The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-10-31
Il HE STORY-TELLER.
BEAN-PORRIDGE, HOT.

Ezekiel Pritchard, indeed ~ exclaim-
ed Margaret, drawing herself up to her
full height, and letting wrinkle of vex-
alton form on her pretty forehead. "The
idea OF that old widower with grown
children coming after me"
FYou may turn up your nose at him
now," returned Aunt Sukey, with de-
Lucrative air of wisdom particularly try
ing to Margaret's rather quick temper
and at the same time leisurely drawing
long thread through triangular hole
in one of her brother Hiram's stockings,
"but when you have passed the first
corner, and got on to the old maids list,
you may be mighty glad to marry as
likely man as Zekil Pritchard. You
are going on twenty-five, Margaret al
ready; and when 1 was young, girl
past that age was considered seedy.
You can't pick and choose much longer
and the time may come when you'll thank
your stars for husband that stands well
with the community, is good provider,
pious, and stiddy."
IL don't want a steady old man," re-
torted Margaret, giving an energetic
snap to q table-cloth she was folding
down.
"Why Margaret :" exclaimed her aunt,
with an accent of mild horror "any
body to hear you talk would think you
preferred an intemperance man or a pro-
fame swearer."
Drinking and swearing were not
mentioned" replied Margaret, with a
laugh at her aunts remarkable agility in
skipping to conclusions. "All meant
to say was that 1 don't intend to take a
man old enough to be my my father just
because he is steady. There are steady
young men in the world much prefer.
And then it looks out of place for Ezekiel
Pritchard, who was a family man as long
ago as 1 can remember, to be casting
sleeps eyes at me. If he had come from
a distance it would seem different but
only year ago, was watching with his
how he used to get up and go about in
his stocking feet"
Mrs. Sukey Shepherds sense of the lu-
dicrous was not acute. Her mouth did
not contract even into an intimation of
a smile. She sat with eyes still bent
upon the triangular hole in the toe of her
brother Hirams stocking, and said, quite
seriously
at don't look well, Margaret, for you
to be making fun of a good man like
Ezekiel Pritchard, and one who was so
devoted to his wife in her last sickness.
Of course a man can't mourn forever.
Human nature won't bear no such strain.
It's consistent with reason that he should
get over his grief, and feel lonesome, and
want to take another pardner. I'd have
him wait the proper time, and not be in
too big a hurry for it amt hardly de-
cent to marry agin in three months, as
Jim Bradley did. A man ought to show
respect to the memory of deceased COM
panion; but l always think the more
of him if he begins to look around pret-
ty sharp within year or two after his
affliction."
81 don't returned Margaret, spirited
ly. "Im like the girl 1 read about in
the newspaper the other day, who said
she didn't want affections warmed over"
Margaret had finished folding down
the clothes, and had packed them tight
ly in big willow basket. She stood
leaning against the table, with a rich
damask-rose bloom on her cheek. A pair
of dark eyes shone out under curling
lashes, and delicious little pout around
the corners of her mouth made her face
altogether bewitching.
"Well, you're so mighty pertickerler, "
responded her aunt, with a sigh, 1
shouldn't bit wonder if you lived sim
gle yet. A settled-down man like Ezekiel
Pritchard is worth dozen of your skit-
tish young fellers. He's been through
the mill, and knows how to treat wo-
man. He's considerate and thoughtful
about making work, and handy in case
of sickness. Then Mrs. Pritchard left
such a sight of nice things-croekery and
bedding and silyerware. l don't believe
she ever used them much, for she wasn't
no greet hand for company, and her
things were always KEEP as choice as gold:
guess anybody that steps in there will
find every thing to her hand"
81 don't want to marry Mrs. Pritch-
ards things" broke out Margaret, impa--
tiently. "If ever L do marry, l shall
look cut for a man, and not for old spoons
and feather beds. Ezekiel Pritchard would
look better to come courting in his every
day clothes, as l have seen him hun
dred times on top of load of hay, or