Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-02-20
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"A1EeELL THAT ENDS WE'LL"
blhs IT this charming story not for any moral
thai may b. dcducsd from its plan, for It hes none,
bat baeen.s The graphic and happy style Of the
aud $iuAH ixhi3 ipterestiag LOO instructivs:
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Mrs. Bracegirdle fingered > moment.
with her left hand upon the door-knob,
and nth the thumb and fore6nger of
M f6t swistsd And ygtNisted her.
apron string in ! little, hssitating way
she had when she wanted to say some
thin She had Just come in at my
summons to receive the quarterly rent
NkH6y rssm. l am young ''medi-
eis, I" - the French very appropriately
and significantly term physicians, and
being then . single man, l hired o
frons pArlor Of good Mrs. Bracegirdle,
tho remsinder Of whose .oery genteel
house W. occupied by her " bread and
meat boarders, !" ~ she termed her boar
ders who took their usual meals at her
table, by way Of distinguishing them
from mere room occupants like my
self. se
I had taken this parlor for my office,
because it was pleasantly situated and
just suited me and my professionals
ing in Blocker street, and on that pre-
clse portion thereof east of Broadway
where physicians seem most to congre-
gate. In New York certain streets
seem to be relinquished to certain pro-
fessions, as tragic Bond street to dem
al gentlemen and Blocker { East to
medical men. Whether so many doc
tors have got there together because
"misery loves company" or because
in the 6 multitude cf counseellors there
is safety" ! know not. The fact only
is clear. In old times young physi-
clan would have set up his :" single %
in . vicinage far from any other but
an opposite policy seems now pursued,
perhaps on the principle that one in a
look of birds is more like to be hit than
one flying alone.
But leaving this matter for the dis
cussion of others, I merely state that l
had been Mrs. Bracegirdle's ledger and
tenant for year and three months, and
never g had word" with her save in
the kindliest manner and tone. AS I
never was in arrears, and always cheer
fully prescribed for her rheumatics
without charge, was favorite.
"Well, Mrs. Bracegirdle, have you
snything to say!"
Her eyes surveyed deliberately and
sdmiringly my handsomely furnished
room, with its handsome curtains, ele-
giant book rich sofa and chairs,
and snowy carpet before she replied,
and then, with q pleasant smile and a
knowing nod, she said:
"I do wonder, Doctor, you don't get
married! Such a nice room, and you
could have the one above it for sleep
ing room, and I could, you know, if
You liked, have your meals private like,
letting your Office boy, Tim, the lazy
rogue, with nothing to do but to play
marbles and chalk up my sidewalk,
set, wait on and clear off the table! l
do wonder that you are content to live
alone, and such a pleasant spoken gen.
itleman, and so quiet and respectable,
for doctor in your habits, all calcula-
ted to make wife happy! It's pity
such nice furniture and such nice
room should be thrown away So"
Mrs. Bracegirdle was handsome, not
over forty one, a widow, and ESQ said
rumor) had laid up not less than nine
hundred dollars in the savings, bank,
with the goodwill of popular
boarding house. These facts forced
themselves upon my mind, and l look
ed now at my hostess to see if she was
laying snare for me. 1t is true she
had on shade smarter cap than usual,
and looked unusually, attractive I; but
when ] reflected that she had regarded
me always more with motherly feeling
than a +" young widowish :" one, 1 dis
missed the unworthy suspicion from my
thoughts and said, smilingly,
7" And where shall l get wife, dear
madam ?"
Bless me ! q handsome young man,
with such white teeth, (Mrs. Bracegir-
die had splendid teeth!) horse and
buggy, a good practice and some mon
ey Of his own, to ask where he shall
find a wife! There's fifty ladies that
would jump to get such chance!''
!" You datter me, my dear friend, :"
/ answered, secretly rejoicing in the
fattery, as we'll we vain bipeds do,
albeit we profess not to be taken with
it. !" A wife is dangerous risk! One
must change ones habits if one mar
ries J! I should lose my independence |!
L can now do as l please-smoke,
lounge. wear my slippers, go in and out
ss wish, sit on three chairs, and a ia
BILE too, if I take notion to spread
myself I; and if I lay anything down 1
know where to find it! Why, it makes
me nervous to see your Betsey, the
chambermaid, come in my room with
that dustcr of an old, torn silk hand
kerchief, lest she should do mischief.
What would become Of me with wife
who would put g everything in ORDER"
mot understanding that there exists .
certain systematic arrangement percep
tible in my own eye in all this chaos !?
If my pipe lies on an open book, it is
to mark reference il my shoe is on
my bed, there is probably under it, for