Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-03-10
Mistrllamfnus.
The Professors Choice.

Some years since, when l was in col
lege, we had am ongst our faculty. a GU
rious parsonage, whom every one regarded
with considerable respect, and yet as a
character su; gsneris. He had lived
many years without a wife, and expected
tc live 50 always. Indeed, as he was the
professor Of mathematics, the abstractiors
OF his science forbade his indaIaing in the
idea of getting married 10 the female
sex, therefore, he showed no other regard
than common poiiteness required. His
character was purely negative. OF course
he was not popular with the ladies, and
they kept themselves at a distance from
him. But circumstances that often brot
about match in other cases, placed him
in a peculiar dilemma. 1t seemed I. whin:
that "a necessity was laid upon him to get
married. He was one of the faculty OF
the college all the other professors wert
married and obliged to entertain the dis
tinguiShed visitors of the institution
He had always boarded. OF course il
wasn't ever expected Of him to give i
party or dinner. But it began to be re.
garded as rather mean in him to shirk
of this matter from year to year, and
"xsll off as he was pecunlarily," to throw
upon the other members OF the faculty
the cost and trouble Of entertaining the
special friends and patrons of the. college
The question was, therefore, frequently
asked:
why doesn't the old miser entertain
some of the distinguished visitors thai
visit Us %
New, our professor wasn't a m;scr a
all, and it often troubled him that he W,
50 situated that he couldn't bear his par
Of the burden. Aud yet, what could he
do? Must he get married? And if so
to whom ? lie had no special regard fol
any one in the vicinity Of the college anC
10 one had any special regard for him.
In his younger days .he had seen at schoo
a young lady, in the city OF New York
in whom he felt peculiar interest. Ba
of her he had not heard for years. Doubt
less before this time she was married o.
in her grave. Possibly, however, she wa
still living and waiting for him! Glori
Gus thought! He was quite relieved a
it, though, indeed, there might. be NJ
foundation for his relief. Nevertheless
he could mike due inquiry. Nor coult
he long delay, for commencement day was
at hand, only few weeks off. 1t was
his turn, or rather would be, if he wa
married, to give the great dinner to th'
distinguished pcgsonages who would bt
present on the occasion. There would b,
the Governor of the State, and his lady
the trustees Of the institution and thei
friends. and others Of eqnal repute. Ba
who should be muster of ceremonies ? ant
who should grace the table? lie coul,
square the circle, perhaps, but such cir.
Gle as this, what could he do with it? 1
he were only married what helpmee'
would his wife be at such time. Ans
yet, his wife must be good looking, intel
ligent, and an accomplished lady; other
wise the blank would be blot
Now there was young lady in the
neighborhood that the professor though
mis ut answer. He had seen her at hi
clearinghouse, and spoken to her once o.
twice.
"But she may say no, and if she did
where in creation" thought he, "coull
b de my head And what will become
of the dinner ~ The Governor mus
have a dinner and he must have Il wife
And hence he lay awake and though
about it all night. At last as the morn
ing broke he cried out to himself, "Con
tempt She will say no, will she Wha
then +? Other men have lived through il
and | shall. If not, shall have clea
conscience about the dinner, and eleal
conscience is the main thing, after all
will write note to Miss A. Stay ;
minute" said he to himself, "what viii
the Governor think Of the lady? She i
handsome and polite, but can she con
verse? Doubtful" said he to himself
"ycsy doubtful, :" and so he tore up th'
note. Alas for a man on the verge o.
matrimony! In an hour two the profess
or called on the President and said
"I should like to be absent fov
days"
"Ah" said the President, Just d
thts tira1 ~