The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-08-10
THE WIDOW BARLOW.

Feter BusklrK was very fond Of money.
not so fond that he quite starved himself
to keep it, or hid it upthe chimney, or refus-
ed himself fire or lights or pillow; but vet
so very fond Of it as to be on the very VERGE
of miserhood without having quite fallen
over.
Beggars reaped no harvest from his purse
or Kilhen and match-maKers could make
no impression on his bachelor heart. Pc.
ter BusKirK saw through the latter as we'll
as the former, and buttoned up his pockets
as hastily in the presence of bewitchiug
crinoline as in that of the seedy gentleman
with faded document in his breast-pocket.
The men wanted to rob him, the women
marry him. The last was the worst. Not
that Peter hated women; on the contrary,
even at fifty he was remarkably susceptible:
bright eye put him in futter. But the
fact was, women, as wives or daughters,
were expensive. They needed clothes and
were fond OF dainties. They were proven
bially 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 matri,
mony.
There was one inconvenience in this
bachelorhood, however. That 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 of Peter Seating and
drinking in a manner which kept the mas
ter of the house in o continual ferment.
wasting butter and fuel, and each change
in the Kitchens encumbrance being follow
cd by the mysterious disappearance of tow
els aud napkins and such small wear
There was no rest for good Mr. BusKirK.
He tried Bette and Dinah and Mary and
Ann, and then, in despair, flew to certain
Mrs. Brown, the giver of tea parties innum-
cradle, TO ask advice.
Servants are sad plaques" she said.
''Eat you out Of house and home" said
Peter.
''Not to be relied on for honesty" said
Mrs. Brown.
Thieves, ma am; thievesu said Peter.
"Ah, said Mrs. Brown, "a gentleman
has no time to watch them. Now, | should
adcse marrying, Mr.. BusKirK.''
"Marryig.'
''les; sir: a wife can manage such things
so much better Besides, ifyou choose a
smart, capable woman, she will keep an eve
on the servant. 1t would be much mo re
economical to marry"
Economical" yelled Peter, ..my good
lady. Oh-I-oh, goodness. Feathers
and flowers, laces and silks, and rings and
and ice-c-eam and things-economical !.
How many yards do you take for dress,
maam.H
Well, sir, twelve or ffteen-some,ime
han = 81 -,
Eighteen yards. at FIVE shillings or so a
yard, and not one dress, but twenty. My
good lady it would be enough to ruin q
mani"
Mrs. Brown reflected.
but if you could find an economical
woman, Mr. Buskiik
"Ah! if could find a mermaid"
Lone who never wasted penny
..She does not exist, ma am"
s.Who lives on next to nothing. The
fact is, Mr.. Buskirk. have such lady in
my eye. She's widow-quite young
one-Mrs. Barlow, and Ill have her at
Peach House next week.
Peter Buskirk grinned sarcastically.
Economy in hoops and bonnets," he
said TO himself They want 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 ..her compliments
&C.. Mr.. Buskirk donned his Sunday suit
and went over to Peach House st : pre-
cisely. The parlor was full Of ladies, in
silks and muslins, with crinoline and
hounces. Most of them Mr. Buskirk knew
well. aad he looked about in vain for =
stranger. Mr.. Browns note had said:
''Mrs. Barlow viii be with US"
But which was that economical widow.
Probably the lady in green silk near the
piano He could not remember her face
Suddenly Mr.. Buskirk's doubts were set
At rest Mrs Brown calculated: s.Dear
me, where is cousin Betsy. Mr.. Buskirk
you mrst Be introduced to Mrs. Barlow -
and ~ these words something small and
dat emerged from between two portly danes