Connecticut western news., 1874-02-20

guess, and take single woman. But won't hev a young, skittish one, to be rampaging about while I'm out O the way. There's Miss Charity Hobson. She's a good manager, and guess she'll do bout as we'll as any.
 He had turned in the direction of Miss Charity's house, when he remem- bered Mrs. Fuller's hint about his clothes. So he went home, put on 8 gor- geous lowered vest-kept for State oc- casions-rubbed handful of hogs lard into his hair, anointed his boots with the same, and set forth with renewed vigor on his wife-hunting ex- petition.
 Miss Charity looked up grimly as he entered her neat kitchen, and placing a chair for him, herself took another at tho opposite side of the room.
 "You're lookin' uncommon we'll, Miss Hobson," said the Captain, plant ing his hands on his knees, and gazing at her with what he meant to be most amiable smile-mindful, from his late experience, that it might be necessary to do little in the counting line before popping the question.
 "I'm pretty we'll, I thank you," re- sponded the lady dryly.
 "And monstrous snug and comfort able lookin'," resumed the suitor, glancing round. 'But aint you a little lonesome at times p
 "Not I !! I've got dog and two cats them as you see there; and mean to hev mockin' bird as soon's Jabez Long can git one for me. So I've got no reas- ons to be lonesome"
 "But cats and dogs ain't human crit ters, Miss Hobson," said Captain Til Ter, insinuatingly.
 II reckon I don't need to be told that, Captain. They ain't human creeters, but somethin' better, if any thing"
 Not equal to husband, maybe, Miss Hobson-or babby-"
 "A what p shrieked Miss Charity, fiercely, glaring over her spectacles.
 "Ob, nothin' particular. Only I'd think it would be melancholy thing for woman to be all alone with lot O cats and dogs, as she's gettin' on into the downhill O life, and"-he remem- bered Mrs. Tyron's expression-"a and the valley O the shadder. Cats and dogs cant lick away the wrinkles from her face, nor bring down her gray hairs with-pleasure to the grave"
 "Capt'n Tiller," said Miss Hobson, laying down. on her lap the stocking she was knitting, and looking at him, with 8 flush on her sallow check "Capt'n Filler, I'd like to know, once for all, what you mean P
 He saw at once that she was angry. He didn't know why-but he felt it in cumbent on him to soothe and please her. So he drew his chair across the floor, and sat down close beside her.
 Come, now, let's you and me have @ friendly understandin' together, said he, leering coaxingly into her face. "l'm sure I've got none but the softest kind O feelings to'ard you, and l don't see why you shouldn't recipercate. ". And, to add point to his words, he put his left arm across the back of her touched her delicately and:playfully in the ribs.
 Miss Charity Hobson bounced from her seatas if bomb-shell had exploded beneath it.
 "Git out O this house," she shrieked. "I'll let you know how to come round, sassing lone woman. and in her own house, too Here, Binker at him Ketch him ]" and with Blinker at his heels, and Miss Hobson following HI HAS WdACs buO minded Captain Filler made his exit from the house which he had entered with such amiable intentions.
 wasn't such an easy thing, after all, to get wife, and he felt for the present completely discouraged from any fur ther attempt ill that line. Moodily he sat down on the bottom of tub-he rarely took chair unless compelled and he unused upon his adverse fate. He felt humbled and forlorn.
 "Please, sir, missis have sent you some supper" whined @ very small voice behind him: and the Captain, turning, beheld Miss Hester Bittings' small servant, bearing in her arms very large tea-tray, laden with good things. There was pitcher of steam ing coffee, plate of hot, buttered cakes, nice steak, with onions, and other good things, all done to the point of perfection. Poor Captain TillGr's heart warmed at the sight, even in the midst of his astonishment.
 You don't mean to say," he re- marked to the very small servant "you don't mean to say that she-that Miss Hester Fittings sent me these 'ere fxins?"
 "Yes, sir, she did, sir,' responded the diminutive handmaiden, eagerly. "She said she couldn't abide to see even dog hvin' in such way and eat ing sich victuals."
 The Captain wasn't offended. He felt too much subdued for that now; and, besides, the sight of that supper tray would have overcome any feeling of rising wrath in his bosom. He was even sensible of glow of gratitude, and, under the influence of this emo- tion, he took down from the mantel- shelf stuffed green parrot, glued to & sea-shell, ard thrust it into the hands of the small maiden.
 "There, my little gal," he said, "there's something for your trouble :; and say to your missis, I'm highly obleeged for her kindness.
 He emptied the contents of the plates and dishes into crockery of his own, and, without thinking of washing the former, sent them back to their owner, together with the small model of a fishing-smack, wrought by himself in his hours of leisure while on shore. Miss Hester laughed when she beheld these things.
 Poor man," she said, Che hasn't got a bad heart, after all and it would be pity to let him starve."
 So. next day, she sent him daintily- cooked dinner.
 Miss Hesper," said Captain Filler that afternoon, rather shyly, addressing her as she sat at her window sewing, "wouldn't you like to hev your fence palings fixed up bit? see they're broke through"
 "Why, it would be convenience to have them palings mended," she ad- mitted.
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