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THE LUCK OF THE DUDLEY GRAHAMS
New York, Wednesday, November 26.
We are the Dudley Grahams,—four childrenand a mother. We are very poorand keep a boarding-house; not because we likeboarders, but because when dear father died athree thousand dollar life assurance and thishouse were our only “available assets,” as UncleGeorge, who was executor, explained: “and soyou must take boarders.” We do; but it isn’talways pleasant.
The three thousand dollars did not last long,either; for there were a great many debts to bemet that nobody had known anything about, andwe had to have the library repapered and a newcarpet in the hall, to impress the people who cameto look for rooms. “We must be very polite andcharming, too,” said Ernie, “and talk as hard aswe can all the time, and then perhaps they won’tnotice how shabby the rest of the things are.”But I fancy they did; because it was over twomonths before we could get anybody to stop withus, and the money in the bank grew less and less,while Uncle George grew mo