The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-12-17
oUTwITTING A BACHELOR.
ut MRS. FLORA A. HALLr.

| hold on to our heads, lest we lose them, as
we seemed to be losing everything else.
There were masons and carpenters down.
stairs, and upstairs were paper-hangers
and painters, while Bridget and her as
sistants were present here and there, and
everywhere.
remember had on faded calico and a
huge gingham apron, and, with a cloth in
my hand, was engaged in the laudable pur-
suit of rubbing window clean, when saw
John coming up the street with my brother.
Nothing very serious in that, hear some
one say.
Well, perhaps not, to you; but my BROTH
er was the most fastidious of mortals, and
abborred house-cleaning above all things
else. He kept his suite of rooms in GER
tain hotel in a city East, and, when it be-
came an absolute necessity that they should
be cleaned, he packed his valise and took a
| little pleasure-trip, coming back in time to
find everything the perfection Of good order
and neatness.
But he was handsome, broad-shoul-
dered fellow, cheerful and good natured,
and was proud of him-as / well could be
and mourned very much because he was
so welded to his bachelors life.
| You see, John and were very happy to-
gether, and my pet dream had been that
brother Will would see me, and envy us
enough to go and do likewise but he hadn't
quite gotten over his idea that wives and
house-cleaning invariably go together and
this visit--in the muss that we were now
would effectually put an end to all dream
ing, and strengthen his prejudice tenfold
Nevertheless, tried to sec only the best
side of the matter, and gave him true
sisterly hugging, that he returned with in
terest, and for a minute or SO, in our delight
at seeing each other, doubt if he noticed
the carpetless floor, the cheerless wallis or
the board that held mortar, and the sha-
wings and tools that always accompany
carpenter. taa4
Not five minutes after however, while l
was reading letter John had brought me
from one of my school girl friends-I hadn't
been married long enough to have forgotten
them--I heard Will say, in that positive
manner of his:-
"It is all very well, John, for you to
talk, now that you are married and can't
help yourself but, as for me, would be
strung up, head downwards, and fed on
bread and water, before would marry the
best woman that ever wore petticoats."
ait would make difference if she wore
pants, suppose
"Your letter can't be very interesting,
my lady, or you would not find time to in
terrupt u.s." he returned loftily, Gas
was saying, John, if 1 really could make up
my mind to marry any one, it would cer-
tainly be the inevitable Bridget, who could
do her own work, attend to her house
cleaning without any of my assistance, and
never question my doings OF my goings, let
them be what or where they would"
eve can't forget, brother Will, that
you do not speak from experience. Look
out that we don't cry 'sour grapes, with
some reason" said John, with laugh.
"Sour grapes, indeed Well, say as
you please, my shoulders are broad enough
to bear it but truth, you as well as l know
that there is not one household out of a
hundred but what have their skeleton hid
away--in the form of trouble-that the
world wots not Of"
Possibly; but Lizzie and / haven't
found our skeleton yet"
"Only two years married Wait until
you can talk of ten or fifteen, and then see
if you can't find skeleton to disturb the
quiet OF your conjugal felicity"
(" You are skeptic, brother, and don't
deserve wife, anyway. / prophesy for
you long walk through the swamp, and a
crooked stick after ALL"
He laughed merrily, as started OFF to
see if at least one room could not be made
comfortable for his lordship.
After tea, which was served in tolerable
good order, considering the general state
of things, and John and Will had gone
down street, as men always will of an eve
ming, fell to cogitating on very per-
picking subject. WIS
My letter that afternoon announced the
coming Of my intimate friend, Jenny Jani-
son and, anxious as had always been to
have her visit me, and especially to meet
my brother, was in dismay at the thought
Of her coming now but moment later
concluded that it would be wiser to accept
the inevitable with asmuchl grace as pos
sible.
There was a SIGH or two smothered. for.