Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-02-02
Geleltr0 nlisfeIIanp.
The Bachelors Wooing.
by MATTE DYER nRITs.

Bascom Brown was respectable old bache
Tor Whethera bachelor, from choice or ne
cessity, history saye,h not but il is a fact tha
Baseom Brown continued from boyhood mi;
he was fair, fat, and fifty,'' in state of sin
gle blesscdness, or wretchedness, just as yo
choose.
And he might have continued so forever ha
not fate, in the shape Of II comedy little widow
overiaken him. This little widow was Nh
Browns landlady, and her name was Mrs
Briggs. ! do not suppose Mr.. Brown had eve
read the famous bit of advice given to the re
doubted Samyel by the elder Weller 'Sami
vel, Samivel, beware Of the vidders
Bascoin Brown had boarded vi it'll Mrs Brqg
Tor something like five years, AMI in all tina
time not word of what had been said res
peeting the horrors of boarding. house wo1lG
apply TO the honelke establishment presided
over by cozy, comedy Mrs. Briggs Her house
hold appointments were OF the neatest, her
table the most abundant, and her boarders the
most respectable people one could wish to
know.
Mr., Brown, by virtue Of being the eldest
boarder, and having been longest in the house
was the privileged character and main standby
of the little widows family lie had the pleas
antest room, the best seat at the table or by
the parlor tireside, and all his little personal
tastes and comforts were looked after BY Mrs
Briggs with the utmost exnctness
No doubt it WIS this fact which prevented
in II great degree his feeling any need of a
home OF his own aud somebody 10 look after
him, and consPred to keep him bachelor
His habits were regular as clock work his
wants moderate. and readily gratifed. What
more could man desire?
But not always was lie permitted 10 pursue
the even tenor Of his way "a change came
DER the spirit Of his dream, or rather a
han al
which banished his dreams entirely, and dis
turbed his virtuous slumbers beyond the pow
or even OF a patient man to endure in silence
Mrs. Briggs admitted IL new boarder r.
W orse than that, she put him in the very next
room to Mr.. Brown; and, worse of all, the
Young man was musical and had a violin.
Now, am aware that this fact will tell
against my hero, nevertheless, | must write it
Mr.. Brown was not musical
Good music, If il were the best, he could
endure; bad music was simply torture to him.
And this young mans music was the very
worst for which reason, perhaps he inflicted
1t on his suffering ncighbor at the most I'M
seasonable hours
90 to bed when he would that violin was
poor Brown s accompaniment Get up early /
Or late, it was still the same and If he dropped /
1own Tor an after-dinner nap his dreams were |
'ufblessly scattered by the terrible toot, toot,
'1uC"hI eiHtdh; VI ludt UOTTlDle U01ie. every /
passage winding up with az excruciating yell
which would have been creditable to the uni
ed chorus ofall the cats in The ueighborbood
Human flesh and blood and nerves could not
ndnre forever Mr.. Brown concluded at last
hat one Of two things must be--eithcr that
obnoxious young man and bis fiddle must find
mother place or he must. And at length, in
Jew of his long standing in the house he re-
olved 10 ask Mrs. Briggs to dismiss the new
'oarder, and allow him to remain 10 peace
This, however, WAS a delicate undertaking.
here was nothing in the world against the
oung man hut his music, and though Mr..
'rown decided there conld not well be ANY,
hing worse, Ire knew Mrs Briggs tender
cart would shrink from issuing an edict
gainst him. His own peace of mind and re-
ose Of body depended upon the departure Of
hat unfortunate young man so, one after
Don, summing up all his resolution, Bascom
'rown took himself and his mission to the
DOR Of the little widows coy sitting-room
nd knocked for admission
A CHEEKY come i'm babe him enter and in
moment more he was socially seated ia a
hair comfortably near Mrs. Briggs, much
lated 10 find her alone and ready to listen.
81 hope you are well to-day" observed the
lump iiiile matron, with thoughtful care ,
,r his welfare.
'Yes--ah--quite well; but somewhat-ah ,
anxious over little matter, Mrs Briggs" !.
Indeed Is there anything can do for
on %
''AIy dear Mrs. Briggs, you are the only one 6
no can do anything for me ~ exclaimed 3
n. Brown, warmly. =