Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-11-28
A WIDOwER'S PERPLEXITY.

A disturbance Of q somewhat unusual char
acter took place yesterday morning, at the
dwelling OF Mr.. Thomas Fothergill, fine old
gentleman Of sixty-five, who has been a wild
over for eighteen months Mr.. Fothergill,
having become tired Of his solitary condition,
advertised for wife, stating, according to Gus
tom, the qualifications which applicants for the
situation were required to possess The ad-
vertlsement could not have been more than an
hour before tie public, when a brisk widow.
Mrs Rachel Morrison by name. might have
been seen ascending the steps of Mr. Fother-
gill residence, III Eighth street. This lady.
remembering the proverb that @ the early bird
catches the worm, presented herself for the
advertisers inspection almost as there was
daylight enough to answer the purpose and
to reward her business-like alacrity she proved
To be the first competitor for the prize
Mr. fothergill, being man of mercantile
habits. is very prompt at making q bargain.
and, moreover, is not very hard to please
Having examined Mrs. Morrison ! credentiaIs
he seemed to decide that she would suit him
exactly, and the whole affair was about to be
concluded, to the satisfaction of all parties
when hard pull at the door-bell announced
another arrival.
Almost Immediately, second lady entered
the room and glanced around apprehensiyely.
as If afraid that she had come too late She
was thin, elderly female, whose name after
wards proved to be Miss Noarna Price. Are
you the gentleman who advertised for wife pr
said Miss Price, as soon as she entered Be-
tore Mr.. Fothergili could reply, Mrs Morrison
answered for him. Yes, madam he adver-
tised; but reckon he's supplied Il spoke
to the gentleman himself madam" answered
Miss Price, sharply, " and | suppose he knows
his own mind" He made a declaration of
hls intentions before you came" said Mrs
Morrison. . l think you must have misunder-
stood him, madam; persons at your time OF
life are apt TO hear impcrfectly," answered
Miss Price. "You appear to be very anxious
to change your condition, madam" said Mrs
Morrison. You seem to be much in want of
husband, too" said Miss Price. Il never
found it difficult to get ONE exclaimed Mrs.
Morrison; land l wish you to know that have
had tIcO Already oh -; cried Miss price
81 see your husbands were much to be pitied
and l don't wonder that their lives were of
short duration"
While this alteration was going on between
the ladies, Mr.. Fothergill looked and listened
with extreme embarrassment. Possibly he
could have been happy with either, "were the
other dear charmer away"-and he seemed to-
tally unable TO decide which deserved his pref
erence. The contest between the rival candi-
dates was carried on with increasing bitterness
until the hand Of Miss Price while performing
an energetic gesture, happened to touch the
somewhat prOtuberant nose Of Mrs. Morrison
What followed We would gladly suppress, but,
for the sake Of making an accurate report, it is
necessary to say that the bonnets Of both ladies
were demolished and their faces rather badly
scratched. Mrs. Morrison made a charge of
assault and battery against Miss Price. That
the scene we have described made some i'm
preston on the mind of Mr.. Fothergill may be
judged from the circumstance that when giving
in his evidence at the Mayors office, he signi-
fed his determination to remain single for at
least six months longer r.-PhH Press