The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-10-14
THE WIDOWS sTRlTlG[m

with respect by all the inhabitants OF
the little village of Oldville, was ru.
mored to have, in Yankee parlaAce, q
pretty sharp lookout for the main
chance-a popularity from which Ell.
ders are not always exempt.
In worldly matters he was decidedly
well to do, having inherited a fine
farm from his father, which was grow
ing yearly more aud more valuable. /.
1t might be supposed that under
these circumstances the elder was fully
able to share house and name. But
the elder was wary. Matriinony was
to him in some measure, a matter Of
money, aud it was his firm resolve
not to marry unless he could thereby
enhance his worldly prosperity.
Unhappily, the little village of Old
vile and the towns in the immediate
vicinity contained few who were
qualified in the important particular,
and of these there were none with
whom the elders suit would have
prospered.
So it happened that year after year
passed away, until Elder Boyd was in
the prime of life, and still unmarried.
But in all human calculations of this
kind they reckon ill who leave widows
out. ....--..s
Elder Bsyd's nearest neighbor was
q widow.
The widow Hayes, who had passed
through matrimonial experience, was
some four years younger than Elder
Boyd. She was still a buxum comely
woman, as widows are apt to be.
Unfortunately the late Mr.. Hayes
had not been able to leave her suffi- :
cient to make her independent of the
world. All that she possessed was
the small, eld-fashioned house in
which she lived, and small amount
Of money which was insufficient 10
support her and little son of six like
wise to be enumerated in the schedule
Of her property, though hardly to be
classed as productive" of anything
but mischief.
The widow was therefore obliged
to take care of three boariers to
exc out her scanty income, which OF
course, imposed upon her considerable
labor and anxiety.
1t is surprising that under these
circumstances she should now and
then have bethought herself of Sec
ond marriage as a methsd of bettering
her condition.? Or again, need we
esteem it as a special wonder if in her
reflections upon this point she should
have cast her eyes upon her next neigh
Dor, Elder Boyd? The elder, as we
have already said, was in hourishing
circumstances. He would be able to
maintain q wife in great comfort, and
being one of the chief personages in
the village, could accord her a promi-
nent social position. He was not par
ticularly handsome, or calculated to
produce q profound impression upon
the female heart this was true, but he
was Of good disposition, kind-heart-
ed, and would no doubt make q very
good sort of husband. Widows are,
1 take it (if any shall do me the honor
to read this story, trust they will
forgive the remark), less disposed to
weigh sentiment in second alliance
than first, and so, in the widows
point of view, Elder Boyd was very
desirable match.
Some sagacious person, however,
has observed that it takes two to make
a match, fact to be seriously consid-
cred for, in the present case, it was
exceedingly doubtful whether the
worldly elder, even il he had known
the favorable opinion of his next
neighbor, would have been inclined to
propose changing her name to Boyd,
unless, indeed, suitable motive was
brought to bear upon him. Hero was
a chance for a little managing, where
in widows are said, as general thing
to be expert.
One evening, after day of fatigue
ing labor, Widow Hays sat at the fire
in the sitting room, with her feet rest
ing on the fender.
"If ever am situated 50 as not to
have to work SO hard" she murmured
"I shall be happy. It's hard life
keeping boarders. If was only Al
we'll off as Elder Boyd"
Still the widow kept up her think
ing, and by and by her face frightened
She had an idea, which she resolve,
to put into execution at the earliest
possible moment. What it was th
reader will discover in the SEQUEL.