The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-12-27

room, put on her neat, old-fashioned bon
net. and going down stairs, fastened her
house door from the outside, and was on
the pavement. when up came the servant
from the bakers.
What's the matter with your" said
the widow.
40. mem! he's took so bad that he
can't speak, and he is calling for you all
the time"
40, know what is the matter with
him. Come inside, Jane, and I'll send
him something to cure him"
Then Jane went inside, and the little
woman mixed tumblerful of certain
compound.
give cucumbers," she said; "and
the doctor only had two. Consequently
he'll need as much again and half, and
a little more pepper" She had quite
head for reckoning, | assure you. She
gave the glass to the girl, and went out
again and fastened the door. 81 hope it
won't hurt him." said the widow.
Next day the shop was not opened.
The doctor tried the door, and found it
closed. The baker, rather shaken, came
up and looked in in establishment. The
bachelor peered from his window and
wondered. But for all that, the little
shop was closed; and closed it remained
all that day and night. The doctor was
for breaking in the door, to see if she
was inside, i'll or-dead. The baker. sec
onded the motion, as night approached.
But Just at that moment the bachelor
came over.
MAYBE she's gone away to visit" said
he.
"Yes!-on some errand of mercy"
chimed in the doctor. 4" She is capital
nurse, that / can testify to-"
/" So can ~ said the baker, obviously.
"She never nursed y0u, sirl'' said the
doctor.
"Neither did she your said the baker.
"Sirw exclaimed the doctor, looking
like thunder.
"Sirw exclaimed the baker, looking
as much like thunder as a baker can look.
Il would have you know, sir" said
the doctor, " that l am superior to any
insult which a doughkneeder may offer
me-"
"Ana to any foolishness on the part
of sawbones."
"Now, look here" said the bachelor.
" / was sick and she gave me the same
kind of medicine she gave the doctor"
"She sent me the same," said the
baker
"She came into my house and held
my head while 1 took it," said the doc
tor. He was triumphant.
Then, after much haggling and quarrel
ing, they look at the house again; and
agreeing that she would certainly return
by tomorrow, they took their ways to
their respective homes.
And behold! tomorrow the good little
shop was opened, and the same array Of
goods met the gaze of the passer-by. The
little woman was seen up stairs busting
the shutters. She nodded to the milk
man and to the iceman as usual; and at
last the bachelor saw her, and over he
went, and met the doctor stepping off his
doorstep.
care you going in, sir?" asked the
EYES," said the bachelor.
"Do you snuff ?'
No, go for collars"
"Then We'll go together" And to-
gether they went in. A TALL sun-burn-
ed man was there-elderly, but big and
brawny.
The doctor spoke up, though he was a
little shaken.
W-I-that is-we should like to see
the Widow Thorn, sir"
"There amt sich a person." said the
man, grinning "She's gone-vamosed
-pegged out"
"He is drunk" whispered the bache-
lor. 81 saw her myself, before | came
in, up stairs"
What's that you Observed" said the
stranger.
"Sir, we want the Widow Thornw
boldly exclaimed the doctor.
" And you may keep on wanting that
old lady, gentlemen; but she won't come
for wanting"
Then the pleasant voice of the little
woman sounded from the next room:
"Now, Charley, do just behave your
SELF" And then she was before them,
neater than ever before.
go! Widow, good morning. said the
doctor.
"No more a widow than I am, chimed
in the stranger, laughing.
"Now, Charley, do behave" said the
little woman; "and, gentlemen" turn
ing to the doctor and the bachelor, "let
me introduce Mr.. Charley, my hus-
bandn
"Your husband?" they both cried.
Yes, gentlemen, We've been going
to be married foryears and years, but he
vowed he'd never marry me till he'd
been successful in the mines; and he has
been now. We were married yesterday
in Boston. / wrote him letter tell
ing him I'd meet him there-and
here we arel But we'll sell out this
little place as soon as we find a customer"
Without word the doctor grabbed
the bachelor by the back of the neck,
hauled him out and tumbled him over
the baker, who was coming innocently
into the shop; and the three were down
on the pavement, where Mr. Charley
picked them up. And when they were
busting themselves he stood for a minute
IN the doorway and sang out:
"And if you ask for the Widow Thorn,
I'll tell you there amt SIGH personw
and went in and closed the door"
The doctor went home and abused his
servant; the baker was seen to take a
tumbler which had held the medicine of
two nights before, and which belonged to
the little widow, and dash it to a thou
sand fragments in the back yard; and
the bachelor, all that day and evening,
sat at his third-story window and played
" The Last Link is Broken" on the bas-
soon in polka time, with accelerated pas
sages where the compass of the instru-
mert gave out.
Thus may Innocence cast its halo
around too trusting Human Nature.
Tho ipnJaS Of Edop