The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-01-11

closed the shop, went to her room, put on
her neat, old-fashoned bonnet, and going
down stairs, locked her house door from the
outside, and was on the pavement when up
came the servant from the bakers.
What's the matter with you p asked the
little widow.
%, mem he's took so bad that he cannot
speak, and he's calling for you all the time.
%, know what's the matter with him.
Come inside Jane, and I'll send him some-
thing to cure him.
Then Jane went inside, and the little
woman mixed tumblerful of a certain COM
pound.
Five cucumbers + she said, and the doc.
tor only had two ! Consequently he'll need
as much again and half, and little more
pepper = (She had quite head for reckon
ing assure you.) She gave the glass to the
girl, and went out again and locked the
door. hope it won't hurt him p said the
title widow.
Next day the shop was not opened. The
doctor tried the door, and found it closed.
The baker rather shaken, came by and look
ed in in astonishment. The bachelor peer
ed 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 were inside, i'll or---dead. The
baker seconded the motion, as night ap-
preached. But just then the bachelor came.
over.
Maybe she's gone away to visit p said he
Yes !--on some errand of mercy" Chin
ed in the doctor. She is a capital nurse,
that can testify to-
80 can l, said the baker, obviously.
She never nursed you, sir ? said the
doctor.
Neither did she you = said the baker.
'Sirv exclaimed the doctor, looking like
thuRder.
SIR said the baker, looking as much
"Ef Would have you know sir said the dec
tor, that I am superior to any insult which
dough- kneader may offer me-
And I to any foolishness on the part of a
sawbones'
Now, look here, said the bachelor. y
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 took it, said the doctor. He
was triumphant
Then, after much haggling and quarrel
ing, they looked at the.house.. e..again and
agreeing that she would certainly return to
morrow, they took their ways to their re
spective homes.
And behold tomorrow the good littl
shop was opened, and the same array o
goods met the gaze of the passers-by. Th
little woman was seen up stairs, busting tn
shutters. She nodded TO the milkman an
to the icemsn as usual and at last tn
bachelor saw her. and over he went and me
the doctor stepping off his doorstep.
Are you going in, sir p asked the doc
tor.
Yes = said the bachelor.
DO you snuff ?
NO, go for collars
Then we'll go in together. And togetf
er they went in. A tall sunburned man wa
there--elderly, but big and brawny.
The doctor spoke up, though he was
little shaken.
'We-I--that is-we should like to st
Widow Thorn. sir
There amt any sich a person. said Il
man, grinning, She's gone-vamoosed
. pegged out ?
He's drunk 7 whispered the bachelor.
saw her myself, before 1 came in, up stair,
t What's that you observed p asked Il
. stranger.
Sir we want the Widow Thorn = bold
e exclaimed the doctor
And you may feep on wanting that o
t lady, gentlemen but she won't come
5 wanting.
Then the pleasant voice of the little W
e man sounded from the next room. M
0 Charley, do just behave yourself. A
e there she was before them, neater lookil
e than ever.
'Ol Widow. good morning + said the dc
!. tor.
Q No more widow than sn.' chimed
d the strange man, laughing.
$ Now, Charlie, do behave said the lit
n woman and. gentlemen turning to t
= doctor and bachelor, let me Introduce \
Charley, my husband 7
Your husbaDdr they both cried.
= Yes, gentlemen. We've been going
e be married for years and years, but he vo
u cd he'd never marry me till he'd been s.
a cessful in the mines and he has been NJ
e. We were married yesterday. In Boston.
3, wrote him letter telling him I'd meet b
there-snd here we are But we'll sell
sr this little place rs soon a. we find a Gu,
mer.'
At Without a word the doctor grabbed
bachelor by the back Of the neck, hau
le him out and tumbled him over the bal
$, who was coming innocently into the sh
9, and the three were down on the pavem
it where Mr.. Charley picked them up. !
lp when they we're busting themselves he st
ID for moment in the doorway and sang
II, "And If you ask for the Widow Th
ne I'll tell you there amt such person p'
BY went in and closed the door.
The doctor went home aud abused his
ge want; the baker WAS seen to take tum
which had held the medicine of two nj
before, and which belonged to the little
he ow, and dash it to thousand fragmen,
the back yard and the bachelor, all
IS. day and evening, sat at his third.story
dow and played The Last Link is Brol
ng on the bassoon in polka time with &C
IN, rated passages where the compass of tn
,h. strument gave out.
Thus may Innocence cast its halo ar
z. too trusting Human nature.
The corn husks are thin, indicating a