The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-06
TAKEN IN,

Peter Buskirk was very fond of mon
ey; not so fond that he quite starved him
self to keep it, or hide it up chimney,
or refused himself fire, or lights, or pil
| low. but vet so very fond of it as to be on
the verge of miserhood without having
quito fallen over. Beggars reaped no
harvest from his purse or kitchen, and
match-makers could make no impression
on his bachelor heart. Peter Buskirk
saw through the latter Us well rs the for
mer, and buttoned up his pockets as has
TIL in the presence of bowltchlnS crlno-
line rs in that OF Il seedy gentleman with
II folded document in his brcast-pocket.
The men wanted TO rob him. the women
TO marry him. The last was the worse.
Not that Peter hated the women; on the
contrary even at fifty he was remarkably
| susceptible; bright eye put him IN Il
! flutter. But the fact was, women rs wives
or daughters, were expensive. They
were proverbially eXtravagant, Should
he marry one she would spend his money
while he lived and squander it after he
was dead. And, with this awful terror
before him, Peter steered clear OF the
shoals of matrimony.
There was one Inconvenience in this
bachelorhood, however. This was the
housekeeping; for it involved servant
-some one TO make beds, wash dishes,
cook and iron. In short, the servant OF
all work was always the bane Peters life
eating and drinking in manner which
kept the master of the house IN contin-
uai ferment; wasting butter and fuel and
each change IN the kitchen ancumbranco
being followed by the mysterious disap-
pearance Of towels and napkins and such
small ware. There was no rest for poor
Mr.. Buskirk. He tried Betty and Dinah
and Mary and Ann, in despair, flew to Il
curtain Mrs. Brown, the giver OF tea par
ties innumcrably, for advice.
Servants are sad plaques she SAID.
Eat YOU out of house and home, said
Peter.
"Not to be relied OH for honesty said
Mrs Brown.
"Thievcs, maam, thieves" said Peter
"a said Mrs. Brown, ~ gentleman
has no time to watch them. Now !
should advise marrying, Mr.. Buskrik.
"Marrying"
YES, sir; wife can manage Such
things so much better. Besides, II you
choose smart, capable woman, she Will
keep an eye on the servant. 1t would be
much more economical to marry
Economical" yelled Peter; my good
lady! Eco-I-O, goodness! Feather,
and flowers, laces and silk and rings, and
ice cream and things-economicsl How
many yards do you take for dress
ma amp
swell. sir, twelve or fifteen some
times. when it silk, you know, eighteen.
Eighteen yards, at five shillinSs or SC
ward, and not one dress, but twenty
Ny good lady, it would be enough to run
| a man"
Mrs. Brown reflected.
"Bu, if YOU could find an economics
woman, Mr. Buskirk.' 49,.
! .Ah! If could find mermaid
Zone who never wasted q penny!
( "She does not exist, mama.
"Who lives on next TO nothing. Ih'
/ fact is. Mr.. Buskirk, | have such y lady
/ in nv eve. She's widow-qulte youns
ore-Mrs. Barlow, and III have her a
/ Peach House next week
| Peter grInned sarcsstlca!ly.
Economy in hoops and bonnets,' h
said to himself. They want to MARI!
me and spend my money
And he went home wroth.
However. economy forbade him 10 re
fuse An invitation to dinner; and when !
week after Mrs. Brown sent "hcr compll
ments," etc. Mr. Buskirk Gonned hl
SUNDAY suit and went over to the Peacl
House at five precisely. The par!or wa:
full of ladies, ladies IN silks and muSilns
with crinolincs and hounces. Most o
them. Mr.. Buskirk knew well, and h
looked around in vain for stranger, Mrs
Browns note had said
Mrs. Barlow will he with US W
But which was that economical widow
Probably the lady in green silk near tn
piano. He could not remember her lace
Suddenly Mr.. BuskIrk's doubts wer'
set to rest. Mrs. Brown calculated
Dear me- Where is Cousin Betsey =
Mr.. Busklrk, you must be introduced t
Mrs. Barlow" and at these words some
thing small and fat emerged from be
tween two por,ly danes aud stood betor
him. Ii was very short and siende
little woman, with remarkably prett.
face. She wore no hoops, and her dres
cleared her ankles. The sleeves wer
close, and the skirt had perhaps tire
breadths in il. The dress itself was
very plain brown merino, and she woT
neither brouche nor bow.-only whit
linen collar. Peter looked approval
Several of the ladies exchanged glance'
a faint giggle WAS heard; and, as II b.
common consent. the two were left tete
a-tete in corner.
pheasant day" said Peter to com
mence the conversation. pheasant day
but cold.'
-'Ah yes; but dislike cold weather,
said the lady.
Don't agree with you ma'ma.'