The Portland daily press., 1867-12-21
Selected story.
A Wife by a Paragraph.
AN EDITORS STORY,

IN NJ
AN EDITORS STORY.
Ash opened my letters one morning Just
before the war, talking the while 70 my friend
Lighter (who was going to Europe by the
next steamer, remember, and had called to
see about sending an occasional letter for the
paperl | came upon one missive the peculiar
cniog-aphy and odd beginning of which
prompted me to read it aloud to him. 1t hap
pened to be Saturday morning, the day of the
week when well-regulated daily newspaper
office is visited by the woman who enjoys the
profitable privilege OF mopping its floors AMI
scrubolng Its windows; SO Just behlno my uesN
and doing her work as quietly as she couiu 80
as not to disturb Lighter ana me u our cnat,
her name for it had teen only week since
abe had taken the place of venerable and
worthy old creature who had done our week
iv cleaning hitherto, and noting the change
and the unusually youthful and attractive APP
paerance Of the substitute for person in that
position, | had asked her, and ascertained
tina. she was only serving temporarily, to ac-
commodate old Bddy McGrath, who was laid
up with rheumatism and enable her to keep
her situation. The young woman was bux-
ON, neatly dressed and not i-lookinp. and
most marvellous of all, she had washed up
my room without disturbing in single par
ticular the most admired and conveni lent dis
order in which l liked to keep it; and SO 1t
happened that had given her the second
look which made her name cling in my men,
DRY. Thus much by way of Introduction;
and now to return to my letter, read aloud as
above mentioned.
1t was rather clumsily written in point of
chiroglaphy, and as f the pen and ink at
command were not of the best; as to its man.
ner and expression the reader shall judge for
Lo,,o !, AZ
day. laIt tla-f
FoRT LEAvENwoRTH, Oct. 8, 1860.
To the Editor of the Boston. Sir ia-
In looking over q Missouri paper I see an
article captoned a Superiority of Maidens,
which says that recently there appeared in
your paper the startling statement that you
have in your State of Massachusetts, alone ov.
er 10000 more women than men. Now, Sir
my name is James G. Feelan, and plainly
speaking can give as good references as this
fort can produce as to good character and its
Accomplishments. George c. CASTOR, surgeon
OF the post, Captain Mendon of my company, B.
second U. S. artillery, Mr.. Bailey suit
Ter at the Fort, John Badeau. Indian
interpreter, and more if necessary.
Now wish that you for me would strongly
commend some Uirtuous, good-principled 90
ahead, MorOugh-goiag, good-looking young la
dy, to come out here aud become my wife; and
sne shall be treated as husband should treat
wife. would like her to be 5 feet or 5 It, Q
or 3inches high, weighing from 125 to $50, be-
ing in good health and good tempered. Nv
personal description is, that am 5 feet inch
es HIGH complexion, eyes and hair dark; rank
corporal, doing duty as a gunner; said to be
toleraby good looking. have great respect
tor morality and old age. Tam 80 next month;
was born in Ireland, and came here when a
boy. Before committing yourself you will
probably want to ask who and what am;
send out and inquire without fear, and if you
will use the telegraph, will pay the bill.
should like her to be from 16 10 &c. drink
no liquor, do not gamble, and am the only man
in the Fort that does not use tobacco. grieye
to say have got the army habit of swearing,
but have the disposition to break it eff Ifshe
wished to use leisure in sewing or washing
our officers would furnish plenty to do, and
good pay. Now, sir, if you will do me this fa-
vor, and what now cannot do for myself, you
will have the best wishes and gratitude of
James o. Feelan. should prefer her eyes
blue. Now am hoping to hear from you IA
vorably and soon; and as regards your being
an editor, gentleman, woman's rights man,
and getting good wife for me, allow me to
ascribe myself as your friend and well-wisher.
Should you find more than one to comply with
my request give you tull discretion to choose
Yours, j. 0. FEELAN. f
II assure you, Lighter" exclaimed as my
friend exploded in grand guffaw as read
the close OF the epistla, .'He is 20 worse in his
ideas of an editors duties than halt the PEG
pie in the community" E
"There's sincerity in every line of it at any
rate" replied my visitor" and I'll warrant he
is watching every mail for your answer al
ready" )5Jt 9-ac} GG
Very likely" said l., and then, as shook
hands with my friend, and babe him good
speed and merry winter in Rome, tossed
the letter into the 1aste-basket which Mary
Maloney had just emptied, and was proceed
ing to snip off the end of the next envelope
in the pile, when observed that the tempo
rary char-woman, still on her knees, was max
ing rapid little signs on her breast and NOV
ing her silent lips in very earnest manner,
after the fashion of many devout folk of her
creed and nationality. As she noticed my
glance she paused, rose with some hesitation,
and then came to my desk, leaning on her
mop as if fearful her limbs would fail her.
IF you please, sir" she said, catching her
breath with great gulp and pressing her
hand to her bosom, "di1 you throw away the
letter, still i may make so bold.-because
you can do nothing for the man that wrote
it,"
"Wby, yes, Mary sail for i saw there
was something more than curiosity beneath
her excitement:-~You know can't be run
ming about hunting wife iof him. Did you
know OF somebody you thought would be
pleased with the chance?7
Indeed no, unless it's myself, SIR" said the
Girl evidently struggling with bashfulness,
yet impelled BY an Impulse too strong to be
resisted. I'm ashamed to trouble the like OF
You with u, SIR, but us prosecuted am by
lad man that's following me. He's mad iorme
slr. and lac followed me from the old country
Lere, aud I'm afraid Of him FOR my Life, that's
The ruth. lie tormenaed me In The country
where livct Va Vermont, SIR, and when /
eame here 10 my aunt--that's Bildy McCrafh.
you know, am. as eieaus your place,-lnst TO
be rid Of The sislit a him be quit lis piace
ont.'s iAna, and ! caught glimpse Of him
"a me street iouking lor me bat TIVE dsys
AGO. And Ms "a ths Car West 1 was solng.
siF, 70 get clear of him forcveE.- y
Mary paused 20 set control Of the sobs that
seemed bubhiing uptO choke hes, and 10 catch
Der breath atter Tarid narratire. | saw that
bad stumbled upon a romance rather out
Of The eommon; and stopped and picked up
TIE letter of my soldier correspondent 20 en-.
courage her as she proceeded.
Tie writer Of that came from my county
~ home, sir, and though | never saw him
there kn0S the name and know his aunt
m Ireland a good decent woman she is, and
keeps the post Office in KilldoOg. And wien
you read out the name I've heard her sneak
10 often sir, and the words that came with II.
my heart leaped into my mouth true enough,
and something told me there's safety and
comfort Tor you at last"
~But my good Girl" said l, rather wishing
10 test the depth OF her purpose than with
any design OF discussion "There's no harder
lie than soldiers wife knows on the from
tier
1T Is not hard work that fear, sir.D said
Mary Maloney, flushing. There's worse than
that pursuing me here. / was going west
anyway, and i thought mayhap you'd give
me the letter and would go to the fort he
speaks OF, unbeknown to him, and find out
ii all he says of himselfis true before ever he
knows ever heard or thought OF him before"
Better consult with your aunt before you
take any steps" said |, hurriedly, as another
visitor came in to devour another share of
my scanty time; and when h, left, Mary Ma
ioney had gone too, having put the finishing
touches to her work with wonderful speed,
and taken the letter which 40 moved her in
her hand. l might never have thought of
the letter again; but the next Saturday old
Biddy McGrath, as she hcbbled in partially
restored, handed me back my letter enclosed
with a little note more neatly written than
should have expected from one OF her class
which ran something like this:
Boston, November @
,Ireturn You the letter, sir, having taken the
liberty of copy not knowing but you might
want 1t again. ask d my aunt as you said
"a viz 7 r 4