Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-10-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
GOING ON TRIAL.


"WELL, 1 don't know, Squire Linton, I'd
be willing to go and keep house for you
q few days." said the widow, playing ner-
vously with the gate latch. al know
you're in uitiful plight with so many
young children and no head. I'd be willing
70 go for q few days to accommodate you;
but, to tell the plain truth, l am expecting
call tonight from Mr.. Means, of Nal.
burg, and"
"Indeed-oh, 1 wasn't aware. Don't
let me detain you another minute" said
Squire Linton, hurriedly. "Ive taken up
too. much of your time already"
No, indeed" returned the widow,
twisting her handkerchief; "I was only
going to say promised to see Mr.. Means
to-day; but THAT is to say-I can tell
You better tomorrow"
"No, no; it is too great favor. l
ought not to ask i'll won't ask it, Mrs.
Whalen," sighed Squire Linton, wonder
ing secretly what business should bring
the wealthy Mr.. Means, of Malburg, all
the way to Durham.
But he was such meek, self renounc-
ing man that he never dreamed of pressing
his own claim any farther and hastily
drawing up his reins, drove away,
reproaching himself for intruding his for
lO1h ACOSbcltyJ oAO LAaAlhB uAouSub
upon the widows sympathy.
"Poor dear soul, !" thought Mrs. Whalen,
gazing after him half regretfully; "if he
had said another word l should have
gone; couldn't have held out against
his pleading. But there, it's just as we'll,
/ suppose. Mr.. Means will be along soon.
wonder what he looks like. They say
he stands very high but as never saw
the man, of course 1 can't make up my
nind what to say to him yet"
Before Squire Linton was half way
back to his "headless" home with his
losves of bakers bread and ginger bread,
and Jumps of frowy butter, the widow
was standing opposite the little square
window in her bed room, tying the strings
of her new lavender cap. What she had
remarked to herself was perfectly true
she had not made up her mind what she
would say to Mr.. Means: great deal
would depend upon what he should say
to her.
''Ahem p calculated he as he entered
the little sitting room down stairs. "Mrs.
Whalen, suppose? l am Israel Means,
of Malburg. Hope l see you well
ma'sm?"
"Rather good looking man, now,
am sure" thought the smiling widow, Of
fering him chair, ga little countrified
perhaps; but what of thatH"
"Middlin' warm weather, ma'am,
added Mr.. Means, with an admirinc
glance at his hostess, whose persona
charms rather exceeded his expectations
"Just the weather for cheese, and nc
weather at all for butter"
$50 / should think, sir. Have fan p
said Mrs. Whalen, her mouth looking al
If butter wouldn't melt in it even in dog
days,
cepting the fan, and with it the righ
thumb of the somewhat embarrassed lady
=" Mrs. Whalenp
The words were nothing, but the ton,
was portentous. The widow wished sht
had kept the fan she began to feel tn
need of q breath of air.
Mrs. Whalen, suppose you may b
aware, ms'am, that I-ahem witt
view to"
Mr.. Means made a double period
looked up to the ceiling for the rest of tn
aentence, and not finding it flashing ou
there az In the days of Belshazzaf, ben
an appealing glance to the widow, VIII
was certainly in no state to help him out
"Ahl Ohp she faltered, while he
comely brunette face showed fine com
bination of solterino and bismarck. "Ot
Ah"
Mr.. Means saw the betrsying color wit
, his quick gray eyes.
"Hang it |" said he to himself; eth
woman needn't take me up before &c
the words out of my MOUTH "Mr
iWhalen, / suppose you may be awar'
ma'am, that cdLLed-any body with a pal
of eyes in their head can see I've called
No oftense, l hope. l was coming u
this way, and Moses, my nephew, kind {
put it in my head that I'd better dro
In"
2 C"Yes. sir" was the faint reply. ~
Was this all he meant, tnenP And hel
she had been expecting-Oh, Mos
Pitcher, the black-eyed piece of mischie
Couldn't he be in better business tina
going round to widows houses, maxim
believe old uncles were coming to off
themselvesH Moses was a pitcher wit
large ears and a very large mouth. h
had heard more than his uncle had eve
said, and told great deal more than b
heard. And now, deceived by his specioI
hints, she had gone and bought lavend'
ribbon and a hem stitch handkerchie
Would she ever hear the last of it fro
sister Dorcasf
Before Mr.. Means had wiped his fa'
and rubbed up another idea, the wal
widow had united her cap-strings. 81
didn't see the sense of streaking the
with perspiration for man that had on
dropped in"
"Good weather for cheese, as you we
remarking, Mr.. Means" said she, In tol
as stiff as icing, but with nearly as mu'
reserve sweetness. "Do you keep q lar
dairy, sir 7"
"Not so very" returned Mr.. Near
somewhat reassured by this allusion
business. 81 have only six cows that
milk this summer, and / expect 10 ma
beef of one of them come another sprlI
i calculate to dry her up and put her II
ting sometime along late in the fall. LIE
see-you ever been used to the care
milk"
The widow tied her cap-strings
"Oh, yes" said she, capablyi 81 "
brought up on a farm"
"Want to know Then you understal
all about the work. How do you like il
asked Mr.. Means, moving his chair a tri
nearer the widow overlooking the vel
table garden, by which Mrs. Whalen sa
10 "Work is work. always like al
thing have TO do" returned the wido
curtly.
"EVer made any cheesef"
Mrs. Whalen laughed at the Weakn
Of the question. Be-.
"Oheese is rather my strong poin
said she, with dignity.
"Ah How is 1t about butter GeneI
ly had pretty good luck with thatS" c.