Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-31
DAILY LEADER.
) DOUBTFUL JOSHUA.
Rr EZRA DIVER WENDELL


posed TO have occurred TO hun st the time
ss his pretty face was not marred, and b
s. ste heartily, and his sleep was sound i'm
mediately afterwsrd But as he grew up
his grandfather said that that tall had
made him over-cauticus and undecldeo'
y His grandmother died and whom DIS par
: ents followed suit Joshus thoug4t ne
could dono better than 70 hire out 70 Faflfl-
or Daisv. who had one wife and two
daughters. an. T..i,,,o
and Fstima Wss two youngeri and one
SsV when Joshua was twenty, he leaned
upon his hoe by the pigsty, and thus con-
sidered:
Let me see. am q pretty fellow, and
which do l love the best, Lena or tatima
[ have lived for several years IN this small
family, ,znd am q likely young nah, as am
likely 10 live one year longer, and then be
twentv-one. But have my doubts which
Ioucbt TO marry. OF course I could have
e;tbsr bat which? Lena is older and
s Iesner. and Fatima is younger and fatter.
But here I am in doubt. Should 8 wife be
older or Younger than a husband II she
is older doesn't she hsye more experience
If she is Younger, isn't she likely to mind
Then here comes another set. Il wife
ought to be healthy, as it costs less, But
whIch promises most health, fat or lesnH
Bems say fat, some ssy lean, which would
be Fatty. But then L IS q doubt Whethe-
Fatty, in fOur years wouldn't be as lean as
Iena-perhaps leauer. limo tries all,
and again. Lena might pick up AID grow
fat sgGin, and then again she might not be-
so vel OF as she is noR. They are about
eouaI in otLar respects. 1 am much
troubled 10 choose between these two
Dsisys. Bot perhaps love Is the main
. tbing. and 1 guess Ill wait and have the
one who loves me best. But how to go to
work and ind that out7 must plan
plan.
When next the doubtful Swain found
the together he told them, ia confidence,
that he was going to getmsrfied, bat would
not say to whom, Gad row Ee watched the
effect upon them
Lena looked grave, and Ratima laughed
st him.
This caused hin anew seto douits, and
+. he felt Vexed st both.
This IS harder work than frrming. What
do these girls nlesn7 Perhaps Lers l-oka
sour because she's jealous, which shows she
loves me. And perhaps Fatty laughs and
pretends she don't care, il orderto tide her
love. And perhaps she saickered because
she thinks I am gGing TO have her Iought
to be very careful however. Imusn't be
rash, or ] may take the wrong one ! wish
one would d52, and then there -wonld
be no bother. But which one? Lcan't say
wish l wasn't in love Bus which do J.
love besi7 Tor that aInousts 10 -8Asthlng.
shan't understand myself uG1i! 1 u3de
stand them.
And then. perhaps, the one / oysd wonId
sCive me the mitlen as soon IS / showed i0ye
Send to.her might love me better And
perhaps the one tbet }JreJ me mot would
not be the best for me. And perLaps the
one who said she loved mo w6uId only say
so to take the shine oil her sister, and so !
should be deceived This i1v5 IS vary un-
pleasant piece of busiHt, and already IL /
has placed me i1 . stsLe Of ncs. doubtful 4
uncertainty. 1 have ,Tiod one rlan. and I
anu il mere doubt than ever Bat, Joshua /
Dsdger, keep -G1l 1,'ti d ffy, Iis; sssz I
of it ut last. Plan another pi5H.
The effects of the hay,oek, according to |
mis- granfather's prophecy, became more Yiz- !
ible in thec8uii i1us proceedings ofth3 doubt /
lul Joshua. His next experiment was to |
eseertain which of the two sisters had the
soundest, stssdiast mind, SO that she would !
be less liable TO change sfter he had accept |
ed her.
His idea Wss Ingenious Ia lis phliosof hy. .
He made each tho present Of kitten, that
each pet might tess The affection Of their
nstures. He watched the about equal de- |
greo of icndness bestowed upoa Ins aDi-
mails; ard when be thought love was re
tsblished in that quarter, he stole them
away, and found thar Fatims showed the !
greatest concern, mourning for a week sld |
tearing more clothes in ihe hunt.
But this plugged him into more doubt.
As to kiltens-kittens may be no rule TO /
judge by. Fatty may love kittens, while |
Lena may be more partial to dogs and I
men. This q great consideration, for q
loss which is no loss should not be much
cried about; and beside, perhaps those who |
are so wrapped up IN dumb beasts may not
have enough tenderness to spare for their
partners. 1t Is fortune that have such d
thoughtful turn Of mind, or nay good looks |
might be the ruin me. ! must plan al
ether plan, and will try their affection |
t5ward me 1 viii got up q little gams of
ealousy between them, and see which suf-
z7rs most, and piles IN the victuals 10 the |
Inhsppiest nsnner. / shall pity them,
but 1 am acting for their peace Of mind in
the future. So 1 viii begin by taking /
Lena 10 the hoTse race tomorrow.
lena sswthe show and went home with |
Joshua IN high spirits, while Fatima de- |
lighted him by smashing a plate at his |
feet when he returned and leaving his bed (
unmade and his handkerchief unhemmed I
Continuing his exclusive attention 10 the /
elder sister for a time, tho coming Joshua
perceived by her increasing sUlkinesg that {
he was breaking the heart of the neglect (
ed one; and 50 commenced upon the oppo- /
site tack, by turning his back upon Lens /
and gong to q candy screpe and quilting !
party with Fatims, and picking so many /
posies, for her alone, that Lena ACTUALLY |
broke the vase and refused to make the
usual sev en- turn-oFers-one for each day |
n the week-when she superintendent ths |
baking
u don't mind the turn overs unused /
Joshua grayely, 'but it's time to turn over
3 new leaf with these here two girls. 1 /
a'tsee thst I have proved anything vet,
- showed the most love or which
most spite. IF the turn-overs
handkerchief, / think the vase
lssl . the plate. And i's about
md tuck N ether respects. They're
m ugly enough when they're mad-snd
ssr all, Is spite 8 siga7of love? If either
my wife, would shebe in danger of
ging my head ? They haven't 9ot to
ing me yet, but they rniebt, wben
felt more intimate. ] thinR ie;s1o
% 60 all round Robins barn when : vo,, on
-zn go strait IN ct the door. I think Inc
best plan win be to-aslE them both togethes.
which Is the deepest in love with me. The