overworking herself to keep her house in shape； and a dozen mouths
are opening at her three times a day； like them little young birds
that split their heads open so you can a'most see into their empty
stomachs； and one wants this and another wants that； and provisions
is dear and rent is high； and nobody to look to；then a sharp word
cuts； I tell you； and a hard look goes right to your heart。 I've
seen a boarder make a face at what I set before him； when I had tried
to suit him jest as well as I knew how； and I haven't cared to eat a
thing myself all the rest of that day； and I've laid awake without a
wink of sleep all night。 And then when you come down the next
morning all the boarders stare at you and wonder what makes you so
low…spirited； and why you don't look as happy and talk as cheerful as
one of them rich ladies that has dinner…parties； where they've
nothing to do but give a few orders； and somebody comes and cooks
their dinner； and somebody else comes and puts flowers on the table；
and a lot of men dressed up like ministers come and wait on
everybody； as attentive as undertakers at a funeral。
And that reminds me to tell you that I'm agoing to live with my
daughter。 Her husband's a very nice man； and when he isn't following
a corpse； he's as good company as if he was a member of the city
council。 My son； he's agoing into business with the old Doctor he
studied with； and he's agoing to board with me at my daughter's for a
while；I suppose he'll be getting a wife before long。 ＇This with a
pointed look at our young friend； the Astronomer。＇
It is n't but a little while longer that we are going to be together；
and I want to say to you gentlemen； as I mean to say to the others
and as I have said to our two ladies； that I feel more obligated to；
you for the way you 've treated me than I know very well how to put
into words。 Boarders sometimes expect too much of the ladies that
provides for them。 Some days the meals are better than other days；
it can't help being so。 Sometimes the provision…market is n't well
supplied； sometimes the fire in the cooking…stove does n't burn so
well as it does other days； sometimes the cook is n't so lucky as she
might be。 And there is boarders who is always laying in wait for the
days when the meals is not quite so good as they commonly be； to pick
a quarrel with the one that is trying to serve them so as that they
shall be satisfied。 But you've all been good and kind to me。 I
suppose I'm not quite so spry and quick…sighted as I was a dozen
years ago； when my boarder wrote that first book so many have asked
me about。 Butnow I'm going to stop taking boarders。 I don't
believe you'll think much about what I did n't do；because I
couldn't；but remember that at any rate I tried honestly to serve
you。 I hope God will bless all that set at my table； old and young；
rich and poor； merried and single； and single that hopes soon to be
merried。 My husband that's dead and gone always believed that we all
get to heaven sooner or later；and sence I've grown older and buried
so many that I've loved I've come to feel that perhaps I should meet
all of them that I've known hereor at least as many of 'em as I
wanted toin a better world。 And though I don't calculate there is
any boarding…houses in heaven； I hope I shall some time or other meet
them that has set round my table one year after another； all
together； where there is no fault…finding with the food and no
occasion for it；and if I do meet them and you thereor anywhere；
if there is anything I can do for you。。。。
。。。。Poor dear soul！ Her ideas had got a little mixed； and her heart
was overflowing； and the white handkerchief closed the scene with its
timely and greatly needed service。
What a pity； I have often thought； that she came in just at that
precise moment！ For the old Master was on the point of telling us；
and through one of us the reading world；I mean that fraction of it
which has reached this point of the record；at any rate； of telling
you； Beloved； through my pen； his solution of a great problem we all
have to deal with。 We were some weeks longer together； but he never
offered to continue his reading。 At length I ventured to give him a
hint that our young friend and myself would both of us be greatly
gratified if he would begin reading from his unpublished page where
he had left off。
No； sir；he said；better not； better not。 That which means so
much to me； the writer； might be a disappointment； or at least a
puzzle； to you； the listener。 Besides； if you'll take my printed
book and be at the trouble of thinking over what it says； and put
that with what you've heard me say； and then make those comments and
reflections which will be suggested to a mind in so many respects
like mine as is your own；excuse my good opinion of myself；
（It is a high compliment to me； I replied） you will perhaps find you
have the elements of the formula and its consequences which I was
about to read you。 It's quite as well to crack your own filberts as
to borrow the use of other people's teeth。 I think we will wait
awhile before we pour out the Elixir Vitae。
To tell the honest truth； I suspect the Master has found out that
his formula does not hold water quite so perfectly as he was
thinking； so long as he kept it to himself； and never thought of
imparting it to anybody else。 The very minute a thought is
threatened with publicity it seems to shrink towards mediocrity； as。
I have noticed that a great pumpkin； the wonder of a village； seemed
to lose at least a third of its dimensions between the field where it
grew and the cattle…show fair…table； where it took its place with
other enormous pumpkins from other wondering villages。 But however
that maybe； I shall always regret that I had not the opportunity of
judging for myself how completely the Master's formula； which； for
him； at least； seemed to have solved the great problem； would have
accomplished that desirable end for me。
The Landlady's announcement of her intention to give up keeping
boarders was heard with regret by all who met around her table。 The
Member of the Haouse inquired of me whether I could tell him if the
Lamb Tahvern was kept well abaout these times。 He knew that members
from his place used to stop there； but he hadn't heerd much abaout it
of late years。 I had to inform him that that fold of rural innocence
had long ceased offering its hospitalities to the legislative； flock。
He found refuge at last； I have learned； in a great public house in
the northern section of the city； where； as he said； the folks all
went up stairs in a rat…trap； and the last I heard of him was looking
out of his somewhat elevated attic…window in a northwesterly
direction in hopes that he might perhaps get a sight of the Grand
Monadnock； a mountain in New Hampshire which I have myself ；seen from
the top of Bunker Hill Monument。
The Member of the Haouse seems to have been more in a hurry to find a
new resting…place than the other boarders。 By the first of January；
however； our whole company was scattered； never to meet again around
the board where we had been so long together。
The Lady moved to the house where she had passed many of her
prosperous years。 It had been occupied by a rich family who had
taken it nearly as it stood； and as the pictures had been dusted
regularly； and the books had never been handled； she found everything
in many respects as she had left it； and in some points improved； for
the rich people did not know what else to do； and so they spent money
without stint on their house and its adornments； by all of which she
could not help profiting。 I do not choose to give the street and
number of the house where she lives； but a…great many poor people
know very well where it is； and as a matter of course the rich ones
roll up to her door in their carriages by the dozen every fine Monday
while anybody is in town。
It is whispered that our two young folks are to be married before
another season； and that the Lady has asked them to come and stay
with her for a while。 Our Scheherezade is to write no more stories。
It is astonishing to see what a change for the better in her aspect a
few weeks of brain…rest and heart's ease have wrought in her。 I
doubt very much whether she ever returns to literary labor。 The work
itself was almost heart…breaking； but the effect upon her of the
sneers and cynical insolences of the literary rough who came at her
in mask and brass knuckles was to give her what I fear will be a
lifelong disgust against any writing for the public； especially in
any of the periodicals。 I am not sorry that she should stop writing；
but I am sorry that she should have been silenced in such a rude way。
I doubt； too； whether the Young Astronomer will pass the rest of his
life in hunting for comets and planets。 I think he has found an
attraction that will call him down from the celestial luminaries to a
light not less pure and far less remote。 And I am inclined to
believe that the best answer to many of those questions which have
haunted him and found expression in his verse will be reached by a
very different channel from that of lonely contemplation； the duties；
the cares； the responsible realities of a life drawn out of itself by
the power of newly awakened instincts and affections。 The double
star was prophetic；I thought it would be。
The Register of Deeds is understood to have been very handsomely
treated by the boarder who owes her good fortune to his sagacity and
activity。 He has engaged apartments at a very genteel boarding…house
not far from the one where we have all been living。 The Salesman
found it a simple matter to transfer himself to an establishment over
the way； he had very little to move； and required very small
accommodations。
The Capitalist； however； seems to have felt it impossible to move
without ridding himself of a part atleast of his encumbrances。 The
community was startled by the announcement that a citizen who did not
wish his name to be known had made a free gift of a large sum of
moneyit was in tens of thousandsto an institution of long
standing and high character in the city of which he was a quiet