The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-01-23
Selected storp.
MY HOUSEK EEPER.
BY RALPH HUMrnRIEs.

"a lady who can give the best refer noes as to
character and ability wishes a situation as house
keeper in a gcntcmans family. references re-
quired. Address NJ. l.. smith, Box 1901"
am, mean | was, a bachelor. had plenty of
money, but was forty five years old, and had never
arrived at satisfactory wLy Of spending it. con-
cluded my error was the want of home of my
own; conceiving sud acn disgust for hotels and
boarding houses, took handsome house in a re-
spectacle part ot te town, and began looking for
housc-keepey. The advertisement which heads
this narrative had just met my eye as l glanced
over tb =" Wants in the evening paper. In fact
suppose destiny had dccrced that should be
ricased with it.
| was reading it for the twentieth time, when a
servant announced my sistcr-in-law, Mrs. Eliza
Bishop, and her daughter Eliza. Mrs. Bishop was
the widow of my eldest brother. and her attention,
and care for my comfort were really touching.
She followed her name into the room, leading her
daughtcrte eldest, and best behaved of the three.
She was handsome woman, of the commanding,
imperial order but she looked best that winter af-
ternoon, in her rich fIs and velvets, her checks
crimson from the effects of the keen frosty air. and
the exercise she had been taking
Il am glad to see you,' I said, handed her
a chair. " There some things you women know
more about that an old bachelor like me, and wish
To consult YOU. have concluded to 60 to house
Keeping
ELIAS face frightened into an expression even
more beamng than the she had previously be-
slowed on me. 1t never occurred to me that she
could be thinking of my future home as II convent
ent residence for herself and three She answered
warmly
.a cxccil,nt idea, brother Sande, if you arr
prepared for the trouble and expense it Involves
The expense, to be sure, is nor much of consdrra-
ton to you. You have been successful that you
would not require so close economy in your
house as used to practice in poor Roberts time
He always said that made one dollar do the work
of three But there will be a great deal of trouble
In the first place you will have to find house
keeper"
"Thc very thing wanted to speak to you about y
Her smile was positively brilliant.
How kind, Sande."
Not all kind, troubling you about my affairs y
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 voun
tary service amounted beside frequent visits, to 4
pair of slippers, with pnk-eyed pussy OF
| eacn toe, ana SnlOkltg cap VIII tle ueNlce vi
grcen-eyed poodle couchant
hastened to place before her the paper in which
| marked the advertisement which heads this ar
ticle.
"Thcre Eliza, there is what have been think
ing about. Somehow fancy should like Mrs. NJ
Smith-Mary, imagine her name is am going
to write to box 1904"
But aren't you acting on impulse, Sand;e?"
"Pcrhaps SOL always dc-and somehow, my
ventures have been tolerably Fortunate"
''Yes, but this is rather an important thing. o
course you know and she laughed rather un
easily -" that you viii be sure to marry the lady
Marry! believe every woman has the charac
ter of an Eve. Here was apple should ncvc
have seen but for my sistcr-in-law. II was my
turn to laugh.
"Why, no Eliza. This is an objection have
never thought Of l don't imagine it would prove
to be one with me, though. | am not a marrying
man. Besides she is no doubt widow with chill
drcn---"
l stopped, for remembered my sisters bcreave
mcnt and membranes. Her face turned crimson
Gan MN do not think ii impossible to marry
widow with children, and you may not when Mrs
Smith has kept house for you six months; though
to be sure, don't think some women would eyel
make up their minds to marry again"
/ suppose "seme women" referred TO herself
and was glad of this hint as to her sentiments, fo
poor Robert had left his family very comfortably
and did not want to see his children subject to til,
untender mercics of a second papa. After few
more cautions from Mrs. Bishop, and few strong
expressions of admiration for various articles from
little Eliza which extracted from the pocket Of he
good natured uncle the customary amount of husl
money, my visitors departed, and | wrote my let
ter To box 1904. In il | stated my residence, tn,
salary was willing to pay, and the number of my
household. gave her my name AMI the names o
a few of my friends who would be ready to afforC
her whatever information she required as to IN,
means and character, l added postscript 10 sa,
that particularly objected to children, and woulc
make it a point with my housekeepcr to leave her
behind her. If she liked the terms and stipula
tons, requested her to call at my counting room
the ensuing morning.
1t would be idle for me 10 say that attende,
very closely to business the next forenoon. Th'
housekeeping fever, the home longing, had takel
+ full possession Of me- must confess, besides, L
no small amount of curiosity as to the personal ap
pearance Of VI. l.. Smith, Not too young-tha
wouldn't look well-no toothless, wrinkled b
SIT opposite me at my board, but pleasant cheer
: ful woman, young enough to make my home lively
1t was about eleven o'clock when my young ma
waited upon the lady in. My previous favorabl
impressions were fully confirmed by her appear
ance. did not think her handsome, certainly NJ
in the style Of sister-in-law. She was small VIC
man, ight-foOted, and slendes, with sunny, pleas
: ant face, which might have testified to thirty-hv
summers, but no winters, surely or, if she ha
met storm or chill, she had borne them with sue
brave patience, that her face reflected only the
shine. Her brown hair WAS nut simply and smooth