The old lease was destroyed and a new one was delivered in form to the French gentleman, giving him possession of the premises for "such a period as the lessee may desire the same, he paying the rent promptly, etc."
The next morning our crafty landlord was passing the house just as the French-man's last load of furniture was being started from the door; an hour afterward, a messenger called on him with a legal tender, for the rent for eight days, accompanied with a note as follows:
"Monsieur—I have been smoke—I have been drouned—I have been frees to death, in ze house vat I av hire of you for ze period as I may desire. I have stay in ze house jes so long as I please, and ze bearer of zis vill give you ze key! Bon jour, monsieur."
It is needless to add that our landlord has never since been known to give up "a bird in the hand for one in the bush."
GUILD'S SIGNAL.
BY FRANCIS BRET HARTE, 1839.
Two low whistles, quaint and clear,
That was the signal the engineer—
That was the signal that Guild, 'tis said—
Gave to his wife at Providence,
As through the sleeping town, and thence
Out in the night,
On to the light,
Down past the farms, lying white, he sped!
As a husband's greeting, scant, no doubt,
Yet to the woman looking out,
Watching and waiting, no serenade,
Love-song, or midnight roundelay
Said what that whistle seemed to say;
"To my trust true,
So love to you!
Working or waiting. Good night!" it said.