Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-10-29
TALES AND SKETCHES.
,THsE sSIFsI-TAysEEe.

! Mrs. Morton was IL widow, young, pretty,
rich widow when Dr. Charles Straham made
! her acquaintance. She was poor but very
! handsome when Squire Morton married her
and at his death two years after, became sole
heir, put on her widows weeds, and pocket
cd her husbands gold at the same time.
/ Madame Rumor said that poor old Nor
! ton never enjoyed single hour after he
married her but how should Madame Ru-
m r know Ot one thing, however, l can
give my readers reliable information. Mrs.
Morton had not been year ere she received
/ with pleasure, very decided attentions from
! DR.. Strhham.
/ Do you inquire who DR.. Straham was 2
, Well he studied medicine, and had the title
NJ. ID. conferred upon him, which he TOOK
/ pleasure in attaching to his name with a
great flourish, but it is asserted that he
never had half dozen patients i'll as many
years. He was ot prepossessing appearance,
"a ready tulker on any subject, and was, in
fact, first rate company. He played the flute
and sang--was good dancer and an excel
! lent partner at whist beside lie had some
literary reputation. He wrote poetry and
two column sketches for the Weekly Level
Ter, and last, though not least, he dressed in
good taste and in the height Of fashion
how he did it no one knew, but it was nc
ones business.
But | must be allowed to correct one ru
NOR which had gained considerable preva
lence, to the effect that he supported himsel
by his literary labors, and ordinary scrib
bier could hardly afford Strahan's wardrobe
Old Squire Morton had been dead bu
little over b year when DIR. Strahan, despit,
all that goss pi ers could say, married th
widow and her fortune. The fact was h
wapted IA rich wite--as to her she was anx
ious to leave her weeds and go into societ,
again, and she could divine no readier wa.
to accomplish her purposes than by marry
ing. When any one spoke to the Docto
about her being a shrew, he merely remark
ed he took pleasure in tanning shrew.
For three months they lived happily to
gether. for it was in the height of the sea
son, and between Cape May, Saratoga, an,
the White Mountains, they were alone wit
each other scarce three hours out of III
twenty-iour consequently 1t was impossibl
for them to disagree. But the Season owe
they returned to their quiet home-the plac
a of all others to study wife or Il husband
i. There is no unnatural excitement, no tasl
ionable Mrs. A, to outdress, no profligat
y Mrs. b. to outdo in squandering money; IL
f one TO please but the ''other half"
After season of long continued gaiet.
r there necessarily follows one Of extrem
dullness, and when one is dull one is easil
J. dispeased. Now Mr.. and Mrs. Straha
were greatly displeased.
;. 1t was their first day at home upon whic
their first quarrel commenced. How
commenced neither could clearly tell 1t
, only known that Strahan expressed desil
to dine upon roast beef, and she would hay
9, roast turkeyand oyster sauce. He'd hay
beef or nothing. She'd have turkey, an
u thus commenced the war of the Strahan
,r One ordered the butler to have fowl, al
the other gave strict attention TO have bee
g. while Mrs. s. visited her friend and partoc
of turkey.
G. After supper Mr.. S. gave wine supper
the room which he digniied by the name
st study, a sor. of variety store in which
-, kept his library, writing desk, and spitoo
Here also were two glass cases, one OF the
n contained a giants skeleton hung on wire
Ch in the other was an Egyptian mummy.
1r' rs' The wall was hung with curiositi'
among them a cane from a tree which gre
over WashingtOn's grave, snuff box fro
-. the wood of the Charter Oak, a chip fro
re the United States frigate Constitution, mi
as erals, shells, and fossils of all kinds, spe
re- men ears OF corn, enormous sized fruits al
vegetables, cases of insects and picked re
tiles. Stuffed birds were perched about t
81. apartment, and voluptuous French It'll
all graphs and portraits Of distinguished p
sons were hung promiscuously on the wa
a long reading table, arm-chairs, ma
moth bell metal postal and mortar, comp
by ted the furniture of the study.
J. During the same evening Mrs s. had
e. I. whist party in the parlor:
,sr Wine held its votaries in bondage Ions
lch than cards. Mrs. s. had dismissed her p
~, ty and retired hours before her liege le
'ar came to his chambers, and when he
come he found the door locked, hins