Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-05-18
Midnight Ride of the Wigwags'

| sipozie could doubt that she was the
most beautiful damsel in all Landers.
burg. 1t is said that lightning never
strikes twice in one spot, and I am in.
clined to believe that really handsome
young ladies are like lightning in this
respect. But the town of Landers.
burg was particularly happy in the
fact that it contained two beauties
and they both bore the name of Rosi
pozie-mother and daughter-the for
mer thirty five, and the latter seven
teen.
Mrs. Rosipozie was widow, and
had been in that very uncertain con
dition for nearly five years, 1t wasn't
for want of lovers, though, for every
man in town, who wasn't in love with
her daughter, was in love with her
and as they both did very flourish
ing business in the issuing of reject
ions to would-be husbands, it wasn't
long before they gained the name Of
"heartless coquettes; and if young
Tom Wigwag had not appeared on
the stage, at just this time, in the role
of lover to the young lady, it is terri
fble to think what the fate of the two
beauties Of Landersburg might have
been.
They owned a handsome house, sit
uated in the suburbs of the town, and
furthermore, the widow was possess.
ed of some good bank stock, several
railroad shares that paid good divi
dends, and very pretty little sum in
government bonds, all of which the
defunct Rosipozie had left her when
he took his departure from this vale
of tears and it was doubtless the
possession this snug little property
which had kept Mrs. Rosipozie a wild
ow so long, for she was certainly a
marrying woman and if she could
have been sure that Mr.. Smith, or Mr.
Brown or Mr.. Jones did not care
more for her money than they did for
herself, one Of them would have re
ceived an agreeable answer to his pro
posal; but as she was not sure, she
made a VOW that until such time as
she was, she would remain single.
This vow was made at just sixteen
minutes past seven o'clock, upon one
of the brightest evenings in the montf
of June, 18-; but the words were
hardly out Of her mouth when the
door-bell rang, and it hadn't ceased
tinkling, when Bridget ushered into
Mrs. Rosipozie's back parlor, the vii
lage apothecary, Mr.. Thomas Wigwag
the elder.
why, Mr.. Wigwag, good-evening,
said the widow, with her sweetes
smile.
"Good-evening, ma'am," returned
Mr.. Wigwag.
Mrs. Rosipozie was seated in co
Sy little rocking chair beside her worE
table, and so Mr.. Wigwag took anoth
er cosy little rocking chair-it wa
just like the widow's-and drawing
it up beside her, very close, he sa
down.
Now Mr.. Wigwag was as unlike
Romeo's apothecary as it was posi-
BILE for a human being to be. H'
was just the roundest, cosiest-face'
apothecary that ever lived and b
had the merriest pair of blue eyes
and the jolliest nose, and then hi
form was the exact model of a happy
good-natured gentleman, and of a
, men in the world there wasn't on
who could have made such an impres
! sion upon the beautiful widow ROs
pozic; for in the first place, he wa
quite wealthy, and therefore coul
have no designs on her property, an
secondly, he had been widower 70
, twenty years, which spoke well 70
his affections, and thirdly, it was jus
; as much as the widow could do t
keep from loving him.
Mrs. Rosipozie thought of all thi
} and a great deal more in less tha
= sixty seconds-in fact, while Mr.. Wi!
: wag was occupied in getting his cha
' Just right, which was no sooner dor
than he spoke.
Mrs. Rosipozie," said he, "yo
have daughter"
You should have seen the expires
9 ion that passed over the iady's fac
1t was such an expression as mu
:, have been caused by several confic
'. ing emotions, and some very unplea
, ant ones, too, for after the blood ha
y rushed into her face it as quick
'. rushed out of it, and all the .jaundit
y in her nature settled around her nos
and her blue eyes became a sea-gree
and she looked older by ten years.
"Bless my stars p cried Mr.. Wi
wag.
"Go on" said Mrs. Rosipozie, in
cracked voice.
"Do you feel we'll, Mrs. Rosipozie
perfectly well, Mr.. Wigwag."
"Then I'll proceed. AS | remar
y ed before, | have a son, and you ha,
a daughter,
40, or 1t was a sigh of relic
: from Mrs. Rosipozie. Once more
= smile illumined her countenance {
;, she turned towards Mr.. Wigwag.
"Now, Mrs. Rosipozie, you ma
4 think that person of my age shoul
) have done with sentiment"
y "Not at ALL" cried the widow: L,
sure you're not DID,"
"Think you so? Well, be that
: : it may, I've a son that is fve-an
! ! twenty, and he's an only child, an
4 he's the light of his fathers eyes, an
! the young rogue knows it, and VIII,
should the scamp do but 60 and ia
! in love with your daughter Jessie
and I'll be cut up into shoe strings
| wouldn't do the same thing myse1
\ if | was twenty years younger; bl
e now suppose your daughter shouldn
love Tom? Just imagine the cons
cuapoac ,f Won oIoo,o ,ao,~