"See," said
the former, "it is here your sitting room, with three pleasant windows,
and a bit of a fireplace under this wooden mantel. When it is dressed
with something bright it will not so bare seem. Here are two cosey
bedrooms with the air and light, and a so large closet between, besides
this cunning little bath-apartment, which I know you will much prize.
Then here," throwing open a door, "is your kitchen, with two fine
windows, and this tiny range. Is it not pretty?"
She ran about, showing its conveniences, and explaining how these
apartment-cottages were built by a humane society, to furnish
comfortable homes for those who had little means, ending:--
"And the rent, my dear, it is so small--so very small--only a little ten
dollars a month!"
It did not seem small to Sara, but she would not damp the madame's
enthusiasm by saying so; and in time she learned to appreciate, and be
grateful for, this really cosey flat at so low a rental.
"The family below is very nice," said madame; "their name it is
Hoffstott, and he is a little German baker of much baldness on his head,
but greatly smiling and pleasant; the wife is about the same in her
width as she is in her height, and laughs with a big mouth, and white
teeth fine to see; and they have two little girls with yellow braids,
like that candy of molasses Miss Zeba did have in her windows--and all
so clean! Ah!" with a charming gesture, "it do shine through every room
with soap and sand, and the brush that scrubs!"
"Dear me!" sighed Sara, "I'm afraid I can never suit them then; baby
will get things around so!"
"Never do you fear of yourself, little princess!" tapping her gently on
the shoulder.
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