Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-09-10
Cultures Of 4flnrriro Gifr.
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
THE THREE WIVES.
BY +. II. COOKE.

Mr.. Jeduthun Spike was an eccentric
bachelor Of fifty. His mother died in Civ
ing him birth, and it would seem that his
mother-hpart died with her, for from that
hour the hapless Jeduthun seemed 10 have
no perception Of feminine excellence, and
diverted himself with ridicuuing the ioi5les
Of the sex, whose true character was to
him a despised enigma. AS babe, he was
fed and tended by an invalid brother many
years his senior and he afterwards grew
in stature, AND a hard, ungerJal kind Of
wisdom, without much matroni2ng from
anvDody. As years and possessions inCrras-
ed, he boarded at fashionable hotel, where
the cook and attendants were Of his own
sex, and Ignored the address OF his Iaun-
dress. His prpdispositions against matrlmo-
ny were confirmed and rpngthened by the
fate of his brother alluded TO, who married
somewhat late in life, and, after an unhap-
py conneXion of seven years duration, left
his widow, permanent inmate of an in
sane aSy um, and his three boys to the
guardianship of their uncle The recipient
Of this unexpected legacy, who had till
! then loved nothing in the whole OF his
miserable life, felt strange pleasure in the
duties OF this new and unsolicited relation.
The docility with which the little fellows
acc )mmodatPd themselves in the oddities
OF the eccentric humorist, their unquestlon-
| ing faith in his most startling dogmas, and
their artless exhibitions Of personal attach.
ment, won upon this isolated nature 10
degree that surprised himself. It seemed
that these helpless children were destined
unconsciouSly to fulfil 10 the lonely old
man that feminine mission without which
human life is a failure, and happiness
myth. With a devotion and patience
hardly to be expected of him, he reared the
fragile boys to manhood, gave them all
needfuI advantages Of books, and schools
and pocket-money, and at last saw them
established IN business, and in way TO DO
credit TO themselves and their connexions.
Judge then of his painful astonishment
when all three waited upon him in body,
10 announce that they had jointly and sew
orally formed the audaciouS resolution of
committing ma,rimony. Neither would
have dared approach the subject alone, and
though countenanced by each other, they
felt so much gratitude, reverence and COM
passion for the prriudiced old man, that
they fairly trembled for the result
When the confession was made 10 Mr..
Jeduthun Spike, he turned his back on the
agitaed young men, and walked quickly
to the window. After standing silently
for some minutes, he turned and said very
calmly:
"Well, boys, have nursed you through
the mpasels, and the scarlet fever, and the
whoopng-cough, and did my best TO al
Ieviate what | could not prevent. You
are now the victims Of disease quite as
general as the other, and for which there
is no remedy but experience. Neither
precepi nor example, ,"-here his lips quiv-
cred slightly-"have been of any avail in
your case. Go then, and marry, il you
will. ] give my toll consent, on one con-
dhion only. It is that you all present
Yourselves n three years from this day and
hour, and declare solemnly, upon the worth
of your remaining manhood, whether you
are unhappy, and why. The causes o
misery in wedlock are very various, bu
the result is uniform. | will excuse now
boys, as / have an appointment with my
tailor"
tits needless TO say that the three neph
ews avaled themrelves of the permission
thus unwillingly given, and that any sell
rpproaches they might feel at deleatini
= the cherished wishes of their kindest bene
: factor did not seriously embitter their hon
ey-moon. The three years that followe
, stole a handful of grey hairs from the bal
forehead Of Jeduthun Spike, and, as
ashamed Of the theft, secretly restore