Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-01-30
~ he Wife for Me !"

Horace Hastings was a sober, sensible,
enlerprising bac eor, Of some seven and
twenty years, who having Obtained an ex-
cellent reputation by his industry and in
tegIty and having made himself useful to
the mercantile finn in Boston, with whom
he had served an apprenticeship, was at
length inviledto a partnership in the concern
For some time he had been encouraged to
anticipate this elevation, and he soberly
and energetIcally entered upon the new
duties OF his position. When business
crowded, he had but little leisure to mourn
over bis ceibale condition, but when the
hurrying season was over, and hours each
day hung heavy upon his hands, he could
not help thinking how delightful it would
be, had he but a house and gentle wife of
his own. His pecunkiry circumstances
now warranted such Injuries, and he resolv-
ell to marry, when he could find a lady
'.just suited TO his mind.o
Near a country village in Maine, not
thousand miles fom Bangor, lived an old
friend ofhis father, and beng on collect
ing tour in that region during the autumn
months, he determined to accept an oft
repeated invitation to spend few days
with the old gentleman, and sent note 10
announce his coming.
AT the appointed time he reached the
residence of his old friend, and found that
the family were prepared and pleased to
welcome HIM as guest. In the parlor
were two young ladies', well dressed and
quite handsome. He was duly introduced
10 Misses Jane and Charlotte, and found
them accomplished and sensible Dung la
dies. Being Just now very susceptible to
the tender passion, he was easily pleased
and excrted his powers to render himself
agreeable, to the Hattered maidens He
succeeded, OF course. Sensible men, OF his
age and prospects, always do when they
try. And as his eye wandered in CONVEX
salon from one handsome, intelligent face
to aaother, he caught himself several times
mentally inquiring, (which would make
the betler vile ~ ~ g8
The mother aud a neat looking maid,
were seen at intervals passing flom the
kitchen preparing the supper. The girl
who set out the table, aud spread the white,
stainless cloth, and arranged The plates,
seemed 10 do il so gracefully and ouiteiy,
as if she had made such dunes a study as
science, won passing glance of admiration
as very neat and kretly servants model
of "help." Altogether, he thought it was
a charming family. When they sat at the
cheerful supper, and he tasted the light,
home made bread, and tie sweet, fresh but
ter, and The thiny sliced home cured beef,
the hot. Well favored tea, the exeelieney
and good taste manifested in the whole or
derng, he felictated himself upon having
found so pleasant home even if il was
only for few days. Aud after supper was
over, and the table was cleared, a third
young lady, very neatly dressed, entered
the room, aud was formally introduced 10
him as one of the sisters-NIiss Saruh. He
was not a little surprised to find that the
neal servant girl, whose handy work had
won his admiration, was one of the sisters.
He found her sprightly, cheerful, as accom-
pshed, and he thought little more grace
full than Jane, who was cider, or Charlotte,
who was younger than herself. He thought
little more meaNly of himself, for having
taken her TO be The hired girl OF The family,
but not whit more meanly Of her for hav-
ing revealed herself in that capacity. And
his perplexity was somewhat increased as
he sat down on his bedside in the chamber
10 which he was shown by his host, and
said to himself, (which of the three"
In the morning, after a nights sound
seep-tor be was not sufficiently in love to
keep him awake-he entered the breakfast
room, and was soon joined by the two
young ladies, who had hrst welcomed him.
Sarah was not yet visible, bat when they
had seated down at the table, and Jane bad
poured ont The coffee, Sarah came smiling
in behind clean white apron, and with
steaming pile of hot buckwheat cakes in
| her hand, which from the hue of her cheeks
she had just been baking. If there was a
blush on hercheeks, any eye might see il