The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-03-11

1
together and winksd her hazel eyes very
hard.
I have it, said Aunt Dolly.
Aunt Dolly knew shat she was shout
too, when she uttsted those three magic
monosylableA She Was . woman from
the crown Of her head to the soles of her
trim feet--a real, genuine, contriving,
man@uvring, warm-hearted woman
and Aunt Dolly was mistress Of her stu
alton.
so you are thinking of matrimony, Mr..
Pellet y said Aunt Dolly, as she extended
fragrant cup Of tea to the smiling bach
elor.
Dear me How did you become aware
of itr simpered Mr.. Pellet
MY dear SIR smiled Aunt Dolly, we
womenkind know such things by intui.
ton. Well, Violet is 4 charming girl
We ell know thAt-and she'll make the
sweetest little wife in the world
Mr.. Pellet blushed to tile bald spot on
the top of his head.
'Of course-of course-that is,' be
suffered, If she will have me-
oh, she'll have you, certainly snid
Mrs. Corney, graciously; there's no sort
of doubt on that subject
MIR. Pellet illuminated all Of 4 sudden
into radiant, selEcomplacent smile.
4 have always thought, Mrs Corney,
he said. buttering his toast, that house
keeping was infinitely preferable to board.
ing
TO be sure, said Aunt Dolly. Violet
is splendid dhousekeeper. have trained
her myself, Mr.. Pellet; she is ny double
in all respects Whatevcr / do, Violet
does to q degree Of still greater Pcrfec.
tior.'
BY the way said Aunt Dolly, lower
ing her voice to n mysterious whisper, as
she urged on his acceptance q plate Of
limpid peach preserves, have you spoken
the momentous QUESTION yetf'
Not yet said Mr.. Pellet, sheepiShly ;
but shall certainly nsk it Immediately
on my return to town.
You'll find her a very superior house.
keeper said Aunt Dolly. 'Her notions
of domestic cleanliness are formed after
my own model; how often have heard
the dear child declare her unaterable res
Olution to clean house six times 4 year,
when she vas housrkeeper. Ah, me
the enterprising little thing /
Cleanliness is next to gOdliness.' said
Mr.. Pellet. trying to look wise, while un
Gle Amaziah stared and drank his tea, and
stared again in a silent species Of amaze
nent.
The next morning it 'rained pitchforks.
Aunt Dolly was up with the dawn; anc
by the time Mr.. Pellet made his appear
ance, with q keen appetite for breakfast
she had grand house cleaning under way
There was no comfort any here about th'
house; there was no breakfast only I
cold snack; and finally the men folks haC
to take refuge in the barn, the rain con
tinuing to pour down SO violently tina
there was no living without shelter o
some kind
This is housekeeping, is it ? exclaim
ed Mr.. Pellet, as he sat down on patent
hay cutter beside the philosophical Anna
Ziah.
wal, my wife is allowed to be first
rate housekeeper,' remarked the latter
chewing vigorously ct q bit Of shining
yellow straw.
'And Violet has been trained by her !!
thought Mr.. Pellet with sudden pang o
irresolution.
Dinner then came-but no roast lamb
and dainty vegetables.
we mostly put up with cold Snacks
cleaning house times suid Amaziah, as
he presented plate Of indescribably fos
silzed vands 10 his visitor. My wife
don,t,-ike to be bothered cooking hot
things
How long does house cleaning last ?
asked Mr.. Pellet, grating his teeth on q
bony sandwich.
/ oh, two or three weeks
Six times three mentally computed
Mr.. Pellet. Eighteen weeks out Of tn
fifty-two, spent in this dresry ceremonial
I'm glad | am not married mani.
Cold and dim, through falling rain and
driving wind, the night gathered over the
old farm house.
'GoOd' thought Mr.. Pellet; 4 can at
least go to bed
Il haven't done things as thoroughly as
expected said Mrs. COrney, MS she
smilingly handed Mr.. Pellet . bedroom
candle. when Xialct is here, wO have
what call real house cleaning. Violet
is so fond Of cleanliness
'Ahem!' coughcd Mr.. Pellet.
AS he opened the door. the sepulchral
dampness of the floor struck him with q
shudderIng chill.
Il shall catch my death Of cold he
thought. We'll, it serves me right for
ever thinking of getting married
The next day he took the cars for New
York, having previously taken heavy
cold in his head, in rain that penetrated
to his very skin. What did he care for
rainp The Delug itself wouldn't have
kept him day longer in Amaziah Cor
ney's house.
I'm glad I went there. however, he
unused as he sat sneezing and coughing
in front Of the bright sea.coal fire in the
warm parlor Of his hotel. I'm glad goi
a peep behind the domestic curtain he
fore was irrevocabll committed. Sup
pose-just for an instant-supp0se that
was married to woman who cleaned :hr
house six times a yearH
The cold drops oozed out upon his fore.
head, and he drew a sigh of blessed re
lief, such as man experiences who wakes
from frightful dream, and says TO him
self:
AFTER all, it is only a dream!'
He had intended to devote the first
evening of his return to Miss Violet Pow
.ers' society. Instead of this, howsVer, he
went to the club and put his name down
on the list of an nncompromising society
know as the Alliance Of Perpetual Bach
elOrs.' -.
And Mr.. and Mrs. Powers vainly mar
yelled why the little parlor with the ros'
geraniums knew Elijah Pellets presenc,
no more. Marvelled and then resented
it, and finally came to the conclusion tina
it was just ~ well sS It wss, and tha