The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-03-28


agely.
"Pd turn her away tomorrow, she and
her husband, too, only that the next one
would be sure to be worse. They are all
about of a piece. There is nothing
worse to have in the house than house
keeper-unless it's wife. And l don't
know"
Doctor Hulburt still stood in the pan
try, solemnly deliberating, after the last
morsel of doughnut had disappeared. 1t
was so long since he had wife that he
could not decide whether one was worse
than a housckceper or not. 1t was
question that he had been revolving in
his mind for years, without coming to
any definite conclusion.
go Better bear the ills we have, than fly
to others that we know not Of the poet
says. But then, man can't bear this
state Of things long he might as well live
in cave in the woods No order, no
comfort, none of the decencies Of living
Some time or other [ shall have to marry,
and | might as well make up my mind to
it at once. And there's the widow Zilpha
Thomas. (Strange that boy can be such
a fool as to run after that little jade of a
Rose Carter y The widow Thomas is q
good housekeeper, | have no doubt;
house always looks as neat as wax. Then
there's that wood lot of hers that Joins
mine; not that I'm looking out for prop
erty with wife, but that lot would come
very handy; and the widow is a fine
woman; little quick tempered I'm afraid
never did like those swapping black eyes;
that girl Rose Carter, is just her mother
over again, with her blue eyes and her
wheedling ways-confounded little jilt!
and that boy is fool enough to be taken in
by her. should like to see anybody
take me in No, l thank youI once is
enough, | said to Miss Esther Wagg,
the other day, The widow Zilpha Thomas
is fine woman; capital manager, isn't
she p"
"' Manager you may be sure of that
She managed poor Reuben Thomas into
his grave, said Miss Esther.
But then, it is of no consequence
what these spiteful old maids say. Most
likely she has an eye on the situation for
herselfw
And the doctor drew himself up, in the
proud assurance that when he did take q
second helpmeet, he should leave every
manageable lady of his acquaintance in
consolable.
"Pll drive round and see the widow
Thomas next week. | don't think it
likely that she could manage me /"
And having made up his mind, Doctor
Hulburt betook himself to his chamber
But his face was not that of a man who
is quite satisfied with his decision; and
he stood for long time at the window,
and looked down to the foot of the hill,
where the Widow Carter's house was
was plainly visible in the moonlight
No, No once is enough for man to
be made fool of! And that silly boy
shall never marry her daughter, if | can
help it" he said at last, turning away
with decided shake of the head. From
which signs an observer would have sup
posed Miss Esther Wagg to be right, and
the Widow Carter an old sweetheart who
had " made fool of him."
Rose Carter, with pale cheeks and
downcast eyes, sat demurely sewing be-
side her mother the next morning, when
her uncle, old Squire Carter, came in.
The pale cheeks had been observed but
not commented on by her mother but
the Squire was not so delicate.
Bless me what has become of the
red cheeks? Why, they are as white as
snowballs Too much sewing and moping.
and not enough air and exercise-or has
its sweetheart deserted it, poor little
Rosy"
Upon which Roses cheeks grew scarlet
of course. But the squire was not salts
| fed.
" The child looks really i'll, and some
thing must be done" he said to Mrs. Car
ter, as he went away. "She hasn't look
ed like herself for months"
And the squire, haunted by Roses pale
face, betook himself directly to Doctor
Hurlburt's office.
" want you to go aud see my neice,
little Rose Carter, or prescribe something
for her. She says nothing ails her, but
she looks pale and moped. suppose it
is nothing but want of exercise if these
girls would only do as their grandmothers
did But you know what will help her
its nerves, | suppose" said the squire
who fancied that nerves" were at the
bottom of all feminine ailments.
" All yes I'll send her prescription"
said the doctor, heartily. And thinking
it the heartiness of interest and good ma
ture, the squire went on his way reliey-