EXPERIENCE IN TAKING BOARDERS.

I HAVE no experiences of my own to relate on this subject.  But I could fill a book with the experiences of my friends.  How many poor widows, in the hope of sustaining their families and educating their children, have tried the illusive, and, at best, doubtful experiment of taking boarders, to find themselves in a year or two, or three, hopelessly involved in debt, a life time of labor would fail to cancel.  Many, from pride, resort to this means of getting a living, because—­why I never could comprehend—­taking boarders is thought to be more genteel than needlework or keeping a small store for the sale of fancy articles.

The experience of one of my friends, a Mrs. Turner, who, in the earlier days of her sad widowhood, found it needful to make personal effort for the sustenance of her family, I will here relate.  Many who find themselves in trying positions like hers, may, in reviewing her mistakes, be saved from similar ones themselves.

“I don’t know what we shall do!” exclaimed Mrs. Turner, about six months after the death of her husband, while pondering sadly over the prospect before her.  She had one daughter about twenty, and two sons who were both under ten years of age.  Up to this time she had never known the dread of want.  Her husband had been able to provide well for his family; and they moved in a very respectable, and somewhat showy circle.  But on his death, his affairs were found to be much involved, and when settled, there was left for the widow and children only about the sum of four thousand dollars, besides the household furniture, which was very handsome.  This sad falling off in her prospects, had been communicated to Mrs. Turner a short time before, by the administrator on the estate; and its effect was to alarm and sadden her extremely.  She knew nothing of business, and yet, was painfully conscious, that four thousand dollars would be but a trifle to what she would need for her family, and that effort in some direction was now absolutely necessary.  But, besides her ignorance of any calling by which money could be made, she had a superabundance of false pride, and shrunk from what she was pleased to consider the odium attached to a woman who had to engage in business.  Under these circumstances, she had a poor enough prospect before her.  The exclamation as above recorded, was made in the presence of Mary Turner, her daughter, a well educated girl, who had less of that false pride which obscured her mother’s perceptions of right.  After a few moments’ silence the latter said—­

“And yet we must do something, mother.”

“I know that, Mary, too well.  But I know of nothing that we can do.”

“Suppose we open a little dry goods’ store?” suggested Mary.  “Others seem to do well at it, and we might.  You know we have a great many friends.”

“Don’t think of it, Mary!  We could not expose ourselves in that way.”