The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-12
From the fstladeiphia Press, Nov- IL
A WIdOweu's PeVpIexity.

A disturbance Of 4 somewhat unusual
character took place yesterday morning, at
the dwelling of Mr.. Thomas Tot ergiii,
fine old gentleman Of sixty-fve, VITO has
been a widower for eighteen months. Mr.
Fo,hcrrjII, havin. become tired OF his solita-
~ conditions. advertised for a wife, stating,
urcordiur to custom, the qualifications " hi.h
.rpiicants for tie SItu1tIuu were required In
nossess The adycItiseino Mt could not have
been more than an hour before the pub L.,
when a brisk widow, Mrs Rachel Morrison
bv name. might have been seen ascending
the stems Of Mr. Fothergili'S residence in
Eighth street. The laiy, remembering the
proyert, hat 1.-The early bind catches the
worm presented herself for the advertisers
in-pec,iou almost as as there was day
Light enough To answer the purpose; and To
rewar,! her business ike alacrIty, she proved
To- I've the first competitor for the prlZ'.
Mr. Fothergili, being a man Of mercantile
habits, is very prompt at making bargain,
and moreover. Is not very hard 10 please
Having examined Mrs. MorriSon's creden-
tiaIs he seemed to decide that she would
su,t him exactly. and the whole affair was
about to be concluded, to the satisfaction of
AL parties. when Il hard pull at the door he'll
announced another arrival. Almost imme-
siiateiy "A second lady entered the room and
glanced around apprehensively as if afraid
that she had GENE too late. She was thin,
elderly female, whose name afterwaI Is
proved to- he Miss Norma Price. - Are ynu
the gentleman who advertised for a wife:
said Miss Price aS soon as she entered
Before Mr.. F5thergiil could rep V, Mrs. Nor
ri>on answered for him. "Yes, madam, he
advertised. but reckon he's supplied" ' /
spoke TO the gentleman himself, madam,
answered Miss Price, sharply, land ! sup
pose he knows his own mind" He made
a declaration Of his intentions before you
came" said Mrs Morrison. II think You
must have misunderstood him. madam; per-
sons at Your time Of life are apt TO hear i'm
perfectly answered Miss Price. ''lou ap-
pear 10 he very ANXIOUS TO change your con-
di,ian. madam said Mrs Morrison. You
Seem TO he much in want Of husband,
too" said Miss Price 81 never found 1t diff
ficui, to get one" exclaimed Mrs. Morrison !:
land wish you To know that have had
two already" "Oh :" cried Miss Price, -
sr vnur husbands were much to he p!ticd,
and don't wonder that their lives were Of
short duration"
While this alteration was going on be-
tween the ladies' Mr.. F"thcrgiiI looked and
lis. nd with extreme embarrassment. Pos
sibly he could have been happy with cithg,
"wrrc the other dear chHrmer away'-an'!
lie seemed tot..I'y unable to- decide which
deserved his preference. The contest be-
tween me rival candidates was carried on
with increasing bitterness, unit the hand OF
Miss Price. while performing an energetic
gesture, happened TO touch the somewhat
- rtuG,rrani nose of Mrs. Morrison. W hat
folio we'd we would gladly suppress, but, FOR
the -,ke of maxim: an accurate report, it is
ne S-ary L. sly tina; the bonncts of both la
di.-- were demolished and their faces rather
b,dty scratched Mrs. Morrison made Il
Charge of assault and battery against Miss
Price. That the scene we have described
made some impression on the mind of Mr..
Fothcrsil may he Judged from the circuin-
stance tina, when giving in his evidence al
the Mayors Office, he >iyniiicd his dctertn'-
nation to remain single for at least sis
months longer.