Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-09
o The Wife for Me-.

y
excellent reputation for his integrity, and
having made himself useful to the mer-
camille firm in Boston, with whom he had
served an apprenticeship, was at length
invited to partnership in the concern.
For some time he had been encouraged
to anticipate this elevation, and he SOBER
ly and energetically, entered upon the
new duties of his position. When busi.
ness crowded, he had but little leisure to
mourn over his celibate condition; but
when the hurrying season was over, and
hours each day hung heavily on his hands,
he could not help thinking how delightful
it would be had he but house and gen.
tie wife of his own.z His pecuniary cir
cum stances now warranted such luxuries,
and he resolved to marry when he could
find lady "just suited to the mind"
Near country village in Maine, not
thousand miles from Bangor, lived an
old friend of his fathers, and being on q
collecting tour in that region during the
autumn months. he determined to accept
an oft repeated invitation 70 spend few
days with the old gentleman, and sent a
note announcing his coming. =.
At the appointed. time he reached the
residence of his old friend, and found that
the family were prepared and pleased to
welcome him as guest. In the Parlor
were two young ladies, well-dressed, and
quite handsome. He YVES duly introduc-
ed to Miss Jane and Charlotte, and found
them accomplished and sensible young
ladies. Being just now very susceptible
to the tender passions, he was easily
pleased, and exerted his powers to render
himself agreeable to the iattered maidens.
He succeeded of course. Sensible men
of his age and prospects always do, when
they try. And his eye wandering in con-
vcrsation from one handsome, intelligent
face to another, he several times caught
himself mentally inquiring, "Whichwould
make the better wife?
The mother, and neat-looking maid
were seen at intervals passing from the
kitchen preparing the supper. The girl
who set out the table, and spread the
white stainless cloth, aud arranged the
plates, seemed to do it. gracefully and
quietly, as if she had made such duties a
study as q science, and won a passing
glanceSof admiration .cas very neat and.
pretty servant-a model of "help."
Altogether, he thought it was a charming
family. When they sat at the cheerful
supper, and he tasted the light, home
made bread, and the sweet, fresh butter,
and the thinly sliced home-cured beef; the
hot, well-Aavored tea, the excellency and
good taste manifested in the whole order
inc, he felicitated himself upon having
found pleasant home, even if it was
for few. days, After supper was over
and the tablewas cleared, a third young
lady, very neatly dressed, entered the:
room, and was formerly introduced to-
him as one of the sisters, Miss Sarah. He
was not little surprised to find that the
neat servant girl, whose handiwork had
won. his admiration, was one of the sis
ters. He found her sprightly, cheerful,
and accomplished, and he thought little
more graceful than Jane, who was older,
or, Charlotte, who was younger than her.
self
He thought little more meanly of
himself, for having taken her to be hired
girl in the family, but not whitaore
meanly of her for having revealed herself
in that capacity. And his perplexity was
somewhat increased, as he sat down on
his bedside in the chamber to which he
was shown by his host, and said to him
SELF (which of the three"
In the morning, after nights sound
sleep-for he was not sufficiently in love.
to keep him awake-he entered the break
fast room, and was soon joined by the two
young ladies who had first welcomed
him. Sarah was not yet visible; but
when they sat down at the table, and Jane
had poured the coffee, Sarah came smil-
ing in behind a clean white apron, and
with sleaning pile of hot buckwheat
cakes in hershand, which from the hue of
her cheeks, she had just been baking. If
there were blush on her cheek any eye
might seeit was forced there by the fire,
and not by any sense of degradation, on
account of the Office she gracefully filed.
She greeted the guest with welcome
smile, deposited her load of edibles, and
returned to the kitchen, whence she trip
ped again in few minutes, with another
plate Of cakes, most beautifully baked
by her own skill Horace ate large
quantity of'theth, more than enough mere
ly to satisfy hunger, because of the beau
tiful little hands that made them. And
then he wandered over the farm with the
Old man, and praied of horses and cows,
and crops, as though he knew something
about them, as well as broadcloths aud
calicoes. At dinner time Jane and Char.
lotte were in the parlor waiting for him,
and Sarah, as usual, was bustling about
the kitchen. 81 do wish," said he, soto
voce, g that one of those girls would take
Sarah's place in the kitchen, little while
that might find out some of their horse
keeping quaIitieN and that | might have
little more @, -. her.
But he waited for such a change in vain.
though he found some opportunities of
converse, and discovered all. he wished
to know just then about her mental quail
fcations and requirements; and at the,
close of the fourth day, just before he got
into bed, he slapped the white counter
pane emphatically, and said to it-as there
was nobody in the room | suppose he
must have spoken to the counterpane or
the bedpost-aShe's the wife for me"
The next day was the outer limit of his
II l.