
note as writer, of whom we had
often heard. We had hoped to get
two for each of the upper rooms, bat
had had to be contented with one in
each case. This last one was spare
austere-looking, single woman OF
middle age, Jean Jewett by name
She looked sharply at us, and spoke
in brusque manner which might at
another, time have disconnected us;
but we were anxious TO secure pay
ing Bo{dcr and beamed affably upon
her. n
Things went along smoothly now,