The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1862-06-25
Mr.. Appleton's Boarders.

aged to accumulate a considerable sum Of it. AS
aninstance Of his economy, lie had worn the same
coat with brass buttons fort ten years to church and
to muster, and there was considerable probability
Of its having to serve for as much longer Hiram
was bachelor. He considered wife an expen-
sive luxury, from which he abstained from eco
nOmical motives.
In the course of time, however, Hiram came to
take different view of the matter He read
somewhere that it was a saving to be married. as
the work that wife would do, would more than
pay the expenses Of her board and clothing. On
reflection, Hiram considered that, under his cir
cumstances, this was a consideration some i'm
portance.
Besides" thought be, 1--WE might take board
ers, and taking boarders is profitable if you don't
keep EN- too we'll I've heard that aunt Jane
Dooittle made a thousand dollars clear, in one
year, from keeping boarders And all the labor
comes on the wimmen folks too. guess | must
be married"
Mr. Appleton decided on the whole, to marry
a widow
We give his reasons in his words:
''It stands 10 reason, he solloquised, "that
widow must have more experience about house
hold matters than one who hasn't been married
Now one that isn't experienced is very ant to
waste things, and takes good deal Of time to
teach EN- better Now widow already broken
in to the ways of household. Imust he on the
lookout for a widow"
Mr.. Hiram Appleton, accordingly, beganto look
about him.
Just at this time there came into town a certain
widow Jones. on a visit to a relation
As Mr.. Appleton was well acquainted at the
house where she was visiting, he soon found it in
his way to "caII round"
The widow was sitting in tile keeping room, y
with Mrs FELTON,, her relation.
MIR Appleton" said the latter, "let me intro
duce to you my cousin, Mrs. jones'
Hiram bowed
''I wonder whether she's a widow be thought
! to himself
/ When Mrs ctonacconlpaniedh him to the door
! he veHtured to make the inquiry.
/ Yes, said Mrs. FELTON,, her husband died
| two years since.
you see, Mrs. Felton,, said Hiram in business
/ Ike tone, I've been thinking Of getting married
! l think, on the whole, il would be good policy.
guess ] should prefer a smart industrious, econo
mical widow, il l could hear Of one anywhere.
Then, said Mrs FELTON,, u am quite sure
that my cousin would suit You. She's as indus
trious creetur as YOU ever saw. Always ha.
work in her hand"
There's one thing want to know about sale
Hiram anxiouslv rs she fond Of dress? dom
know much about it, but I've heard that some
wimmen spend sight on 1heir dress. Now
can't stand that anyhow. Iealc'Iate that my wife
if ever l have any, shall dress decent; but K
silk dresses, and gold chains, and such, they
won't come ont Of me-
Mrs FELTON, assured the inquirer, that no one
could be more simple in her tastes than her con
D. Il. g.. Is. -l..r,
exceedingly.
'tYou needn't tell her what I've been saying,
said Hiram. "Tll come in again two or three
times, and see how ike her ways and if Dc
III propose pretty quick"
You'd better, said Mrs. FELTON,, ''for theret
no knowing how soon somebody else may picE
her up"
Instead Of regarding Hram's Injunction, Mrs
FELTON, straitway communicated the substance O
the conference to the widow.
Now it so happened, for reasons which vii
appear that the widow was by no means indis
posed to a second marriage, and, on hearing tha
Hiram was a man Of property, she concluded tt
"set her cap for him"
"You must appear to be very industrious ant
economical said Mrs. FELTON,. "dc laid particu
lar stress on that.
Don't fear for me said her cousin. 'Ittake.
widow to manage the men.
When Hiram made his SecnOnd call the widow
Jones was arrayed in very PLAIN calico, which a
| the utmost. could not have cost more than nine
pence per yard.
You must excuse the plainuess Of my dress
1 Mr.. Appleton, said she, but | don't approve o
rich dresses. A calico is Just as warm as silk
or, at any rate, there isn't much difference, auc
there is a great deal Of difference in the price.
Hiram was delighted.
you're a sensible woman Mrs. Jones' - saiJ
he. you've got q soul above the majority o
your sex"
"Thank you, Mr. Appleton, said the widow
( demurely. II don't take no credit to myself toI
\ il. It's natural to me 1t makes me sick to Sc,
| how fond most women are of fummcry, and put
ting all they can earn on their back"
aThat's a fact, said Hiram. That's just the
effect it has on me- ''Now, Mrs. Jones this be
said in confidential tone, "how long do yor
think have made this coat do for best"
Mrs. Jones couldn't possibly tell.
'.It's lasted ten years, said Hiram, with be
coming pride Ten years, and its good eoa
yet"
80 it j., " said the widow, "ans commend
your prudence Mr.. Appleton, how long DO yor
/ think it is since bought this dress?'
/ Hiram ventured to guess five years"
you're wrong, said the widow shaking lei
4 head Il had it just twelve ago, coming spring,
! Mrs. Jones did not think Unnecessary to mention
/ that although it had been bought at that time, il
| had been cast aside some ten Years since, and had
only been resusciCated for the sake of producing
an impression on Mr. Appleton.
1 Twelve year~,' exclaimed Hiram in glow o.
admiration You're a perfect treasure, Mrs