The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-10-07
Five and o Half-Patched.

least that's what my nleces-pretty,s ,saucy
clever lovablc grls-cal me and nc
doubt they're right, though I can't go sc
far as to agree with them when they de-
clare that man owning 10 five and forty
years and dozen white hairs is decided
ly venerable and fearfuly gray.
However, an old bachelor am dubbed
and must confess, if to acquire tha,
distinction one is obliged to enjoy life tc
the utmost, as do and be made much
Of by lovely women and charming maid
ems, as | am, have no serious objection
to the title.
In the first pacermy home is home
in every sense Of the word, although
without mother, or even q mothor.in.
law.
| occupy, and have occupied for the
past year, suite of remarkably pleasan,
rooms, the front windows looking on a
city park, and the back on a garden made
delightful by two fine old peach trees, a
heavy grapevine, and a sweet.smelling
wistaria. The latter has climbed to my
windows, and twining in and out of the
Stats of the shutters, effeclually prevents
my closing them, but gives me in recon.
pense great fragrant bunehes of flowers.
Three cheerful rooms are part and par.
Gel of Mrs. Midget's boarding house. No
| am wrong. Mrs. Midget MIR. Midget
was lost at sea five years ago-does not
keep boarding house, but takes few
select boarders, Of whom she is pleased to
intimate she considers me the seloctest.
Wonderfully comfortable the few Sc
lect find it in Mrs. Midgct's shady, old
fashioned neatly kept, three story brick
house.
Everything like wax, my elder sister
says when she comes 10 visit me here,
which is about once in four wecks-a
day or two after my magazines have ar.
rived.
"And the landlady," invariably reply,
"isn't she awful cunning $50 demuro in
her ways and speech for such wee thing,
and so pretty, with her bright blue eyes
and yellow hair :"
But Maria, can't divine why, pre-.
tends not to hear me, or else repeats with
scorniul emphasis, awful cunning -
The fact is, I'm SO much among my
kinswomen that | often find myself, when
| wish to be particularly emphatic, Dor.
rowing their queer adjectives and pecu.
liur forms Of expression.
"lndced, uncle" said Charley to me
the other day-named for me, Charlotte
(Charles, 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 ct all insulted /; for if all girl,
talk as we'll as my nieces, consider
Charloy's remark rather compliment
than otherwise.
Mrs. Midget knows how to furnish q
table too all sorts Of little delicaces and
unexpected tidbits, stews and hashe!
above reproach, bread and pies marvel.
of culinary skill, and tea and coffee vel
really coffee aud tea.
AS for Mrs Midget herself she is such Q
tot Of woman that feel like laughing
outright every time | look at her perchec
on pile of music books placed ON chail
the chair itself taller than any of thu
few selects--at the head of the dining ta
Bile. Indeed, only the other day wher
she asked, in solemn manner, fixing hel
blue eyes on my face, and lifting larg'
soup ladlo in her mite of hand, if
would have some soup, did burst ou
laughing, she looked so very like littl,
girl playing dinner with her mother
dinner.set.
The miniature woman laid down III,
ladle and looked at me in surprise.
"Mrs. Midget, beg your pardon,
said Il suddenly thought Of a man
saw in circus"
"Oh!" said Mrs. Midget, and returned
to the soup.
I'm romantic old fellow-there, Vol
see how naturally l fall into my nieces
way-love, poetry, music, flowers-( Mrs
Midget always has posy ready for m
in summer time, which she pins into m,
button. hole with her own fair hands
and assure you it's not at all unplcas
ant to have her standing OF the tips 0
her toes to reach it with her small roun,
head just touching my chin), and the lai
sex.
| Yes, old bachelor as | am, | love, an,
always have loved the fair sex; and
really think it is because l love them S
well / still remain unmarried. neve
could mako up my mind that one Of Al
those admired was prettier, brighter
and sweeter than the others, and as
wanted the sweetest. prettiest, and bright
est, have been in dilemma oil my lif,
But Iyo always meant to. and my il