Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-01-27


through the windows occupied with his
books, his microscope, his pen, and ar
ranging his specimens in jars or impal-
ing them with pins on cards. His light
often burns far into the night. I'm sure
l dont know when or how be eats. for
he boards himself. and is growing very
thin and pale. poor man.
Il have heard that he had no money
left after finishing his education, and
that he spends nearly the whole OF his
salary upon needed instruments and
chemicals. He needs some one TO look
after him, and should think had he a
mother and sister they ought to come
and see him. His coats are all seedy,
his study gowns are out at the elbows,
and his washerwoman told me herself
that there was hardly enough left of his
shirts and stockings to make bill of;
and here it is coming on cold weather,
and he in those miserable rooms. do
not know what will become of him."
And Miss Clara folded her plump
hands comfortably over her plump stom-
ach. and rocking back and forth as if she
was really in perturbed state of mind.
your front parlor would make an adj
mirable place for his museum. and the
little library opening out of it would be
just the thing for a study" said Horace,
looking mischievously towards Hortense,
'and you don't need the rooms so very
much"
But here the tea bell sounded. Direct
ly after they left the table. Mr.. Kidder
took Miss Bidwell back to town in a
buggy, and although the family frequent
ly spoke of her. and Horace wondered
whether she made a presentation speech
when she carried the captive spider 10
the professor, and Hortense saying she
was an agreeable little lady after all. and
wished she could meet her again. the
days slipped away into weeks without
making the promised and intended re-
turn call.
1t was almost Thanksgiving time when
one frosty morning the announcement
OF the marriage of Professor Spio Bar
tholomew and Miss Clara Bidwell, only
child of the late respected, etc.. etc., ap-
peared in the local paper.
81 shall go at once and call without
regard 10 ceremony said Mrs. Kidder.
And she went, taking with her, at their
earnest solicitation, her son and neice.
After the introductions were over, and
the professor was deep in a description
OF the silk spinning spider which Hor-
tense had inquired about. launching
with fine tact into the subject in which
their shy host was most at home. the pro-
fessor, seeing that the young people
were greatly interested, took them off in
to the front parlor to show them rare
specimen that had lately come into his
possession.
They had hardly left the room before
Mrs. Kidder exclaimed, My dear Clara,
you have given US such delightful sur
prise. Do, tell me how it all came
about"
swell, you see," said little Mrs. Bar
tholomew, II carried over that beautiful
spotted spider, you know. thinking
would set the box down on the door sill
where he would be sure to see ii, and
run away. But just as | was approach
ing the door. he opened it and invited
me in as politely as if the miserable little
room had been an elegant draWing-room.
was taken so by surprise. entered at
once, and must say that | never saw
such disorderly, shabby place that pre-
tended 10 be home.
But when L gave him the specimen,
the professor was so well pleased. and
talked so iearredly and so beautiful that
L forgot all about the old dilapidated
rooms and his shabby clothes.
'.After / returned 10 my own luxurious
sitting room. it all came back to me, and
L kept thinking OF what. Horace had said
about my unused parlOr and library, and
about the spider that had broken the ice
of acquaintance. being suspended be-
tween fathers and mothers monuments,
and how / was alone without near rela-
tive in the world, with plenty of money
and 10 object in lite higher than to keep
this great house in order.
'.And L thought how lonely he seemed,
and yet how he was making all man
kind his friends and debtors. by spend
ing his time and his small salary, and
going without the necessities of life, that
he might make useful acquisitions TO the
scientific world.
at seemed to be pointed out to me
then and there, that L was to do some
thing for the poor mau, but the idea OF
the possibility of matrimony never en-
tered my head, Mrs. Kilder. 1 was cast
in .aboutSin my mind, how l could g
him out of those old rooms, and how
should offer him mine. and how | could
with the utmost delicacy, send him sun
of money, with the anonymous request
that he Immediately be fitted with new
warm suit of clothes.
Il was thinking, too, that he wa:
about the size Of father; ana how much
| better it would be were he to wear ou
the nice new tiannels and stockings, thar
to have them remain packed away III
camphor and tobacco. And then, as
was wondering whether l could bear tt
see the professor covered with father:
almost new heavy fur, trimmed oyercoat
and had just come to signing the short
yet friendly letter which should go will
the things, your scientific friend,' OF
'One greatly interested in natural history,
or "a friend of the friendless,' hoping
might hit upon some superscription deli
cate and pleasing, who should Bridge
usher in but Deacon Nevers, the yer,
man who owned the professors old tene
ment in the next lot, which / had beer
trying to buy for years, but could not oil
any reasonable terms.
'Now he came to say that he had con
cluded to split the difference with me
as he was obliged to raise some money
He had the deed all made out ready t,
be executed, and although the amour
of the purchase money named in it wa
eXorbitant, even with the difference split
snapped at the bargain in hurry.
ssThen l sent Michael for Esquire
Prescott to come and take the acknowl
Judgement of the deed. An additional
witness had to sign, so the esquire went
for the professor to act in that capacity
After the deed had been signed, sealed
and delivered in due form of law,
forthwith warned out the poor professor
before two witnesses, and told him il
was my purpose to Immediately teal
down the old shell and level off the site
for an addition to my garden.
'sThe esquire and Deacon Nevers now
made their adieus and went out tOgeth-
err. leaving the professor looking into the