M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-04-10
The Wife For Me-


Horace Haskins was a sober, sensi-
ble, enterprising bachelor, OF some
seven,and-twenty years, who, hay
ing obtained an excellent reputa.
tion for his industry and integrity, and
having made himself useful to the
mercantile firm in Boston, with whom
he had served an apprenticeship, was
at length invited to partnership in
the concern. For some time he had
been encouraged to anticipate this el-
ovation, and he soberly and energeti-
cally entered upon the new duties Of
his position. When business crowd.
ed lie had but little leisure to mourn
over his celibate condition (; but when
the hurrying season was over, and
hours each day hung heavy on his
hands. he could not help thinking
bow delightful it would bo, had he but
a house and a gentle wife of his own.
His pecuniary circumstances now
warrented such luxuries, aud he re-
solved t0maTy when he wOuld find q
LADY just suited to the mind.
Near a country village in Maine,
not a thousand miles from Bangor
lived an old friend OF his fathers and
being on a collecting tour in that re.
gion during the autumn months, he
determined to accept an oft-repeated
invitation to spend a few days with thu
old gentleman, and sent a note an.
nouncing his coming. ri. %. sa as
Atthe appointed time he reached
the residence of his old friend anC
found that the family were prepared
and pleased to welcome him as a guest
In the parlor were two young ladie
well dressed and quite handsome. =
lie was duly introducedt to Miss Jan,
and Charlotte, and found them &C
complished and sensible yonng ladies
Being just now very susceptible t
the tender passion, he was easily pleas
ed, and exerted his power to render
himself agreeable to the fattereC
maidens. He succeeded, Of course
Sensible men, of his age and pros
poets, always do, when they try
And his eye wandering in converse
ton, from one handsome, intelligent
face to another, he caught himselfsev
eral 20 times mentally inquiring
which would make the better wife p
The mother and o neat-lookinl
maid were seen at intervals passin!
from the Kitchen preparing the sup
Iper. The girl who set out the table
and spread the white, stainless cloth
and arranged the plates, seemed t,
doiit gracefully and quietly, as if sh,
had made such duties q study as {
science, and won a glance Of admi
ration as very neat and pretty serv
ant-a model ola help Altogether
he thought it was charming family
When they sat at the cheerful supper
and he tasted the homemade bread
and the sweet, fresh butter, and tn,
thinly sliced home cured beef, tn,
hot, well favored tea; the excellenc,
and good taste manifested in th,
whole ordering, he felicitated himsel
upon havingfound soplGasanta home
Feven lift was only for q few days
After the supper was over, and til,
ttable was cleared, a tifird young lady
very neatly dressed, entered the room
and was formally introduced to hin
las one Of the sisters, Miss Sarah
| He was not q little surprised to fihC
thatthe servant,girl whose handiworl
had won his admiration, was one o
the sisters. lie found her sprightly
cheerful, and accomplished, and h,
Thought q little more graceful thai
Jane, who was older Or Charlotte
fWho vas youngetl than herself. M a.
Thought i little more niesnly Of hid,