rudder grange-第1部分

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Rudder　Grange

by　Frank　R。　Stockton





CONTENTS


CHAPTER　I。

Treating　of　a　Novel　Style　of　Dwelling…house


CHAPTER　II。

Treating　of　a　Novel　Style　of　Boarder


CHAPTER　III。

Treating　of　a　Novel　Style　of　Girl


CHAPTER　IV。

Treating　of　a　Novel　Style　of　Burglar


CHAPTER　V。

Pomona　Produces　a　Partial　Revolution　in　Rudder　Grange


CHAPTER　VI。

The　New　Rudder　Grange


CHAPTER　VII。

Treating　of　an　Unsuccessful　Broker　and　a　Dog


CHAPTER　VIII。

Pomona　Once　More


CHAPTER　IX。

We　Camp　Out


CHAPTER　X。

Wet　Blankets


CHAPTER　XI。

The　Boarder's　Visit


ChAPTER　XII。

Lord　Edward　and　the　Tree…man


CHAPTER　XIII。

Pomona's　Novel


CHAPTER　XIV。

Pomona　takes　a　Bridal　Trip


CHAPTER　XV。

In　which　two　New　Friends　disport　themselves


CHAPTER　XVI。

In　which　an　Old　Friend　appears；　and　the　Bridal　Trip　takes　a　Fresh
Start


CHAPTER　XVII。

In　which　we　take　a　Vacation　and　look　for　David　Dutton


CHAPTER　XVIII。

Our　Tavern


CHAPTER　XIX。

The　Baby　at　Rudder　Grange


CHAPTER　XX。

The　Other　Baby　at　Rudder　Grange



RUDDER　GRANGE。


CHAPTER　I。

TREATING　OF　A　NOVEL　STYLE　OF　DWELLING　HOUSE。


For　some　months　after　our　marriage；　Euphemia　and　I　boarded。　　But　we
did　not　like　it。　　Indeed；　there　was　no　reason　why　we　should　like
it。　　Euphemia　said　that　she　never　felt　at　home　except　when　she　was
out；　which　feeling；　indicating　such　an　excessively　unphilosophic
state　of　mind；　was　enough　to　make　me　desire　to　have　a　home　of　my
own；　where；　except　upon　rare　and　exceptional　occasions；　my　wife
would　never　care　to　go　out。

If　you　should　want　to　rent　a　house；　there　are　three　ways　to　find
one。　　One　way　is　to　advertise；　another　is　to　read　the
advertisements　of　other　people。　　This　is　a　comparatively　cheap　way。
A　third　method　is　to　apply　to　an　agent。　　But　none　of　these　plans
are　worth　anything。　　The　proper　way　is　to　know　some　one　who　will
tell　you　of　a　house　that　will　exactly　suit　you。　　Euphemia　and　I
thoroughly　investigated　this　matter；　and　I　know　that　what　I　say　is
a　fact。

We　tried　all　the　plans。　　When　we　advertised；　we　had　about　a　dozen
admirable　answers；　but　in　these；　although　everything　seemed　to
suit；　the　amount　of　rent　was　not　named。　　（None　of　those　in　which
the　rent　was　named　would　do　at　all。）　　And　when　I　went　to　see　the
owners；　or　agents　of　these　suitable　houses；　they　asked　much　higher
rents　than　those　mentioned　in　the　unavailable　answersand　this；
notwithstanding　the　fact　that　they　always　asserted　that　their　terms
were　either　very　reasonable　or　else　greatly　reduced　on　account　of
the　season　being　advanced。　　（It　was　now　the　fifteenth　of　May。）

Euphemia　and　I　once　wrote　a　book；this　was　just　before　we　were
married；in　which　we　told　young　married　people　how　to　go　to
housekeeping　and　how　much　it　would　cost　them。　　We　knew　all　about
it；　for　we　had　asked　several　people。　　Now　the　prices　demanded　as
yearly　rental　for　small　furnished　houses；　by　the　owners　and　agents
of　whom　I　have　been　speaking；　were；　in　many　cases；　more　than　we　had
stated　a　house　could　be　bought　and　furnished　for！

The　advertisements　of　other　people　did　not　serve　any　better。　　There
was　always　something　wrong　about　the　houses　when　we　made　close
inquiries；　and　the　trouble　was　generally　in　regard　to　the　rent。
With　agents　we　had　a　little　better　fortune。　　Euphemia　sometimes
went　with　me　on　my　expeditions　to　real　estate　offices；　and　she
remarked　that　these　offices　were　always　in　the　basement；　or　else
you　had　to　go　up　to　them　in　an　elevator。　　There　was　nothing　between
these　extremes。　　And　it　was　a　good　deal　the　same　way；　she　said；
with　their　houses。　　They　were　all　very　low　indeed　in　price　and
quality；　or　else　too　high。

One　trouble　was　that　we　wanted　a　house　in　a　country　place；　not　very
far　from　the　city；　and　not　very　far　from　the　railroad　station　or
steamboat　landing。　　We　also　wanted　the　house　to　be　nicely　shaded
and　fully　furnished；　and　not　to　be　in　a　malarial　neighborhood；　or
one　infested　by　mosquitoes。

〃If　we　do　go　to　housekeeping；〃　said　Euphemia；　〃we　might　as　well　get
a　house　to　suit　us　while　we　are　about　it。　　Moving　is　more　expensive
than　a　fire。〃

There　was　one　man　who　offered　us　a　house　that　almost　suited　us。　　It
was　near　the　water；　had　rooms　enough；　and　somebut　not　very　much
ground；　and　was　very　accessible　to　the　city。　　The　rent；　too；　was
quite　reasonable。　　But　the　house　was　unfurnished。　　The　agent；
however；　did　not　think　that　this　would　present　any　obstacle　to　our
taking　it。　　He　was　sure　that　the　owner　would　furnish　it　if　we　paid
him　ten　per　cent；　on　the　value　of　the　furniture　he　put　into　it。　　We
agreed　that　if　the　landlord　would　do　this　and　let　us　furnish　the
house　according　to　the　plans　laid　down　in　our　book；　that　we　would
take　the　house。　　But　unfortunately　this　arrangement　did　not　suit
the　landlord；　although　he　was　in　the　habit　of　furnishing　houses　for
tenants　and　charging　them　ten　per　cent。　on　the　cost。

I　saw　him　myself　and　talked　to　him　about　it。

〃But　you　see；〃　said　he；　when　I　had　shown　him　our　list　of　articles
necessary　for　the　furnishing　of　a　house；　〃it　would　not　pay　me　to
buy　all　these　things；　and　rent　them　out　to　you。　　If　you　only　wanted
heavy　furniture；　which　would　last　for　years；　the　plan　would　answer；
but　you　want　everything。　　I　believe　the　small　conveniences　you　have
on　this　list　come　to　more　money　than　the　furniture　and　carpets。〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　I。　　〃We　are　not　so　very　particular　about　furniture
and　carpets；　but　these　little　conveniences　are　the　things　that　make
housekeeping　pleasant；　and；speaking　from　a　common…sense　point　of
view；profitable。〃

〃That　may　be；〃　he　answered；　〃but　I　can't　afford　to　make　matters
pleasant　and　profitable　for　you　in　that　way。　　Now；　then；　let　us
look　at　one　or　two　particulars。　　Here；　on　your　list；　is　an　ice…
pick：　twenty…five　cents。　　Now；　if　I　buy　that　ice…pick　and　rent　it
to　you　at　two　and　a…half　cents　a　year；　I　shall　not　get　my　money
back　unless　it　lasts　you　ten　years。　　And　even　then；　as　it　is　not
probable　that　I　can　sell　that　ice…pick　after　you　have　used　it　for
ten　years；　I　shall　have　made　nothing　at　all　by　my　bargain。　　And
there　are　other　things　in　that　list；　such　as　feather…dusters　and
lamp…chimneys；　that　couldn't　possibly　last　ten　years。　　Don't　you
see　my　position？〃

I　saw　it。　　We　did　not　get　that　furnished　house。　　Euphemia　was
greatly　disappointed。

〃It　would　have　been　just　splendid；〃　she　said；　〃to　have　taken　our
book　and　have　ordered　all　these　things　at　the　stores；　one　after
another；　without　even　being　obliged　to　ask　the　price。〃

I　had　my　private　doubts　in　regard　to　this　matter　of　price。　　I　am
afraid　that　Euphemia　generally　set　down　the　lowest　price　and　the
best　things。　　She　did　not　mean　to　mislead；　and　her　plan　certainly
made　our　book　attractive。　　But　it　did　not　work　very　well　in
practice。　　We　have　a　friend　who　undertook　to　furnish　her　house　by
our　book；　and　she　never　could　get　the　things　as　cheaply　as　we　had
them　quoted。

〃But　you　see；〃　said　Euphemia；　to　her；　〃we　had　to　put　them　down　at
very　low　prices；　because　the　model　house　we　speak　of　in　the　book　is
to　be　entirely　furnished　for　just　so　much。〃

But；　in　spite　of　this　explanation；　the　lady　was　not　satisfied。

We　found　ourselves　obliged　to　give　up　the　idea　of　a　furnished
house。　　We　would　have　taken　an　unfurnished　one　and　furnished　it
ourselves；　but　we　had　not　money　enough。　　We　were　dreadfully　afraid
that　we　should　have　to　continue　to　board。

It　was　now　getting　on　toward　summer；　at　least　there　was　only　a　part
of　a　month　of　spring　left；　and　whenever　I　could　get　off　from　my
business　Euphemia　and　I　made　little　excursions　into　the　country
round　about　the　city。　　One　afternoon　we　went　up　the　river；　and
there　we　saw　a　sight　that　transfixed　us；　as　it　were。　　On　the　bank；
a　mile　or　so　above　the　city；　stood　a　canal…boat。　　I　say　stood；
because　it　was　so　firmly　imbedded　in　the　ground　by　the　river…side；
that　it　would　have　been　almost　as　impossible　to　move　it　as　to　have
turned　the　Sphinx　around。　　This　boat　we　soon　found　was　inhabited　by
an　oyster…man　and　his　family。　　They　had　lived　there　for　many　years
and　were　really　doing　quite　well。　　The　boat　was　divided；　inside；
into　rooms；　and　these　were　papered　and　painted　and　nicely
furnished。　　There　was　a　kitchen；　a　living…room；　a　parlor　and
bedrooms。　　There　were　all　sorts　of　conveniencescarpets　on　the
floors；　pictures；　and　everything；　at　least　so　it　seemed　to　us；　to
make　a　home　comfortable。　　This　was　not　all　done　at　once；　the
oyster…man　told　me。　　They　had　lived　there　for　years　and　had
gradually　added　this　and　that　until　the　place　was　as　we　saw　it。　　He
had　an　oyster…bed　out　in　the　river　and　he　made　cider　in　the　winter；
but　where　he　got　the　apples　I　don't　know。　　There　was　really　no
reason　why　he　should　not　get　rich　in　time。

Well；　we　went　all　over　that　house　and　we　praised　everything　so　much
that　the　oyster…man's　wife　was　delighted；　and　when　we　had　some
stewed　oysters　afterward；eating　them　at　a　little　table　under　a
tree　near　by；I　believe　that　she　picked　out　the　very　largest
oysters　she　had；　to　stew　for　us。　　When　we　had　finished　our　supper
and　had　paid　for　it；　and　were　going　down　to　take　our　little　boat
again；for　we　had　rowed　up　the　river；Euphemia　stopped　and　looked
around　her。　　Then　she　clasped　her　hands　and　exclaimed　in　an
ecstatic　undertone：

〃We　must　have　a　canal…boat！〃

And　she　never　swerved　from　that　determination。

After　I　had　seriously　thought　over　the　matter；　I　could　see　no　good
reason　against　adopting　this　plan。　　It　would　certainly　be　a　cheap
method　of　living；　and　it　would　really　be　housekeeping。　　I　grew　more
and　more　in　favor　of　it。　　After　what　the　oyster…man　had　done；　what
might　not　we　do？　　HE　had　never　written　a　book　on　housekeeping；　nor；
in　all　probability；　had　he　considered　the　matter；　philosophically；
for　one　moment　in　all　his　life。

But　it　was　not　an　easy　thing　to　find　a　canal…boat。　　There　were　none
advertised　for　rentat　least；　not　for　housekeeping　purposes。

We　made　many　inquiries　and　took　many　a　long　walk　along　the　water…
courses　in　the　vicinity　of　the　city；　but　all　in　vain。　　Of　course；
we　talked　a　great　deal　about　our　project　and　our　friends　became
greatly　interested　in　it；　and；　of　c