Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-12-02
Billy BoaIdsTs

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Billy Allen sat OIL the chopping-
block. whiting dejectedly. He had
been listening to conversation he
tween his father and mother, and
1t was quite evident that things were
going to the dogs" The crops had
failed miserably, the interest on the
mortgage would be due IN two months,
and even with the money that his sis
ter Emma earned in the c,rn can
merry. could not he met by fifty dol
lars.
But what had hurt Billy worst of
all had been his mothers final re-
mark; the pathos had been in her
voice perhaps more than in the words
themselves.
Its a pretty place.. she had said.
turning away; and Billy knew that
meant they would have to leave the
old. rocky. hillside farm, which, al.
ter all, they loved.
He was summoned to carry the
daily can Of milk to his Aunt Sue.
and having harnessed the horse, he
drove on on his GRAND. still frownins
and melancholy with unproductive
thought.
His aunt lived a, mile and half
away, In the middle OF Pembridge
village. To Billy. whose own home
at the foot Of a mountain and he
hind a forest was remote, the vii.
lage was a highly Interesting place;
/ and In summer the mcst interesting
thing In 1t was his .lunt's hons., for
she took I'M boarders. At the even
Ing hour, when Billy arrived with the
milk. these well-dressed city people
would usually be sitting on the piazza
or under the trees. or perhaps play
Ing croquet on Mrs. Snyder's Bit Of
lawn.
On this evening Billy looked at
them wistfully. They seemed to him
30 inbumanly free from all the cares
and worries Of this world.
He carried the milk into the kit
chen. His aunt was on the back
porch, turning the crank OF an ice
cream freezer.
Y Billy" she said. '.have you 1--WE
minutes to spare? Turn this a while.
and I'll give you some Of the ice
Z cream.
Billy took his aunt's place, remark
ing his time was not valuable.
They're going to have party
tonight" she explained, pouring the
milk into her pans. ut makes lots
OF extra work. but land! they pay.
don't complain"
How did you get EN-, Aunt sue?"
Billy asked, languidly.
Advertised. Can't get anything
without advertising, nowadays"
They have to have croquet and
hammocks and ice-cream, don't they,
Aunt Sue?"
My folks do. Ny sakes, they want
the earth! But there's always a
profit on 1t IL you manage right"
she added, cheerfully.
On the way home Billy's thoughts
centered upon summer boarders. II
Z there were only some way of persuad.
Ing them to come to his mothers
house! There were two spare rooms
decently furnished and every one said
his mother was "natural-born. cook
But what attractions could he offer
In place OF such impossible Injuries
as his aunt was able to afford? Moth.
ing except the great, overtowering
mountain, with Its trout brooks and
It's one traditional bear-which many
protested TO have seen and at which
a few had shot.
When Billy reached home, he said
to his mother:
II you had boarders, mother. how
much would you charge them?o
That depends, !" she answered with.
out much interest. Aunt Sue gets
from seven to ten dollars a week.
II folks would put up with what we
could give them. I'd be glad to get
1--we dollars. With the garden-trnck
could save half OF that"
Would you like to take boarders.
mother?p =
The boy tried to make his question
seem as casual as possible.
Would ] be glad OF fortune -,
she answered.
Billy did not wish to rouse his
mothers hopes. He determined to
proceed on his own responsibility.
BY picking blackberries, which he
sold to his aunt, he earned enough
money to insert one advertisement in
2. Boston newspaper. Then he cast
mis- bait out into the great. rich
world. and waited anxiously for =
nibble. -. :
On the second day after Billy had
taken this step, two clerks in Bos.
Ton dry'goods store sat down to. sun.
per In their clearinghouse ana
spread out newspaper between
them. 7 'n
Look here. Dalton, how,s this gr
said one Of them. pointing with his
dngdr at an advertisement. which
ran as follows.
Boarders Wanted. Farmhouse nm
Little Hawk Mountain. Fine scenery.
trout brooks, swimming in the lake
maybe shot at bear No ham.
mocks or croquet, and Just plain coun.
try living, but mothers first-rate
cook. Five dollars a week. w. All.
len, PeRbridse. Maine.