Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-21

convenient place for herself aud three children
She answered warmly:
"An excellent idea, brother Sandie, if you
are prepared for all the expenses and trouble
| it involves The expense to be sure is not
much of a consideration to you. You have
been so successful in business that you will not
require so much economy in your house as
used to practice in poor Roberts time. He
always said used to make one dollar do the
work of three. But there will be good deal
of trouble In the first place you will have to
| find good housekeeper."
The very thing was wanting to speak to
you about"
How kind, Sandie"
| "Not kind at all, troubling you about my
affairs"
For shame as if you ever had reason to
! think that anything / could do for you would
| be trouble"
A very Just remark, considering that her
| voluntary services on my behalf amounted to,
besides frequent visits, a pair of slippers with
piuk-eye pussy ycat on each toe, and a smok-
ing cap with green.eyed poodle couchant.
| hastened to place before her the paper in
which | had marked the advertisement which
heads this article.
"There, Eliza, this is what l have been
thinking about. Somehow l fancy should
like Mrs. NJ. L. Smith Mary, | imagine her
name is. | am going to write to Box lOG+"
"But aren't you acting on impulse, San
die?"
Perhaps sol always do-and somehow
my ventures have been tolerably fortunate.
"Yes, but this is such an important thing.
Of course you know, and she laughed rath
er uneasly- that you will be sure to marry
| the lady"
| Marry | believe every woman has in her
| the element Of Eve Here was an apple
never should have seen but for my SSter-in-law
! 1t was my turn to laugh.
Why, no. Eliza That is an idea of course
! | never thought of. | don't imagine it would
prove to be one with me. | am not a marry
ing man Besides she is, without doubt,
widow with children, and'-
stopped, for / remembered my sisters be-
reavement and incumbrauce. Her face turned
crimson.
"Al men do not think it impossible to mar,
~ widow with children, and you may not
when Mrs Smith has kept house for six
months, though to be sure, | don't think some
women could ever make up their minds to mar
ry again"
suppose "some woman" referred to her
self, aud was glad of this hint as to her SEN
timents, for poor Robert had left his family
very comfortable, and | did not want to see
! his children subject to the untcnder mercies Of
a second papa. After few more cautions
! from MIS- Bishop, and a few strong express
sons of admiration of various al tcles of fem
irine adornment for little Eliza, which extract
ed from the pocket Of the gOOd-natured uncle
| the customary amount of hush money, my Wis
itors departed, and | wrote my letter to Box
1904 In it | stated my residence, the salary
| was willing to pay, aud the number of my
household. | gave her my name and the
names of few of my friends who would be
ready to afford whatever information she re-
| uuired as to my means and character. | ad-
/ ded postscript to say that particularly OBJ
jccted to children, and should make it a point
| with my housekeeper to leave hers behind. If
she liked the terms and stipulations request
ed her to call at my counting room the ensuing
evening.
1t would be idle to say that attended very
closely to business the next forenoon. The
housekeeper fever, the home lodgings, had ta-
ken full possession of me. | must confess, be-
sides, to no small curiosity as to the personal
appearance of NJ l.. Smith | wanted an
agreeable housekeeper Not too young that
! wouldn't look weI-no toothless, wrnkIed
crone to sit opposite me at my board, but
pleasant, cheerful woman, enough to make my
home lively.
1t was about ii o'clock when my young
man ushered the lady into the counting-room
Ny previous favorable impressions were fully
confirmed by her appearance. did not think
her handsome, certainly not in the style of my
sister-in-law. She was a small woman, light
! footed and slender, with a sunny, pleasant face,
which might have testified to twenty-five sum-
mers, but no winters surely; or if she had
met storm aud chill, she had borne them with
such brave patience that her face reflected on
! y the sunbeam. Her brown hair was put
smoothly and simply away from her tranquil
face. Her mouth was not small, but winning
and smiling When she spoke, her low, pleas
ant tones endorsed the expression Of her coun
teRance.
"Mr Bishop, believe the gentleman who
wrote this letter ?"
She drew the epstle from her pocket.
The same, madam"
al came, sir, to say that l would accept
your propositions, if you still wish it, now that
we have met.
was about to say that I wished it more
than ever since | had seen her. but fortunate
ly recollected in time that compliments to my
housekeeper were no part of the programme,
and very decorouSly concluded my engagement
in matter,off-act and business manner.
The next week she entered upon her duties
| had never known what it was to be so com
Portable My house was model of.convenience
and simple elegance, at least my sister ln-law,
when she went over it previous to Mrs. Smiths
commencing, pronounced it perfect. had a
sort of home feeling that had never known