The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-01-27
- wfD0wER's PERPLExITY.

i Sss - NAesOW ~ - = 1&M1 AE2A4A4
A disttirbance Of au unpsal character took
place yestssday morning at the dwelling Of
Mr.. Thoaaa Fothergill, ! gentleman Of sixty
| five, Who has been widower fur eighteen
| months. Mr.. Fothergill, having become
tired Of bis solitary condition, advertised for
wife; stating, according to custom, the
qualification. which applicasss for the sita-
alton ass requitsd to pusesx The adver-
tisemeDt could not have been before the
public no: more than an hour when brisk
widow, Mrs. Rachael Morrison, by name,
might have been seen ascend ng the steps Of
Mr.. FGthetsll's residence. on Eighth street.
This lady, remembering the proverb that
the early bird catches the worm" presented
herself for advertisers inspection almost ~
soon as there was daylight to answer the
purpose and to reward her busineasli
alacrity she proved to be the first competitor
for the prize.
Mr.. Fo,hergiil being 4 man Of mercantile
habits, is vety prompt id making bargain,
and moreover is not very hard to pleass.-
Having examined Mrs. Morrisons creden-
,ials, he seemed to decide that she would
suit him exactly, and the Whole stair was
about 10 be concluded, to the satisfaction of
all t,at,les, when hard pull at the door-bel!
announced smother arrival. Almost imme-
dately second lady entered the room and
glanced around apprehensively, as il afraid
she had come too late. She was thin,
elderly female, whose name afterward proved
to be Miss Naomi Price. care you the
gentleman who advertised for wifel" said
Miss Price as soon as she entered. Before
Mr.. Fothergill could reply, Mrs. Morrison
answered for him, Yes, madame, he adver-
tised but reckon he's supplied" ! spoke
to the gentleman himself, madam answered
Miss Price, sharply, "Jand l suppose he
knows his own business"
He made declaration Of his intentions
before you came" said Mrs. Morrison. Il
think YOU have misunderstood him, madame,
persons at tot1r time of life are apt to hear
imperfectIy," answered Miss Price. "You
appear to be very anxious to change your
condition, madame" said Mrs. Morrison
"You seem to be much in want Of husband.
too" said Miss Price. l never found it
difficult to get one," exclaimed Mrs. Morri-
son 4" and wish you to know that l have
had two Already "OE!" cried Miss
Price, II see your husbands were much to
be pi,ied, aud l don't wonder their lives
were of short duration"
While this alteration was going on be-
tween the ladies, Mr.. Fothergll looked and
listened with extreme embarrassment
Possibly he could have been happy with.
either, awere the other dear charmer away"
and be seemed totally unable 10 decide
which deserved his preference. The contest
between the two rival candidates was carried
on with increasing bitterness, until tho hand
Of Miss Price, while performing an sosrgetic
gesture, happened to touch .the somewhat
protuberaut nose of Mrs, Morrison. What
followed we would gladly stppfess, but, for
the sake Of making an accurate report, It y
necessary to say that the bonnets OF both
ladies' we're Demolished; and their faces badly
scratched. Mrs. Morrison made charge OF
assault and battery against Miss Price.
That the scene We have described made
sot1e impression Oh the mind Of Mr.. Fother-
Gill may be judged from the circumstance
that when giving IN his evidence ~ The
Mayors Office, he signifed his Discrimination
to remain single for at least six months
longer.