Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-10-10

best. -
Then she looked in the glass again,
for the widow was but a women after
ALL
Mr. Patterson came to the widows
and obeyed the doctors prescription
carefully He eat bread and drank
milk, robbed the orchard like school
boy, and declaimed over the straw
berry short-cake after a fashion that
would have made his reputation at the
bar. Then, too, Mrs. Muntlc did not
smile at his aches and pains, and in
sist that he must be perpetually well
because he had a fresh complexion,
and dimples in his cheeks, She had
savory herb teas and tasty potions,
which she produced when he complain
ed of " feeling miserablc.' and she had
that blessing to hypochondriacs, Il ho-
mpopathic box and book in the house,
There were remedies in that box for
everything; anl it was pleasant to
find that when there was crawling
sensation in your flesh, Or Il kind ofun-
easy feeling in your legs, there were
dear little globuless to be had just
suited for the symptom; that
to find yourself very angry about moth
ing indicated pulsatila, and that even
for unrequitcd love there was medi-
cine.
For two months and more Mr.. Pat
terson boarded with Mrs Muntle and
happier months he had never lived
through. Then he went back to the
city for a few weeks; returned in ur-
gent need Of more milk, more fresh
air, and more pellets from the medi,
cine chest, and stayed until the last
pink chrysantheum was blooming on
its wilted branches. lie had grown
so fond of his little room, with its
white curtains and fresh grass bleach
ed linen, of the country good things,
and Of the cozy nursing Of buxom Mrs.
Muutle, that he could scarcely bear
the thought of parting with them al
together
After all, why could he not buy a
house and try to get Mrs Muntlc to
keep it for him? Perhaps she would.
He would offer her q high salary, and
she should have plenty of servants.
Then, indeed, he might have his friends
to dine with him, and be as happy as
possible.
If only he could approach the sub
jcct without offending his hostess;
showing her as he did so, that he con-
silered her his equal and 4 lady, and
all that, as she certainly was-a little
countriiied, Of course, but clergy
mans daughter and the widow of "a
country doctor.
After much consideration he finally
mustered courage for the effort, and
walking into the front parlor, sent the
the small servant to ask Mrs Muntlc
to stop there for a moment, if she
plsascd
"Gracious!" thought Mrs. Muntlc.
"What can he want?'
Then she bIushed brightly; settled
her nccktie, took off her apron, and
walked demurely in.
"Be seated, ma'am," said Mr.. Pat
terson. "Please to sit here. Allow
me to sit near you. have something
to say which may require some CON
sideration.'
go dear, its coming" said Mrs.
Muntle.
81 suppose you know that I'm Il
man of some little means, ma am, said
the old bachelor, cable to buy a nice
house, furnish it well and live in it
comfortably?"
$50 I've understood, Mr.. Patter-
son" said the willow.
"And of course it is pleasanter to
live that way than in bachelor lodg-
ings, or at a hotel" said Mr.. Patter-
son.
81 should Judge it might be-" said
Mrs Muntle cautiously.
You judge rightly" said Mr.. Pat
terson; "but you know a bachelor
must be in the hands of servants, if he
keeps house. A gentleman don't
want that he wants lady to sup
erintend things for him some one of
taste and refinement, and all that.
Common people don't understand his
feelings, and mercenary servants are
poor dependence"
81 know that said Mrs. Mntle.
"You are almost as much alone as
|, aren't you, Mrs. Muntle?' said Mr..
Patterson coaxingly.
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