Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-08-16
Farm and FzreS1de.
Uv.yTHOUT IVY COURTI.V'G.

Peter Patterson was ill-at least he
thought so, and depressed he had head
aches, and he hated the dusty streets, in
which the summer heat burnt and the sum-
mer sun shone before the green leaves had
draped the trees, and the squares of grass
and westeria vines and potted geraniums
which have come to be so blessedly popu-
lar in New York, lent its summers fresh
ness.
"Wbat shall do, doctor ?" ne said to the
white-headed old physician. "You say
nothing ails me, but can tell what my
feelings are better than you can. 1 know
shall be down with something soon. I
rode in car with half dozen dirty chill
dren the other day-going 10 the smallpox
hospital, 1 haven't a doubt-very red and
nasty looking all of en- and while was
buying something in store the other day,
Il horrible old woman begged of me be-
C ause her husband was bad with the ty-
phi old. No doubt I've caught both diseas-
es, and it's the complication that puzzles
you. Couldn't relish my coffee this morn
ing; left my milk toast untouched. Hate
ful life, that OF bachelor at hotel. Oh
dear me?"
"Why don't you marry then? ?" said the
doctor.
''They need so much courting," said Mr..
Patterson. "You spend six months or so,
at the least, dangling at woman's apron
strings. You must go to the theatres and
the opera if she's gay, and to church meet
ings if she's pious. At fifty man likes his
sli ppers and his dressing gown and his ca
sy chair of an evening. lift was Just step
ping over to tho cle' gyman's and getting
married, putting ring on her finger and
saying or nodding Yes two or three times,
why, | wouldn't mind it, you know"
"Ah, well, courtingi is the fun of it all, in
my opinion" said the old doctor; "but ev-
cry one TO his taste. And my advice to you
IL, go into the country"
''To another hotel and more mercenary
walters ?" said Mr.. Patterson.
"No," said the doctor, Ego to a nice pri-
vate house. know one-a motherly wild
ow lady, who cooks a dinner fit for a king.
River before the house, woods behind ii,
orchard to the left, kitchen garden to the
right; no fever and ague; no mosquitoes.
row, and I'll see If she'll take you"
Every WELL" said Mr.. Patterson, 81
think I'll try it,"
"And you must drink plenty of milk,
and eat plenty of nice homemade bread, :"
said the doctor.
'N.s," will said Patterson, ov enjoyed at
last hearing something that sounded like
prescription. "And would you advise
milk ?"
"Quarls of it every day" said the doe
tor.
"And If 1 should be very i'll, she'll nurse
me?"
"Splendidy," said the doctor, and went
his way.
Mr.. Patterson thought the matter over,
nd thought better of 1t every day; and
when the little note, informing him that
the widow would he willing to take him
in and do for him." reached him had his
trunk and port-manteau already packed
and was already to start that very AFTER
no on As for the widow, the doctor had
prepared her for her boarder's pecularities
thus:
"Nice fellow; solid; plenty of money
thinks himself i'll, but isn't; ought to be
married told him so, but he hates the idea
of counting; marry of-hand some day, no
doubt; 'Wil you have mer Yes Call
In clergyman over. Very peculiar old
bachelor; but then old bachelors are pc.
culiar generally"
The widow was what Yankees call al
amazing smart woman. She had married
at sixteen, and had never failed to have
her washing over when other people wer,
lust hanging out theirs. Her bread al
ways rose, her cake was always good, ant
her butter was always sweet. Al forty-fiv'
she had married off all her daughters, ant
was well to do, buxom and happy.
Her son and his wife boarded with her
and she added to her plentiful savings by
taking a summer boarder or two If they
happened to offer.
"Fily and bachelor" said Mrs. Nun
tie looking in the glass. swell, 1t seems I