The Huntington argus. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1872-1905, 1872-05-25
CHOOSING a WIFE.

see iathcT ahu the boys, and his sister, but
that lac especially wanted to ride old Bob
To the brook once more, and to milk Cher.
~ again, just 10 see how it tell 10 be far
msr bOy.
"John,' said the old lawyer, "be sure
ybu fix up a match with one ofthose coun.
try girls; no man is liz Tor anything until
lie Is well married, and you are now able.
with economy, TO support wife Mind you
get one of those country girls The paste
and powder people are Mt fit for young
man who wants young woman.
The next morning John had a letter
fEom his sister Part OF it ran thus
I've concluded, old fellow, that If You
don't marry, you'll dry up aud turn to
parchment ! M going to bring home the
smariest girl know Of course she don't
know what I'm up to, but you must pre-
pare to capitula;e'
In the old home they were looking for
tue son. The family proper consisted OF
the father, good Deacon Harlow, Johns
two brothers ten aud twelve years old, and
lluldah, the help" Tais last WAS the
daughter OF neighboring farmer. who was
a poor and helpless rheumatic, aud most
ot the daughter hard earnings went to
hel p out the scanty subsistence at home
Aunt Judith, the sister OF Johns mother.
"looked after the household affairs of her
brother in law, bv coming over once n week
and helping Huldah darn. and mend, and
make, and by giving Huldsh such advice
as her lnexper'ence was supposed TO require
Hut now Deacon Harlow daughter had
lett her husband to eat his turkey alone in
Boston and had brought her two children
to receive the paternal blessing Not that
Mrs Amanda Holmes had the paterna
blessing chiefly in view in her trip She
had brought with her IA very dear friend
Mics Janet Dunton, the accomplished
teacher in the Parnassus Female seminary
Why Miss Janet Duuton came to the coun.
try with her friend she could hardly have
told Not Il word had Mrs Holmes spo-
ken to her on the subject Of matrimonial
schemes She would have repealed any
insiuuation that she had ever dreamed that
marriage was desirable under any conceiv.
able circumstances She often declared.
senlmentally, that she was welded to her
books, and loved her leisure and was de-
termined 10 be an old maid. And all the
time this sincere, Christian girl was dying
- confer herself upon some worthy man Of
cOngeuial tastes; which means, in her case.
just what it did in john Harlow -some
one who could admire her attainments.
Mrs. Holmes and her friend had arrived
twenty four hours ahead of John, and the
daughter Of the house had already installed
herself as temporary mistress, by thought.
lessly upsetting, reversing, and turning in
side out all the good OF HuIdah's most cher
ished arrangements. All the plans Tor the
annual festival that wise and practical HUI
dah had entertained were vetoed. without
a thought that this young girl had been for
year and a half in actual authority in the
house, and might have some feeling Of
wrong IN having guest for week over
turn her plan Tor the next month. But
Mrs. Holmes was not one OF the kind to
think OF that. Huldah was hired and paid.
and she never dreamed that hired people
could have any interest in their work or
their home other than their pay and their
food But Huldah was patient, though she
confessed that she had feeling that she
had been rulely "tramped all over" |
suspect she had a cry nj the end Of the first
day. ] cannot affirm it, except from a gen.
cral knowledge Of woman
When John drove up in the buggy that
The boys had taken to the depot Tor him.
his first care was to shake hands with the
ieac on, who was glad TO see him, but could
not iorbear expressing a hope that he
would shave that hair of his upper lin "
John greeted his sister cordial! y. and was
presented to Miss DuRton Instead of sit
ting down, he pushed light into the kitchen.
where ilulIah, IN "a calico irocl, and n clean
white apron, was baking biscuits for tea
She had been a school mate of his. and he
took her hand cordially as she stood there
with the bright western sun half rlorifving
her head and face
Why Huldah, how you've grown" was
bic first word OF greeting lie mean. more
than lac SAID, for, though shcwi- not hand
some she had grown exceedingly cJmely A.
-hc developed into a woman
tuiisuiiei eyer said Amanda. as
she returned 20 the siding room
Tue next day the ladies coll get no
good out Of john Harlow. lie got np early
AMI miisci the COW lie cut wood and
carr.ei j, f'r llulllh u. rod. Old Boil To
tIe brook OF water lie did cvsrythin, he
had been accustomed % Do when iov
hndug as much pleasure loo ior-ettin. that
he was a man, rs hc once found in hopinr
10 bc % man. The two boys cnjoved bis
society greatly, and his father was delight
ed io see that he retained his interest Ina
INr", Ilr John was not insensib'e 20 ia.
hst bHnlon charms. She could talk flu
''l'F A''nt an authors most in vogue and
the elect of her HIcucy was really d1zlin j,
o. 90 man john WIS infatuated ,ifb tL-
li'' OF marrying % wife Of such attain
ment- How shc would dazzle hi. friend. a
- 'H ihe governor would D. Ite f0fqik d, her
10" -1e would shine BOO bis par.,rs' Hos
She "oHlt aisusut people AZ She gave Them
ga and taIkei 900 the same tmef John vas
i1 love "itu her rs be would have b,,u H.,
i'Ve win % tea-urn 0r rare book Dpring
O.. week Doe walked and rode boz tbs SLEIGH
Wifu Miss Uuutpr. and mad. t,, a.: .