The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-01-19

children happy" .E,
"Do it," cried Joe. Il will follow
your word like soldier under his Off
Ger. What shall l do ?" q. .
At tea time Mr.. Peters entered hig
home whistling. Maria was seated al
the table sewing on her white robe,
land therc was no signs of preparation
for the evening meal.
"Maria, my DEAR" said Mr., Peters
cheerfully, lis tea ready?"
Il do not know" was the answer !;
"have been out all day attending meet
ing"
"Oh, very WE'LL never mind-atten-
ding meeting! You are resolved, then,
to leave me next week ?"
ooh, Joe, l must go when I am call
ed p
eyes, my dear, of course, Well, l
must resign myself, suppose BY the
way, my dear, has it ever occurred TO
you that l shall be left a widower,
with three children? | think | am a
handsome man yet, my love-
| And Joe walked up to the glass, ran
his fingers through his hair and pulled
| up his shirt collar.
Maria looked up rather surprised.
''You see, il is rather u relief for you
to go quickly, you know; it is so wear
| ing to the nerves to have long illness;
and, besides, my dear, there will be no
funeral expenses, and that is quite a
saving. t.
Mrs. PetcH6' lip 1uivered and her
large blue eyes filleo with tears. Joe
longed to stop his heartless speech ana
comfort her, but he was fearful the de-
sired effect was not gained yet.
r $50, my dear" he continued, "if
you must go, 1 have been thinking Of
getting another wife"
"What?"
"Another wife, my love; the house
must be kept in order and the boys
cared for"
} The grief was gone fom Maria's
face, but her teeth were set with q lool;
. of intense wrath, f.,
"Another wife, Joe-another wife +
eyes; think | have selected good
successor. deliberated a long time
when l was batchelor, between hef
and yourself. You will like her, for
she is your bosom friend. Yes, my
) dear, l think that on the day you as,
, cend will marry Sarah Ingraham.'
"What that good for nothing, silly
empty-headed old maid the mother Of
/ my children What?"
, "Well, my dear, it seems to be the
: best can do! / don't want to leave
! my business to go courting, and she
! will have me, l know"
! "No Doubt Oh, you great brutal
hatciul-A-"
stop, my dear; don't fly into fu
ry. We will try to spend our last
week in happiness. Oh, by the way
=, l have proposition to make"
I "Go on, sir; don't spare me"
= "4h, yes, that is tho very thing
= wish to do. ! Know your. mind is Ell.
tirely chgrossed with your ascension
and 1 wish to spare you the care o
! the house. Suppose you invite Saral
here tomorrow TO spend week."
"What?" ..
!: "Then | can arrange our matrimo
! NAL Preparations in the evening, whil(
you are at the lecture"
"What?" @
: "And you can leave the house in hol
charge all day. That will give yor
plenty of time to get out, and she car
learn the ways about the house"
! "What ?" ,
"And my dear, one little favor. Il
may be the last / shall ever ask. Stay
i at home one or two days, won't you
and show her around where you keeI
! the things, and so on, so that she won
! have any trouble when you go. Yor
|, will do this to ohlige me, won't you ?
! Mrs. Peters, for answer, rolled W
the ascension robe into a,ball and free
y it at Joe, The cotton, scissors, work
/ basket, and table.cloth followed eacl
other in such rapid succession that hC
4 was unable to fly. Then Marias ragC
found vent in words. L.
,"So-you and Sarah That's the
! reason you whistled when you cam,
= in But you shan't have that grea
qualification 1 will stay, if only tc
spite you Iwon't go; 1 tell you, Mr.
Peters, I won't CO."
/ "But, my dear, you must go if yor
" ora coma foN .t.. ......
\ II won't go" -
But consider, my dear"
! II won't gor &.
"But what will Sarah thinkP' .
Sarah Don't dare to mentor
Sarah to me again /! 1-I-oh, an
fairly choking"
And the little woman threw hersel
into chair in fit of Mysteries
Next morning Mr.. Peters met FREQ
in the street.
"Well, old boy, how goes itP"
{ "Fred," was the reply, "I am tn
happiest man. in the world hay,