Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-02-23
A Professor Marrying a Cook.

lege, We had amongst our Faculty" {
curious parsonage, whom every one re
garded with considerable respect, anC
yet as Il character, zuigoneris. He ha,
lived many years without wife, anC
expected to live so always. Indeed, a.
she was the professor o; mathematics
| the abstraction OF his science forbad,
/ his indulging in the idea OF getting
married. To the female sex, therefore
he showed no other regard than com
mon politencss required. His charac
ter was purely negative. OF course ht
was not popular with the ladies, and
they kept themselves ut a distance from
him. But circumstances that often
bring about Il match i'm other cases
! placed him in peculiar dilemma. II
seems Il whim that a necessity was laid
upon him to get married, He was on,
of the faculty Of the collcge-all the
other professors were married, and wert
obliged to entertain the distinguished
visitors OF the institution. He had al.
ways boarded. OF course it wasn't cX.
pected of him that he should ever give
Il party or dinner. But it began to be
regarded as rather mean in him to shirt;
off this matter from year to year, and
~ well OH as he was, pecuniarily," t.
throw upon the members OF the iaculty
the cost and trouble of entertaining tn,
special friends and patrons of the col.
legc. The question was, therefore fire..
quently asked:
"Why doesn't the old miser ntcrtai,
some of the distinguished visitors that
visit US ?"
Now, our professor wasn't a miser at
all, and ii often troubled him to think
he was SO situated that ne couldn't bear
his part of this burden. And yet, what
could he do? Must he get married? And
II so, to whom? He had no special re-
gard for any one in the vicinity of the
college, and no one had any special re-
gard for him. In his younger DAYS he
had seen at school young lady, in the
city OF New York, in whom he had felt
a peculiar interest. But of her he
hadn't heard for years. Doubtless be-
fore this time she was married or in her
grave. Possibly, however, she was still
living and waiting for him. Gl0riou.
thought! He was quite relieved ut it,
though, indeed, there might be no
foundation for his relief. Nevertheless
he could make due inquiry. Nor could
he long delay, for commencement day
was ut hand, only Il few weeks of. II
was his turn, or rather it would he if he
was married, to give the great dinner TO
the distinguished personagcs who would
be present on the occasion. There
would be the Governor OF the State, and
his lady-thc trustees of the Institution
and their friends, and Others of equal
repute. But who should be master of
ceremonies? And who should grace the
table? He could square the circle per-
haps, but such a circle as this, what
could he do with it? Ii he were only
married, what helpmeet would his
Wac be at such II time. And yet his
wife must lie u good looking, inteili-
gent, and accomplished lady; otherwise
the blank would he a blot!
Now there was young lady in the
neigiborhool thai the pro lessor thou% Int
might answer. He had seen her ut his
boarding house, and spoke to her once
or twice.
= But she may say no." and il she
did, Ihought he where in creation
could | hide my head ! And what
would become o. the dinner" The
Governor must havc II dinner, and he
must have IL wife. Aud hence he lay
awake about it all night. At last ls the
morning broke he cried out to himself,
Contempt! She will say no, will she
Other men have lived through it, and
shall. Ii not, | shall have "A clear con
science about the dinner, and clear
conscience is the main thing after all |!
l will write note to Miss a., anyway.
1t may be she will regard it iavorably." >"
so the professor sat down and wrote "a
note to Miss A. stay minute,n said
he to himself, "what will the Governor
think OF the lady? She is handsome
ami polite, but can she converse? Can
...t. ,
said he to himself, every doubtful - aud
so he tore up the note! Alas Tor the
man on the verge oI matrlmony! In
an hour or two, however, the pro essor
called on the President and said: al
should like 10 he absent "a iew days.
"Ah!" said the President. - JUST ut this
time?"
Yes, sir, I have my classes in rnadi-
ness ior exam ttion, and j wish to go
to New York"
ily?" said the President.
mo, sir" said the Professor, "but
have IA little matter OF business that re-
puires my immediate attention. and |
Thought ii best &" go.'
You nave my best Wishes" said the
President, ''and may you return safely
ana not alone"
The Professor smiled, bat blushed
rather tlan smiled, and LETT the Presi-
dent ami hastened TO New York.
His first inquiry on his arrival there
was for Mss Adeline g.. the young
lady whom he had seen some years be-
!o"e, at school, as we have mentioned.
Way" said the respondent, 1.-The
family has been reduced. and she Is a
coDk. Perhaps you don't know it, sir?"
"A cook |! " said he, that is just what
1 want"
"Oh? ?" said the lady, 1--WE thought
you wanted something else, possibly"
No, ! have been half starved to
death since left New York, and want
some one to cook decently."
Well, she can do that, for she
has her equal in that line i'm
the city. Why, sir, she is Il cook, par
ercciience."
"And how does she look ~
She is the haBdsomest cook in the
city, too
Professor, but is she intelligent. /
speak coniidentiaiIy."
Intelligent! She is indecd-she can
converse like an angel
'As to manners. Is she accomplish
ed?"
'As graceful Us an actress
When can | see herr"
AT eight o'clock this evening""
Couldn't | sec her before that
hOur?"
~ think that would be the most con-
time for her to call, and to see
you. She will be engaged in her duties
until then"
II will wait then Please to tell her
that Professor Mack Of Virginia, wishes
to see her--an old acquaintance Of hers.'
"Shall tell her tnat you wish to en-
gage cook?"
You may tell her that I wish to see
her." said the Professor.
What name did you say"
Professor Mack, of Virginia, IL you
please, madam"
An everlasting long day was before
him and he had nothing else to do not
Il probiein to solve, except the one on
hand, and that WAS 0ne OF doubtful
solution.
Eight clock at last came. and the
Protesso. called again to see the young
lady.
"A cook, indeed" said the Professor
to himself; 'she il. splendid woman,