North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-01-24
gelert gtary.
THE PINK CALICO,

! Hi0 S"'' iih"'S" 1PSNtoN'Cs opu putting
them methodicaIIy in their cases as he spoke
John, come into my study, want to
have talk with you" ..
/ The old gentleman said this with such
an air OF impOrta ice that John Morton, al
beit ofa phlegmatic temperament, not easi-
y aStoniShed by ANYTHING, arose and fol-
lowed his father with no little surprise
and curiosity upon his handsome features
"What on earth can the Governor have
in his mind ?" he said to himself; 81
hope lie isn't going to fail or give me a
Stcpmother, but he looks solemn enough
for anything"
Solemn indeed was the old gentleman S
countenance as he sat down opposite his
son, folded his hands on the green cloth of
| the table between them and began
"John, if am not mistaken, the day af-
ter tomorrow is your thirtieth birthday" !"
$50 it is, by Jove," said John, I'D
quite forgotten it."
Your thirtieth birthday continued
the old gentleman, "and really when man
comes to be thirty, it is my opinion he
ought at least to begin to think about a
wife. | married your poor dear mother
when | was five-and-twenty, and felt none
too young. And as my sons have grown
up am G lad TO say they have generally
followed my example. Hiram made a fine
match when he married Miss Gower-and
though Peters wife was not such an heir
ess, she is a good woman and pretty one
and not Extravaganza as for VIII
liam, | couldn't wish him a better partner
than the girl he married last year.. You
are the only bachelor of the four. and |
must confess am extremely anxious to
see you married before | dio-and I'm an
old man, John, and can't live great
while
"As to that father, you'll live, hope to
be a hundred" said John. "But | will
look about me. and if see the girl fancy
I'll pop the question. In fact, Eve been
doing that these ten years, only the right
person hasn't come along"
81 see, | see" said the old gentleman
with a slv chuckIc, ''you want good wife
"a good, sensible girl, who knows how tc
take care of her husbands home eh p
"Well. YES" said John with yawn.
"a handsome girl-with bright eyes
AMI rosy cheeks with dimples in them
and nice harand taper waist"
you're quite judge Of beauty, l de-
clare, father" said John. "Well | should
like pretty wife, that's certain
"A little with little something of her
own. too, said the old gentleman. "In
fact an heiress To sum up the whole a
sensible aft; ctionate beauty, with fortune
That's your wife. John"
IF can iod her, father said John
Morton, But you see all the good thing:
in the world are seldom given to one wo-
man The heiresses are often frights and
the beauties poor, While half the time one
doesn't care 70 hear pretty speak or tc
look at a scnsibIe one And as for pru
dcncr and economy, thrv are handed over
to grandmothers, a d affection is quite old
fashioned. However, find me such par
a@on as you describe to-day. and I'll Law
my heart and hand at her feet to morrow
viii yon ?"
"Whv. of course | will, sir"
"Ah. ha you're married man then, fol
| fonnd h r for You yesterday
John Morton's eyes opened wider than
their lazy wont with aStonishment.
"Who is she ?" he asked.
ashes Miss Spice" said the old gen
tleman, "Baxter Spices daughter. met
her there yesterday, and the moment | SCI
my eyes on her | said, that's the wife fo1
my son John A beauty-and such a no
table domestic little body-and every cen
old Spice calls his own will be hers some
day. want you to 60 down and see her.
John laughed.
''Perhaps she's engaged to somebody
else he sad! :" "People seldom leave such
tempting fruit on the bough long-nc
doubt she's appriated."
She's only eighteen p' said Mr. Morton
"and--ahem happened to know She.
not engaged had a talk with the ole
gentleman, He wants to see her married
but she don't fancy anyone. She has s
notion, you see, that the young men arr
thinking of her money, and declares shell
die an old maid. Between you and me
Gnioa