The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-02-19
"No, to be relied on for honesty" said Mrs

"Marryingw
"Ycs sir; u wife can manage such things
so much better. Besides, If you choose a
smart. capable woman, she will keep an eye
on the servant. | would be much more econ
omicai to marry
Economical yelled Peter; my good la,
idy. fco--I--O, goodness! Feathers and
flowers laccs and silks, and ring and--and
ice cream and things economical! How many
Yards do you take for dress, ma'am
"Well, sir, twelve or ffteen-somctimcs
when its silk, you know, eighteen"
Eighteen yards, at five shillings or so a
ward, and not enc dress, but twenty. My good
lady, it would be enough 10 ruin man"
Mrs Brown reflected.
But if YOU could find IN economical wo.
man. Mr.. BuskIrk.'
"Ah,if could find mermaid
! "Onc who never wasted penny
"Shc does not exist ma'am."
! "Who lives on next to nothing The fact 10,
Mr.. Buskirk, have such lady in my eye.
| She's widow-quite young one-Nrs
Barlow aad III have her at Peach House
next week.
| Peter Buskirk grinncd sarcastically.
Economy in hoops and bonnets,' he said
10 himself. They wan. to marry me and
spend my money
And he went home wrOth.
However, economy forbade him to refuse an
invitation to dinner; and when, week after,
Mrs. Brown sent cher compliments" etc,
Mr. Buskirk donned his Sunday suit and went
over to Peach House nj five precisely. The
parlor was full of ladies; ladies in silks and
muslins, with crinolines and tounces. Most
of them Mr.. Buskirk knew we'll and he look.
ed about in vain for a stranger. Mrs. Browns
note had said:
"NIrs. Barlow will be with us
But which was the economical widow I?
Probably the lady in blue silk near the piano.
He could no, remember her face.
Suddenly Mr. Buskirk's doubts were set at
rest Mrs Brown calculated, Dear me! where
Is Cousin Betsy Mr.. Burskirk you must be
introduced to Mrs. Barlow" and at these
words something small and fiat emerged from
between two portly DANES, and stood before
him. 1t was a very short and slender little
woman, with a remarkably pretty face. She
wore no hoops, and her dress cleared her an.
kles. The sleeves were close, and the skirt
had perhaps three breadths in 1t. The dress
itself was OF very plain brown merino, and
she wore neither brooch or bow, only white
linen collar. Peter looked approval. Several
Of the ladies exchanged chances, and faint
cycle was heard; and, as though by common
consent, the two were left tctc-a.tetc in cor.
ncr.
pheasant day." said Peter, 10 commence
the conversations pleasant day, but cold"
"Ah, yes, but dislike cold weather. SAID
The lady.
Cant agree VITA you, ma'amE'
90, that's not 1t. | am never i'll, but cold
weather is SO expensive. Lights early aud
Goals dear" proceed the lady "Money slips
through ones fingers, and ! never waste
things"
MY case exactly" said Buskirk. "lt's as
tonishing how things cost. Now there is but
tcr--say pound fortnight"
80, never eat butter; it costs too much"
said the lady
"Ah, and sugar AMI tea aud coffee"
"If you indulge IN such luxuries, what can
you cxpcct?" said Mrs Barlow.
They are artificial wants altogether so
they are, said Mr.. Buskirk "But then hab-
| it is second nature"
"Extravagant habits ruin many, said Mrs.
Barlow. 80, shudder when look at those
flounces Such waste Of material
"I'vc often thought So" said Peter "And
you don't wear them"
~" said Mrs. Barlow 81 have my senses,
sir. I've no wish to die in a work house. I've
had this dress ten years.
"Indecdm said Peter. And suppose some
ladies bay one every month
Every ten days said Mrs. Barlow. 80, |
blush for my sex, Mr.. Buskirk, do, indeed
Peter was charmed. lie began to think
Mrs Brown right. The cost of such Il wife
would be mere trlfle, and what an eye she
would keep TO the expenses OF the household.
Ere the evening was over he had decided
that it would be cheaper to marry than TO re
main single, were Mrs. Barlow his helpmate.
"Shed not only be saving herself, but she
would check me in my little eXtravagarces,'
said he. She would be invaluable to me,
She wears one dress ten years. The fates
must have sent her to earth for my special
| benefit
SO, after due considerations Peter resolved
To court the economical widow, and, that la,
| DIV being conveniently domiclcd at Mrs
Browns, he found every opportunity.
1t was a very inexpensive courtshlp. lie
gave her not Il present She expected none.
| lie took her noNh here save to church, where
neither OF them ever saw the plate, and both
were happy
At last he proposed She bushcd and
hesitatcd, and begged time TO consider. AT
| last she said, IL am afraid to say yes, Mr..
Bsskirk. ike you; but you are So terribly
cxtravagant. You drink tea and coffee, and
cat butter and really should fear coming To
want should, indeed"
Il? Why, I'm the mos, economical soul
! living" said Peter.
"Exravagant people always think that"
said the lady. mo, I'm afraid to say yes, un-
| less, indeed, you were to make your property
over to me, so that | could be sure you would
not ruin yourself OF course it is impossible,
and it would be such II care that really
could scarcely desire il, even for gentleman
| so much respect
And the economical rilic. blushcd and hest.
tatcd
! II was Peters turn 10 pause and consider.
i He went away to do so, and, returning sud
denly To his house, found his house, his
serving maid selling dripping TO man. He
dismissed her at once, and rushed back to
/ the Widow Barlow's.
| My money would be safer in your hands
} than mine, he said, with a moan. Marry
5 me, and keep me from being ruined
! What the widows answer was may be
! Judged from the fact that three weeks from