Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-28
VOLUME 10---NUMBER 81.
From the New York Ledger.
The Widow Barlow.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

Peter Van Buskirk was very fond of
money. not SO fond that he quite starved
himself to keep it, or hid it up chimney,
or refused himself fire, or lights, or
pillow. But, yet, SO very fond of it as to
be on the very verge of miserhood with
out having quite fallen over.
Beggars reaped no harvest from his
purse or kitchen; and match makers
could make no impression on his bachelor
heart. Peter Van Buskirk saw through
the latter as well as the former, and but
toned up his pockets as hastily in the
presence of bewitching crinoline as in
that of a seedy gentleman with a folded
document in his breast-pocket. The
men wanted to rob him, the women to
marry him. The last was the worst
Not that Peter hated woman-on the
contrary, even at fifty he was remarka-
bly, susceptible bright eye put him in
a futter. But the fact was, women, as
wives or daughters, were expensive ;
They needed clothes and were fond of
dainties. They were proverbialy ex-
travagant. Should he marry one, she
would spend his money while be lived
and squander it after be was dead. And, I
with this awful terror before him, Peter /
steered clear of the shoals of matrimony. {
Two or three times indeed had he stood Z
upon the verge of tender passion. But
each time some display of extravaganza "
bad frightened him back into his shell. t
Once it was an ostrich feather in blue
bonnet. Another time the sight of his n
fair one devouring ices. The third, the
sudden assumption Of volumnous erin
oline. In fact, since hoops had become c
the rage, Peter had more utterly abiured
matrimony than ever. What must a s.
woman's dress cost so distended, Peter s.
dared not think. He saw those be-
hounced robes which so horrihed him \
very frequently not only in the street, Ii
but at sundry tea and evening parties to n
which be was invited, and which he al
ways made point of attending, because :"
they saved him a meal. There they
spread before bis eyes sometimes, when st
the table was crowded, quite over his p
knees, and strengthened his resolution to y
live and die bachelor.
There was one inconvenience in this p'
bachelorhood, however. That was the un
housekeeping. Board old Peter would
not. Landadies might charge man of
his economical disposition to madness, d
and keeping house involved servant
some one to make beds, wash dishes, III
cook and iron. su
That servant was always the bane of W
Peters life. Eating and drinking in pc
manner which kept the master of the pr
house III a continual ferment; wasting tn
butter and oil and fuel, and each change VI
in the Kitchens encumbrance followed d
by the mysterious disappearance of ftowels an
and kerchiefS, and such small ware SD
There was no rest for good Mr. Van
Buskirk. He tried Biddy, and Gretchen, tel
and black Dnah, and Yankee Sally Ann, IN
and then, in despair, flew to certain Gu
Mrs. Brown, the giver of tea parties in ,
to ask advice. 81
He told his woes, bis terrors and his on
lnxieties; the lady shook her head. o"
Servants are sad plaques she said. de
Eat you out of house aud home" said iry
Peter. 10y
"Not to be relied on for honesty" said
Mrs. Brown. sh
"Thleves mum, thieves said Peter. ag
cab" said Mrs, Brown, "a gentleman va
las no time to watch them. Now I wa
should advise marrying, Mr.. Van Bus Tt
Kirk" for
-"Marrying =
"1es, sir--a wife can manage such sol
hings so much better. Besides, if you tha
hoose a smart capable woman, you need at
10 servant. 1t would be much more eco. tur
lomical to marry"
Economical" !" yelled Peter, "my good He
ady. Eco-I-oh, goodness Feathers ne,
nd flowers, aces and silks, and rings to
ice-cream and lhngs-econon.. say
cd| How many yards do you take for
dress, mum?" anC
"Well, sir, twelve or fiheen-some- sid,
mes when it's silk, you know, eigb- {
Gen." Ii,
E'gh'een yards at three dollars or so bly,
yard, and not one dress, but twenty. fee
ly good lady, it would be enough to feal
ln man !" g
Mrs. Brown reflected. son
"But if you could find an economical "
oman, Mr.. Van Buskirk." thai
"Ah if l could find mermaid" saw
"One who never wasted a cent" Won
"She does not exist, ma.am." be
"Who lives like a nun-or next to Of
othing. Who-the fact is, Mr.. Van be :
uskirk, | have such lady in my eye. " d
he's widow-quite young one-Mrs. mut
etsy Barlow, and I'll have her at Peach A
ill next week." besi
Peter Van Buskirk grinned sarcastic /
ly. side
ECONOMY in hoops and forty-dollar turn
'nnet," he said to himself "They want his
marry me and spend my money! soaf
nd he went home wroth. However. and
onomy forbade him to refuse an invita- 81
m to tea, and when, week after, Mrs. hanc
rown sent "her compliments" etc., etc., "Ma
r. Van Buskirk donned his Sunday ruin
II and went over 10 the Brown mansion "
five precisely. The parlor was full be
ladies'; ladies in silks and muslins. from
th crinoline and founces. Most of gym
EN- Mr.. Van B. knew well, and he Pete
oked about, in vain for a stranger meri