Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-26
NO. l75.
Calls and Sketthes.
MARRYING TO ACCOMMODATE.

cnllu-like DacnelOf. WIN no more thougnt
of matrimony than newborn baby. All
his life he had lived with his parents up
on the little homestead. and apparently it
it had never occurred to him that they
three might not continue to live there un-
severed till the end of time; for when
palsy laid low his mother he looked about
him in grieved astonishment, telling each
condoling friend that he couldn't under
stand how she came to die; she had
never suffered any exposure, and had al
ways had plenty of good nourishing food
AT her decease the care of his blind old
father naturally devolved upon David,
who, having recovered from his first sur
prise that Providence should have used
him so, tied on his mothers apron, and
essayed to take her place in the domestic
department. All those were dreary
days, chronicling culinary results never
before attained, let us hope, by mortal
man-results that tried even the serenity
OF the sightless Octogenarian, who had
borne aflliction aud bereavement without
a murmur.
Seems to me. my son, ! wouldn't wor-
ry about the cooking" he at last suggest
ed mildly. THAT comes more handy to
the womcn-foks."
to the "women-folks, what availed it to
the "Yoppses' SO long as the women
folks would not come to them or would
come only to go? Jane Burril, an ap-
ple-cheeked country lassie, hired out TO
David of Monday, and LETT of Tues
dav before the clothes were dry upon the
line the widow Mulliken, her successor.
departed at the end of week; Margaret
IA tn vb
no children; and Ellen Dunlap wouldn't
stay where there was no matrOn. Thus
one by one long procession of females
passed in and out o: the hip-roofed house
behind the lilacs. til August found the
Yolpses again alone. In this extremity
DAVID came to my mother.
IL don't know what father and I'll do
for housekeeper. Miss Farnsworth-
fact, said he, plaintively. "Do you sup
pose Lovisa Braun would help US a spell,
Just to accommodate P"
My mother smilingly shook her head.
"Iou forget how sensitive Miss Lovisa
is, David aud that You are a bache lor.
She would he afraid that people would
talk"
''ShO, una am you don't say sol" and
David's face redeemed furiously. till it
seemed to drain all color from his tawny
beard, leaving it positively pale.
Really, David. | don't see but you'll
have to marry" laughed my mother,
mschevously, going on with her sew
ing.
His lower jaw dropped as if the re-
mark had been blow, and had hit him
on the chin.
You don't think. now. Miss Farms
,pn,th I shall ha paaaasitatad IN np that
length ?' he gasped.
Oh no, no; certainly not. | only
spoke of il as the best means OF securing
permanent help"
81 don't know but I'd oughter marry
mused David, uneas ". But the idea
comes to me rather sudden hadn't cal
culated on any thing like that, and seems
as if twas too much to expect of me
fact
A few days later he again appeared be-
fore my mother, twitching at his coat col
lar in the vain endeavor to hide his en-
barrassment
"If so be, Miss Farnsworth," he stam-
mered. with a characteristic corkscrew
twist of the neck-''if so be | couldn't
get round marrying, what's your notion
about Lovisa? According to the best of
changing her sitovationp'
He ended with his head quite to one
side. and tipped backward like chicken
in drinking, which forced my mother to
address her reply TO his occiptal curls.
She could hazard no opinion 90 the SUBJ
ect, she said. She would advise him to
confer with the lady herself.
IL hate to, masterly.' groaned he, with
on ri nd | /
ask any woman to have me, it'll be
Lovisah
Oddly enough, our minister on the NOR
row preached an eloquent sermon on the
duty and the JOY of matrimony.
at is not good for man to be alone"
ran the text, and David, in the corner pew,
cast down his conscious eyes, feeling that
he himself was the person indicated.
1t was not good for man to be alone: he
had suspected this for some months, and
now the Bible confirmed his suspicion. He
wanted to be good he wouldn't be alone
any longer-fact; not if he could help it;
and he stole an inquisitive glance across
the aisle At the lady OF his here )fore hesi-
latng choice. He did more Benedic-
ton pronounced he siGled over to her, his
face glowing like the perennial carnation
in her bonnet, and didn't she think that
was a noble text?
Poor Miss Lovisa, t,ken quite by sur
prise, murmured something about it being
good sound doctrine, but hard TO live up
to- and hurried across the way to open her
house to her usual Sunday guests These
were chiefly farmers wives from distant
parts OF the parish. who found in her tiny
cottage a convenient retreat during the
noon intermissions. Here they ate their
lunch, always remembering to present a
liberal offering to their hostess, who in re-
turn poured out for them steaming liba-
lion from the stumpy earthern tsapot
which during the morning service stood
upon the kitchen stove, putting and blow
Ing as ii it had Il polypus in its ugly little
pug-nose. These Sabbath donations were
important items toward the support of
Miss Lovisa, who, save this house and its
humble furniture. had no assured patrimo-
ny. 1t is true, she often helped her neigh
bors in their sewing or household labors,
but never for wages. 1t would have
pierced her heart had these been offered