Sept. 7. - As long as the moon shone at night my tent among the bushes on a little point jutting out into the lake was not perceived; there is no path that leads to it from the land side and the boat which I have hired from John is hid under a drooping tree, and having no interruptions the work of transcribing the hurriedly pencilled figures of the summer accounts has been rapid and easy. But now the nights are dark and the tent with a light inside is like a huge lantern and attracts notice. It would be best moved further back if I was not going to leave for good. Mr. Farewell kindly offered me a room in the hill cottage to remain as long as his family remained, and John, too, who has made more pork after all than he expected (for he has two fat hogs that will weigh 250 pounds each) invited me to stay and have a month's hunting with him after the season is over. But I knew that safety from interruption lay only in getting clear away from the house where they could not call oh me to help them through sudden troubles.

To-night I have heard the splashing oars of several boats passing the point and there were parties singing on the water the same as during the moonlight nights of last week, and at last commencing on the other shore and coming nearer I heard the familiar sound of

"Ja, wir sammeln uns am Strome,"

And seeing that the promised visit was to take place I threw some oil on a pile of dry leaves and made a fire at the water's edge to guide them. It was John bringing a letter from Mr. Farewell, but he had a pic-nic party with him of young people who filled two boats, and among them was my second and her sweetheart. She wore pink ribbons this time, so the blue that she used to wear may have been for the boat boy. She found an opportunity to tell me that with the money she has earned this summer she has bought a certain handsome young Durham cow that we used to admire sometimes and carry salt and corn cakes to at the fence of the Barnacles' pasture. I don't see what she wants with a cow, unless maybe she is going to set up in business keeping summer boarders. Mr. Farewell's letter says: "Mrs. F. and I have been thinking of making you a proposition to lease our place and run it yourself next year. What do you think of the idea? We think it would be to your interest because you understand the business. There are places in the neighborhood very successful that have not as good advantages as ours, but it needs more attention than I can give it.

We should ask you no rent at first but to accommodate my family with the same rooms we now occupy during the summer season. Come over and let us talk about it.

We have had quite a busy time until yesterday.

The relations who were expected early in the summer arrived the day after you went away. We regretted very much that they had not come sooner. Unfortunately, too, Mary Jane had a spell of sickness in the midst of it. I should have come over to see you if I had known your whereabouts. Do not fail to come and see us before you leave."

He would ask no rent but his family's summer board. Let us see how much rent that would be. There are six of them in the family. This summer they have been waited on by the regular "help" of the house, but if this arrangement were made they would have a servant of their own, that would be seven. And under such an arrangement they would stay here twelve weeks. Our figures show that it costs $5.40 per week to keep each person according to the style of -the few weeks past. All things considered there would be no need to charge for the servant, who would relieve the house girls of so much work, therefore the expense would be:

6 persons a $ 5.40 each $32.40 per week; for 12 weeks, total $388.80.

That is what I shall have to pay them in the way of rent.

If they go to some other resort they cannot get as good as they have here for less than ten dollars per week each and their one servants board free; that will be for 6 persons 12 weeks, total $720, a difference in their favor of $331.20. I had rather pay them a cash rent of $500, on condition that they come and board with me at $ 10 per week each for 12 weeks; which would cause them to pay me back $220.

Another consideration is that they would occupy three of my best rooms, which for at least six weeks of the season I could fill with transients who would pay $14 per week each or even more for choice rooms; and if not transient couples there will be parties like the military cadets who can be put four in a room at special rates which will still make the rooms pay better than having cost-price boarders in them. A man cannot be too careful of his best rooms. I have seen a small hotel-keeper lose money every day in a most prosperous season through his want of skill in rooming people: he had thirty rooms and got thirty single persons in them one in each room, and he could not get them out nor any more in, and the tide of tourists was surging up against his doors. Some people will pay double to keep a good room to their individual use, but that was not the case with his agreements. At the Hotel Fantastic a rich man and his wife occupied three of the best rooms but they paid three hundred dollars per month for them and their board. At the Kennesaw House a banker and wife paid $150 per month for two rooms and their board. At the Bubbling Springs we had 50 boarders who paid $15 per week each. If I take up Mr. Farewell's offer I shall be letting them have three best rooms and board for six for $ 130 per month of 28 days or $21.60 per month each person. Just about half what it is worth, and my rent on such terms would be too high.

On the other hand it is to be considered, next season will be far better than this has been because the place is now well advertised. Mr. Fare-well has put perhaps $200, or $250 in advertising, of which I should reap the most benefit next season, for he began so late, the effects have only been felt during the closing weeks, when many came out of curiosity to see a place they had read about; most people make up their minds where they will spend the summer or winter a good while before the time comes. They may go to a place and it does realize their expectations. While they are dissatisfied they recall the good words they have heard or read in favor of some other place and resolve to go to the other place next time. How often have I heard them, when they were chagrined and humiliated over watered milk, bad butter and coarse meat, say haughtily: "Ah, never mind, we'll go to Saratoga next year!" - as if that was going to be any improvement, the poor innocents! But we have set an excellent table here, and all have gone away praising not only the cooking but the provisions; they will say when they hear their friends complain of places: "Ah, you ought to have gone with us to Uintah Lake!" And they will all come next year.

But, again, there is the consideration that I should not be able to do my own cooking and taking care of provisions. Perhaps I should get cooks who would let the help run away with the kitchen and feast on the best while the guests were served with the worst; perhaps they would carelessly allow every meal served to cost three cents more than it ought to cost; that leakage with the increased number of people would amount to $25 per week and in twelve weeks would be a loss to me of $300. The most serious loss is in the mismanagement of meat. The most successful hotel keeper at Bubbling Springs is one who still cuts and broils and carves the meats himself; though he has paid for his hotel out of its earnings and has built on to it till its size is double what it was when he bought it and has advanced his rates, too. He has cooks, but he cuts and broils, all or part of the meats and so keeps the chief expense under curb and bridle. He has a wife who can fill his place at the desk when necessary.

There is,however, a great deficiency, of amusement at this house of ours. If there were more pastimes there would be so many more transient visitors that a few hundred dollars rent more or less would not be worth considering. I will see what Mr. Farewell as landlord is willing to do in improving the place as a pleasure resort before deciding.