Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-03-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
CAPTAIN BEN,s CHOICE.

AN old red house on a. rocky shore,
with fiaherInah's bluc boat rocking on
the bay, and two white sails glistening
Tar away over the water. Above, the
blue shining sky and below, the blue, shin.
ing sea.
1t seems clever to have pleasant day, {"
said Mrs. Davids, signing.
Mrs. Davids said everything with sigh,
and now she wiped her eyes also on her
calico apron. She was woman with
complexion like faded seaweed, who
seemed always plying herself
tell them," said she, "I have had
real hard luck. My husband is buried
away off in California, and my son died
in the army, and he is buried away down
South. Neither one of them is buried to
Then she sighed again. Twice, this
time.
And So" she continued, taking out
pinch of bayberry snuff, "I am left alone
in the world. Alone, ]. say why I've got
daughter, but she is away out West.
She is married to an engineerman. And
I've got two grandchildren"
Mrs. Davids took the pinch of bayberry
and shook her head, looking as though
that was the hardest luck" Of all. -
We'll, everybody has to have their
rejoined Miss Persis Tame, taking a pinch
of snuff-the real Maccaboy-twice as
large, with twice as fierce an action. az
don't know what it is to bury children,
nor to lose b husband; l s'pose l don't (;
but know what it is to be jsmmcd round
the world and not have ruff to stick nv
head under. l wish | had all the money
ever spent traveling-an that's twelve
dollars" she continued, regretfully.
"Why in the world don't you marry
and have, home of your ownf" sighed
Mrs. Davids. EftdlQ ...--'
"Well, don't eppect to marry. Idon't
know as do at my time of life," re-
sponded the spinster. al rather guess my
day for chances is gone by" -.-.-r
you amt such dreadful sight oil (,
than l am, though" replied Mrs. Davids,
rehectively.
Not so old by two full years" )" returned
Miss Fame, taking another smart pinch
of snuff, as though it touched the empty
spot in her heart and did it good. "But
you amt looking out for opportunities yet,
/ suppose"
Mrs. Davids sighed evasively. ave
can't tell what is before US. There is
more than one man in want of wife"
AS though to point her words, Cap
tain Ben Lundy came in sight on the
beach, his head long way forward and
his shambling feet trying in vain to keep
up.
Thirteen months and half since
Lyddy was buried" continued Mrs.
Dayids, accepting this application to her
words, land there is Captain Ben taking
up with just what housekeeper he can
get and no housekeeper at all. 1t would
Oe an excellent home for you, Persis.
Captain Ben always had the name of max
ing kind husband"
She sighed again, whether from regret
for the bereaved man, or for the multi.
tu ,e of women bereft of such husband
BY this time Captain Ben's head was al
the door,
Morningl" said he, while his feet were
coming up. "Quite an accident down
here below the lighthouse last night
Schooner ran ashore in the blow and
broke all up in kindlingwood in less than
no time. Captain Tisdales been out
looking for dead bodies ever since day.
light" -r.-,
heard rushing sound some time about
sound sleep, and knowed then there was
spirit leaving its body. / heard it the
night Davids went or expect 1 did. Il
must have been very nearly at that time ,
Well, guess it wasn't spirit, last
night" said Captain Ben 8" for as / was
going on to say, after searching back and
forth, Captain Tisdale came upon the
folks, man and boy, rolled up in
their wet blankets asleep behind the life
boat house. He said he felt like he coulG
shake them tor staying out in the wet
Wrecks always make for the lighthouse
so he s'posed those ones were drowned tc
death, sure enough" f.
go, then it couldn't have been them
was warned Off returned Mrs. Davids
looking as though she regretted it. "I
was right over my head, and walked NJ
just as the thing was rushing past Yol
haven't heard, have you," she continued
whether or not there was any other dam
age done by the gales"
81 don't know whether you would cal
1t damage exactly" returned Captain Ben
"but Loizah Mullers got 80 scared she lef
me and went home. She said she couldn'
stay and run the chance of another of ou
coast blows, and off she trapsed."
Mrs. Davids sighed like November
" so you have some hard luck, as well a
myself don't suppose you can 0et
housekeeper to keep her long" said she
dismally.
"Abel Grimes tells me it is enough sigh
easier getting wives than housekeeperi
and I'm some of mind to try that tack,
replied Captain Ben, smiling grimly
Mrs. Davids put up her hand to feel G
her back hair, and smoothed down he
apron; while Miss Persis Tame blushe
like withered rose, and turned her eye
modestly out of the window. tfU
L am so. But the difficulty is, VIII
will it be? There are so many to seleC
from it is fairly bothersome," continue
Captain Ben, winking fast and looking a
though he was made of dry corn-cobs an
hay. .,t
Miss Persis Tame turned about al
ruptly. The land alive - she ejacU
lated with such sudden emphasis that tn
dishes shook on their shelves an
Captain Ben in his chair, 1t makes M
mad as q March hare to hear men 70 o
as though all they'd got to do was I
throw down their handkerchers to
woman, and, no matter who, she'd sprin
and run to pick it up. 1t is always VIII
will marrys' and not who win MARI
"Why, there is twice tho number {
widders that there is widderers here a
the Pint That was. what was in m
mind" SAD Captain Ben, in tone
meek apology. "There is the Wido'
keens, she that was Azubah Muchmor'
l don't know but what she would do
Lyddy used to think everything of he
and she Is first rate of housekeeper.
Perhaps So" assented Mrs. David
obviously. But sheiis troubled sigh
with the head complaint; / suppose 70
know she IS. That is against her"
"Yes," assented Miss Tame. "Th
Muchmores all have weak heads. Anl
too, the Widow Keens, she's had "a