until they were sent for.

[Illustration: _The Old Boarder._]

In this same Boarding-House there was a Widow whose husband had
neglected to die. Being left all alone in the World she had gone out
to make her Way, since which time she had gained about 30 pounds and
was considered Great Company by the Young Men.

Necessarily there was a Pale Lady who loved to read, and who stuck to
the Patterns that appeared in Godey's Magazine soon after the War.

Then there was the Married Couple, without any Children or Furniture
of their own, and the only reason they didn't take a House was that
Henry had to be out of Town so often. Henry's Salary had been whooped
$500 a Year and she was just beginning to say Gown instead of Dress.
She had the Society Column for Breakfast and things looked Dark for
Henry.

For many months this conventional Group of ordinary 6-7/8 Mortals had
lived in a Rut. At each meal-time they rounded up and mechanically
devoured what was doled out to them and folded their Napkins and broke
Ranks. Each day was the Duplicate of another and Life had petered down
to a Routine.

One Evening just as they had come in for their Vermicelli, a new
Boarder glided into their midst. She was a tall Gypsy Queen with about
$1,200 worth of Clothes that fit her everywhere and all the time, and
she had this watch-me kind of a Walk, the same being a Cue for all the
other Girls to get out their Hardware.

When she moved up to the Table and began to distribute a few sample
Smiles, so as to indicate the Character of her Work, the musical Team
went out with the Tide, the Grass Widow curled up like an Autumn Leaf,
the touch-me-not Married Lady dropped into the Scrub Division. The
Lady who read was shy a Spoon and afraid to ask for it. The Men were
all google-eyed, and the Help was running into Chairs and dropping
important parts of the Menu.

Presently the Landlady came in and explained. She said that Mrs.
Williams was in the City to shop for a couple of Days, and her Husband
would be up on the Night Train. Whereupon five men fell under the
Table.

* * * * *

MORAL: Nothing ever happens at a Boarding House.

* * * * *

_THE MAN WHO HAD A TRUE FRIEND TO STEER HIM ALONG_

Once there was a well-meaning Soul who was handicapped by a true and
lasting Friendship.

Sometimes he suspected that if he could be left to himself he would
struggle along from one Sa