LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 976, 11 August 1877, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A MAN OF MANY MOVES. A Tale of Washington. BY D. W. CURTIS. ( Continued) ‘An’ is it you thet would be askin’ me thet question, Captain ? isn’t it time ye paid me my little bill ? faith hasn’t my poore gal been running her legs off her rain or shine to bring yc the sv/ate, fresh milk, and she down wid the small pox this blisaid minnit ’ * But my good wo ’ ‘ Wid divil a taste of wather in it at all, at all, and me a lone widely wid none bub the cow to support mo, au’ she goin’d hry.’ ‘ But ’ ‘ I know whet yo would he after sayin’: it’s no money ye have, or ye are jist goin’ to git some from the govermint, but thet won’t pay mo for the cow’s fodder, and no milk hcv I for the likes of yc more.’ ‘My good woman will you hear me,’exclaimed the almost frantic Elijah. ‘And who do ye call “good woman?” troth niver a one could say thet black was the white of my oie.’ Here the unfortunate master of the house succeeded in making his escape, sending Biddy to explain matters, which she. did, however, after the manner of her kind, but it cost my friend a trille the next morning at the police court. Matters went on thus for a week; every day on his return from office Elijah heard of fresh bills. They arrived by post ; they wore slipped under the door, and left by the hands of un-happy-looking collectors; he was told how Biddy was waylaid on all possible occasions, as well as the difficulties experienced in convincing the ice man and baker that another family occupied the premises. At length, one evening while reading the ‘Star,’ his attention was attracted to the following advertisement: — ‘For Rent.—A neat six-room house, suitable for a small, genteel family, containing all the modern improvements. Apply to Swindle and Gullem, Real Estate Agents, No 1, False street. ’ ‘ That is just what I want,’ exclaimed Mrs James. ‘ What a pity we could not have heard of it before,’ ‘Yea-s,’ answered her husband, ‘But I don’t see why we might not take it now. We are hardly unpacked yet, and I am heartily tired of being dunned for the debts of the swindling rascal who formerly lived here.’ The conversation resulted in the transfer the next day of all their portable property to the desired house, which was engaged solely on the strength of the agent’s recom inundations On taking possession, late in the evening, it was found that the water pipes had burst during the winter, and were still unrepaired, while an unpaid gas bill was the cause of an ignominous failure to procure a light until candles could ho procured. Night found Mrs James seated on the parlor floor surrounded by a motly assortment of housekeeping articles, seemingty dropped there for distribution. A large wash tub containing a battered tea-caddy, coffeemill, three tin plates, broken delf, flat-irons, and other necessary but inelegant articles were made still more conspicuous by the incongruous company of a basket full of choice hooks and mantel ornaments. A bag of flour, bundles of groceries, and trunks of clothing completed the variety, causing her to resemble a sole survivor of an emigrant train on a Western prarie. Biddy was on the verge of rebellion and threatened to leave the next morning, vowing she was not going to ‘ lug water through the streets and over the house.’ Nothing but the most fervid eloquence and the promise of Mrs Jones’ second best dress prevented her carrying out this terrible threat. The casualties of this campaign were numerous. Baby No. 1 confiscated a paper of stove polish, and bestowed it so liberally on her face and dress as to be untirely unrecognisable for the space of five minutes. Baby No. 2, choosing another color, had seated herself in a bucket of whitewash, from which perilous position she was rescued by the now pacified Biddy. Elijah, trotting around in his stocking feet, trod in a saucerful of tacks, left as is usual by the best of housekeepers in the middle of the floor. The best tea-set had come to grief, and the fragments supplied the children of their new neighbors with material to play party for a mouth, * * * * * I was from this time forced to keep the address of my frieud James marked in the almanac according to date, as the demon of emigration fairly possessed him. His next move, I believe, was to the outskirts of the city, quite into the country in fact, Mrs James being desirous that the children should have the advantage of fresh air, milk, and other rustic luxuries. Some three months after this move I met Elijah in the street; he looked pale and thin, and on questioning him as to the advantages of country life, he informed me that lie had been overrun with company from the city, who ate his fruit and drank all the milk, and that he was often obliged to go without any for himself. He never before realised the number of his acquaintances, His children had been made very 91 by eating green fruit, had boon frightfully stung by insects, and the cow had smashed all his hot-bods and ate up his early vegetables. In addition to these troubles he was often late at his office, and had to make an expressman of himself three nights in the week, carrying goods from the city. To crown all, Biddy, the hired girl, was det( mined to leave. ‘ All the Queen’s wardrobe’ cou'd not make her stay in a place where there was neither a mass nor a male cousin withiu live miles of it. The carpets and curtains were all too small for the large rooms, stovepipes did not fit, and the chimneys smoked so that even the cat would not stay in the house. {To he continued .)