The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-01-13
LITERARY
FIVE AND A HALF.

gray"
However, an old bachelor am dubbed,
and must confess, tito acquire that dis
tinction one is obliged to enjoy life to the
utmost, as do, and be made much of by
lovely women and charming maidens, as
am, have no serious objection to the title.
In the first place, my home is a home in
every sense of the word, although without
a mother, OF even o mother-in law.
occupy, and have occupied for the past
year, suite Of markably pleasant rooms.
the front windows looking on city park,
and the back on garden made delightful
by two fine old peach-trees, heavy grape
vine, and sweet smelling wistarls. The
latter has climbed to my windows, and twin
ing in and out of Stats of the shutters, eff
fectually prevent my closing them, out gives
me in recompense great fragrant punches Of
purple flowers.
These cheerful rooms are part and parcel
of Mrs. Mldget's boarding house. No, am
wrong Mrs. Midget-Mr. Midget was lost
at sea five years ago-does no. keep board
of whom she is pleased to intimate she con-
siders me the selectest.
Wonderfully comfortable the ''few select"
find it in Mrs. Midget's shady, old-fashion-
ed, neatly kept, three story brick house.
"Everything like wax, my eldest sister
says when she comes to visit me, which is
about once in four weeks-a day or two af-
ter my magazines have arrived.
"And the landlady,"I Invariably reply,
'.isn't she always cunning?-so demure in
her ways and speech for such a wee thing,
and so pretty, with her bright blue eyes
and yellow hair!'
But Maria, l can't divine why, pretends
not to hear me, or else repeats, with scorn-
full emphasis, "Awful cunning!"
The fact is, I'm SO much among my kins-
women that l often find myself, when I wi. h
to be particularly emphatic. borrowing their
queer adjectives and peculier forms express
ion.
Indeed, uncle" said Charley to me the
other day-name for me, Charlett (Chartes,
as near as they could get at it)-"you're
beginning to talk like a girl-and at your
time Of life too. And didn't feel at all
insulted; for if all girls talk as we'll as my
nieces, consider Charley's remark rather
q compliment than otherwise.
Mrs. Midget knows how to furnish a ia
BILE, too: all sorts of little delicacies and un-
expected tit bits, s;ews and hashes b)ve
reproach, bread and pies marvels OF cult
nary skill, and tea and coffee-wcll, really
coffee and tea.
AS for Mrs. Midget herself, she's such
tot Of woman that l feel like laughing
outright every time look at her, pcrched
on pile Of music-book placed on chair
the chair itself taller than any of the
.'few selects"-at the head of the dining
table. Indeed, only the other day, when
she asked, in o solemn manner, fixing her
blue eyes on my face, and lifting large soup
idle in her mite Of hand, if would have
some soup, did burst out laughing, she
looked so very like little girl playing din
ner with her mothers dinner-set.
The miniature woman laid down the ladle
and gazed at me in surprise
Mrs. Midget, beg yeur pardon" said
l; 81 suddenly thought of man I saw at
the circus"
"Oh" said Mrs Mil. and returned to
the soup.
I'm romatic old fellow-there, you see
how naturally l fall in my nieces way
love poetry, music, flowers Mrs. Midget
always has posy ready for me in summer.
time, which she pins into my button hole
with her own fair hands: and assure you
its not at all unpleasant to have her stand
ing on the tip of her toes to reach It, with
her small round head just touching my
CHIN, and the fair sex.
..Yes, old bachelor as | am, love, and
always have loved. the fair sex; and real
~ think it is because love them SO we'll
still remain unmarried. never could
make up my mind that one Of all these ad-
mired was prettier, brighter snd sweeter
than the others. and as wanted the sweet
est prettiest. aud brightest, have been in
dilemma all my life. But Eve always
meant to. and my intention is stronger than
ever since the day picked up the little
patched glove in Broadway in front of
Stewards.
feel convinced that the owner of that
heart. Silly Not bit of it. No single
man could help wearing glove like that
near his heart.
Five and . half, . pretty mouse color,
every finger well filed out, scarcely q crease
in them--she must be plump: q faint smell
of rose las = general thing. with the exccp-
ton of honest Cologne, deteste PERFUMES.
but if l can endure any. it is rose. calling
to mind, as it does. bees. bu;terfys. flowers,
and all that sort Of thingl, and the cum
ningest patch in the palm Of the hand.
Now I'd never see patch in glove be-
fore, so it struck me as something odd. and
examined it critically. The manner in
which that patch vas sewed in told me the
wearer OF the glove was neat and meshodi-
cal: the fine silken stitches used in sewing
that patch in. that she was dainty: the fac,
that the color Of the patch exactly matched
that Of the glove. that she was constant, true
to one shade.
Then imagined her personal appear
ance. Soft brown eyes. chestnut hair
slight but plump fingers. feet to correspond
with her Enthusiastically graceful and al
| together very attractive.
I'm wager she sings, plays and dances
well" said TO myself. in conclusion: i.
not rich. or she would not patch her glove
| or poor, or she would not wear kids.
| must find her
| All very well to say. but how to hnd her.
A personal. :. If il met her soft brown eyes
would frighten 80 modest little creature
andsAe would Be likely 10 hide herself in
stead 81 allowing herself % - found.