The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-06

1888 MVNHNG
nON'T feel so sorry for Noah, COM
| mented Jane Sayre. Clipped vase
doubtfully poised in one hand. a
red tomato pincushion in the other.
His instructions were plain enough,
and all he had to do was to carry
them out and drive in the ami
mails. But think of poor Mrs. Noah,
obliged to decide what TO take and what
to leave behind, and all the time she
was packing her trunk the water get
ting higher and higher under her win
dow e
The Sayres had lived in the same
house for fifteen years. But now the
property had been sold, the house to
be torn down. In tragic word, they
had to move--bag and baggage and ac-
cpmulated junk, as Jessie Sayres dis
respectfully put it.
There's one thing I'm not going to
do" declared Mrs. Sayre. Live in one
of those modern disappearing apart
ments, where everything folds up or
under. I've no intention of making a
collapsible drinking cup Of myself.
So they started in house hunting.
The desired house was to have seven
rooms, for Frances Julia was now old
enough for a bedroom of her own and
they had long wanted guest chamber.
1t was to be in pleasant neighbor-
hood, convenient to car line, in walk
ing distance to a good school. A west
ern or southern exposure; front gar
den big enough to enjoy, yet small
enough not to be a burden, and back
yard to hang out clothes; an attic for
trunks; ample closet room; and good
basement were the other essentials. In
cidentally, the rent must be within
reason" But to match ones desires in
house is like shopping for some exact
shade of embroidery silk.
All five real estate men in town au-
toed them to every district zoned and
unzoned Jessie walked the streets of
desirable neighborhoods looking to right
and left for ITO let" signs until she
was cross-eyed. Frances Julia kept a
clipping bureau of allnring ads from
the local paper, such as:
Wake up! Pinch yourself. Read
this bargain. A beautiful, well ar
ranged house of seven rooms; built-in
features; open fireplace. VIII please
the most particular. Convenient terms.f
Eyes, madam, we have found pre-
cisely what you want at 1920 Ophelia
boulevard. Hardwood floors; garage.
Ground full of flowers and cherries. o,
boy! Looks like punches of blackbirds !.
Must be seen to be appreciated"
Babe Ruth would not have anything
on you by scoring home run like
tkisl A gem of a house. Indirect
lighting. All windows reversible; cabi-
net kitchen with pedestal sink. A
neighborhood you will be proud to live
in.
Yet two strenuous weeks went by and
the desired house was not found.
There amt no such animal ~ de-
clared Jessie in the f0ot-weary tone Of
one who had walked level miles of
floor space, climbed up and down count
less stairs. Every thing we've looked
at has some drawback It's just a
choice in butts Z"
And with that irony in life with
which our vehement assertions come
home to roost, the choice in butts
ended in their paying a deposit upon
just such an apartment as Mrs. Sayre
had rallied against,
IF anybody had told me I'd come to
In my parlor on a pulled out
writing desk with a mattress attached,
fixing my hair before the looking glass
of a bureau swung into the dining
room ON the back of closet door, eat
ing my meals in breakfast nook at
the elbow of a kitchen sink the size Of
Dickie's, bathtub, i wouldn't have be-
lieved them" she bewailed. "And how
under the canopy we're going to get the
furniture Of two-story-and-attic house
into those three f1ourbin rooms beats
me-"
'.We'lI simply have to eliminate all
essentials, mother" replied Jessie,
tersely. And thereupon the deluge was
turned on.
For the moving itself was easy COM