Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-08-09
More than he Bargained for.

OF the roads, Mr.. John Harrison, farm-
er, rode slowly through the fly Hol-
low, attempting ever and anon to
induce the gray beast that propelled
his vehicle to 60 little faster.
"Move on, Jane, move on p said he.
Jane moved, but with very moder-
ate speed. She seemed to have an
exceeding great desire to regulate her
own rate of velocity. The efforts of
her impatient master to alter her gait
could not be termed success. And
indeed, it was almost too much to ex-
pect that she would make any sur
prising progress along the muddy
road, as she was beast of long stand
ing, extremely old, and always accus-
toned to have her own way.
"Well, hang you, old nag, go as
you pleaser' he exclaimed, after la
menting for the fortieth time the alb
sence of his whip.
"Take it slow! slow! [ suppose
we'll get there after awhile. We gen
orally do-Je-rusalem !"
As he was making the last inter-
lection, one of the buggy wheels was
plunging savagely into an enormous
slough, nearly tipping Mr.. Harrison
off his seat.
"Dear me!' exclaimed the old gen.
tleman as he scrambled to the higher
side; "confound widow Baker! This
is all for her accommodation. Get
out of that janet Get out Of it, |
say. There! right side up again,
guess.
Now, here l am. an old man, over
ifty years old, actually courting a
woman over forty years old. Just on
her account too. All for her accom-.
modation. Hanged if it isn't, now
That is, is it? Now I'll be fair
Yes, III be candid, seeing that In
alone"
The old gentleman reflected candid
ly for few minutes, during which
time old Jane candidly evinced a de
termination to walk as slowly as pos
sible, without positively baking.
"Well," suddenly broke out Mr.
Harrison, a suppose may be a little
selfish in the matter. The good Lore
knows we're all a little seIfsh-an(
we are all alike to hit the mark
straight as we can,' and he made al
abortive attempt to slash Jane will
the end of the lines.
Il suppose" he continued, gravel,
regarding the effort of the steed t.
walk upon both sides of the Wagon
rut at once, II suppose may be
little selfish. That is, if a widowe
with nine children can find time, o
room, or inclination, or heart to b.
; selfish. Just think of that orphaned
family of nine! There's John, tn,
: scamp, Just twenty-one to-day, and thel
there's one for every two years, dowl
to Elan, who is five, altogether in tn
old house. They're a little noisy
now | can't deny that. They don
seem to care a straw for anything
say-now | can't deny that. The,
need a mother. The poor things nee,
one bad. And | must get one 70
them. It's on this account that III
going forty miles for the fourth time
to see Polly Baker-its on their aC
count,-and hers, Yes, hers PEI
haps my eyes may be blinded, but"
Old Jane, with an energy that rer
dered the last mentioned event highl
probable, kicked an imaginary fly, an
sent up a torrent of liquid mud int
Mr.. Harrison's face, right in the mids
Of his disinterestedness and devotion
"Oh, you old jade" he shoute
, with another futile attempt at lin
fagellation, "you old sponge, &c
along! It's lucky for me" he contir
ued, wiping the mud from his face wit
81 red silk handkerchief, that this
the last time I'm goingl Lucky TO
me that I'm going to marry her to-mol
row. Why | wouldn't travel thi
, road twice more for Or anothe
family of children"
So Mr.. Harrison rode towards tn
, goal of his hopes, soliloquising an
! thinking, and scolding his horse; plal
ming how he should manage, and ho'
his wife should manage after the
S were married and building homel
: air castles iu the homely future.
u His feelings however, were not Ell
: 4irely free from slight twinge of col
science now and then, in regard t
y what he had told, and what he ha
not told, Polly Baker. For, reade
y Mr.. Harrison although rigid mora
u ist, although good citizen, and goo
: hearted man although an honest dea
> er and upright gentleman, had "
> committed, and persisted in, a consi'
d cradle deception in his dealing wit
Il Polly Baker. 1t was on his first i
Il PRODUCTION to her, and while they wei
. talking over matrimonial affairs rat
/ er prematurely, as old single peopl
often will, that Mrs. Baker had d
clared that she would never marry
It widower who had already children ft
II her to take care of; and it was upc
3, his third visit to her, when he pr
is posed prematurely, as old widowel
s in desperate straits do, that she ha
o asked him if he had children; and |
g in his desire to carry his suit, and b
e zeal in working for the nine your
N orphans at home, had replied that
e yes, he had children, but they were a
IS away; by which, she, poor innoceI
/. soul, understood that they were q
>. grown, and dutifully and Industrious
# taking care of themselves; and |
r which he, sly old fellow, meant tn
d. they were literally away, that
IL away from the spot upon which
II III II