The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-09-06

4
Of the approaching day.
@ MATILDA.
MR.. WEEDS SECOND WIFE
Aunt Rachel put down her kitting and
rocked fast
In my days young folks used to hear
to old ones; they supposed it was the way
! but the fashions have changed along with
the times, find" and she sigh ed heavily.
Miriam pulled at q knot in her thread
without speaking. 4ssl--st. ~ ~
Now, when QUE is little irri.ated, no
| thing can be more aggrivating than for q
person not to answer, thus adding insult
TO injury and Aunt Rachel felt SO, chatting
away in silence
What is your objection to Mr. Wead ?
Come, now, let rs heal" she said at last
just as though sue had never heard and
could not imagine. ......-
why, Aunt Rachel, he is too old. II
were married TO him, l should feel like
| my own grandmother"
Nonsense, wouldn't stand in the way
Of happiness for the sake OF being ninpy
there, now. Aunt Rachel spoke warmly
and locked triumphantly, as though che
had made final argument
persisie Miriam, ungrateiuiiy refusing to
Oe convinced even now. Il wouldn't un
dertake the care Of them for all the
! world.
Aunt Rachel rtcScd harder and sighed
! heavier. .
You wouldn't know enough to hold
out your hand if it rained guineas, do
believe. You don't believe it anything 70
have family to your hand ALI through
with tecthIug and the measiea / tell you
1t IS go small trouble " bring up children
so far, and it's an ungrAteiui, lazy mink
that refuses good husband and good
home, because she Is too fond of her ease
to help him take care Of his poor. mother
! less children She spoke with emphasis,
looking severely toward tho window op-
posit., as though she referred TO souse
cuipable damsel outside. a. A good home
and good husband aren' I to be met with
every day, let me tell you, Miss, aud Esther
Poole says that Nr. Wead was never
| heard 70 speak q cross word to his wife,
which is more than can be said Of hall
the men, and most Of the other half
| There is good farm up there, too, and
ii. we'll stocked; enough 10 do with, out
| doors and in, Esther Poo.e says" .e-
| Besides being enough ~ do replied
. the incorri2ble Miriam. why Aun,
| Rachel, you cant name the sum Of money
that would tempt me to 60 there; /
couidn't marry Mr " cad were l ever SO
anxious TO. because he doat show any
sign OF wanting ME. .ft L..F -s .-as..-
But, Miriam, you know very well that
Esther Poole says that he is looking about
for wife, and widowers with family are
always in j hurry, so il IS well enough to
have your mind all made up if he should
ask you -.r.-. ....
That is an excellent plan Have you
got your mind made up in case Mr. Weed
asks ou, aunt Rachel?' This was Brooks
Sergeant, the clerk at the postoffice, who
spe He had been leaning in the window
by Miriam for full minute, and il you
had seen the look he gave her, you would
have been sure that he had already made
up his mind" aud that there was a reason
she didn't give why Miriam would not
marry Mr.. Wead.
Il wasn't saying anything was asham.
ed of, said aunt Rachel, rather fercely
'' Its nothing but common sense advice,
though perhaps you young giddy heads
don think sc"
oh. yes. I'm convinced you are entirely
right, aud shall You accept him though, it
he offers himself persisted Brooks
j
tell you, but hope should do my duty"
aunt .,achel returned with much dignity.
picking up her work.
"Well, Miriam, YOU had better not set
your thoughts too much on living at the
farm aud training up Mr.. Wead's eight
children, for hear that he is going to
marry Esther Poole rejoined Brooks,
throwing kiss towards the window from
the top Of his cane, as he started off up
the street. E
presume you never saw a bomb ex-
plode in a sitting room? never did but
infer it would probably produce decided
effect, and therein resemble Brooks Ser.
geants closing remarks.
1.-The deceitfnl, lying hypocritesT -
When aunt Rachel fouLd words, these
were all she uttered. 1895 - 3at s9s r
s"Who? Brooks or Mr.. Wead ?" asked
Miriam, innocently. # 5 asH rtw 5s
70 Aunt Rachel gave the question no at
tention. @iN5 h'Ta1 .-is..si = s-lz
ITO think" she continued, show that
impudent piece Of business came fawnipg
round, SO full Of sympathy for Mr.. Wesd
| and his little ber+ayed flock. She ~ A.
designing crocodile, that's, what she is,
and III be bound she. was making hel
wedding night cap thatvery minute But
| ouly pity the poor defenceless children
for Mr.. Wead Ia old enough and experienc
| ed enough to care of himself, and he
ought to be on his guard against man
hunters and snakes in the grass"
Aunt Rachel rocked like sail boat in b
squall. and never noticed that Skip had
dragged her work under the table and
was making . perfect hornets nest of it.
Its lucky ! didn't conclude to accept
Mr. Weed, and SO meet disappointment,
observed Miriam, demureIy. 49, ~.
Don't be fool, child, said aunt Rachel
sharply. The wonder is to me-" she
4 added, how . man OF discernpent could
be 90 taken in by . gossipping. idle slat
tern. Whist more she might have said
Is unknown for-'speak Of angels and ons
hears their wings"-there was Q rustic AZ
the door, followed by brisk little knock
then who should enter but Father Poolt
Aunt Rachel arose, probably % q 8 give i've be,
the accustomed greeting, when she sud
denly discovered what . muss Skip WA,
making of her work, He must have dir
tied it sadly, and perhaps torn il, that sha
was 50 savage in her language 70 hin. ever
chasing him from the room with afoot
stool, and bringing back in her face son,t
msrkA of her sdispleasure Mith her MAer
che returIted This undoubted aoeeuite<
for Ascertain esiepiess u hes insunif spl
epeeons1sap soisisoo@ % gd 3s:l ssi
~ ~ Eve jnsfD 49, supsto ;see apeosa Ny
tlMesds hAfsaHhS ktEie Asuk,P - Ei61ie
Poole, with aneAppsnpfisto ssxpgsasiosh I
:. gloomy sympathy. "You have no ides