The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-01-11
BLOOMSBURY, Pa. FRIDAY. JANUARY II. 1873.


Let me button it for you. All men arc
death on buttons and button holes--I know
by poor Thorn.
Then she fitted on the collar, and the
bachelor was ecstatic. As she handed him
his change, she said
You're the gentleman that plays such
sweet dreary tunes on the horn aren't you +"
Yes, I play little But it's dreadful
lonely playing all by my SELF
Isn't there anyone with you ?" she ask
ed.
mo, Tn cursed-Pm a bachelor.
'Dreary me- that is bad I'd ask you over
here to play, sir
% = he interrupted.
But I'm afraid the doctor next door would
come in and ask if anybody was hurtp she
! continued
'Uhp he said again, in quite a differ
ent tone, and left. Five minutes after he
was moaning out "The Last Link is Bro.
ken,' as if that link had in its soundness
held Heaven and earth together. The doc
tor needed lot of snuff; the baker was
clearly smoking himself into the grave with
his Maria and the bachelor used 80 many
paper collars that the little widow order
ed as many boxes of his as she did of all the
other sizes put together. But at last, one
night, came the maid servant from next door
pounding up the Widow Thorn, telling her
to come in for the doctor was ill and didn't
know anybody. Hastily throwing on her
dress, in she went, and saw him lying there
in a state of collapse, with his wig over one
| eye.
"Ginger and cayenne pepper and brandyW
ordered the little widow, while she held his
head Then, forcing the fiery dose down his
throat, she held him tight, while he splut-
tered and gasped for breath.
whatever is the matter with him 2"ask-
ed the heightened servant.
"Cucumbers n' remarked the widow-for
afernoan with two fine specimens of that
proverbially cool vegetable in his hand
Then, the doctor becoming better, she went
home as cheerful as ever, and slept the
dreamless sleep of the innocent and of the
non dyspeptic.
Early next morning the baker called.
Il hear that DR., Ash was sick last night,
and that you went in? said he, almost as
though he had a right to ask.
Yes she answered The girl come for
me, and did the little l could. Poor old
chap It's pity he never married. He
might have had wife and family around
him, instead of poor, ignorant servant
girl, who calls up the neighbors on trifling
causes
Widow! that's what always say. A lone
{ man is the DEVILS delight-if you'll excuse
profanity Everything conspires to make
his life unbearable. What allied the doc
1 tor?'
= O ha'A oo.An too freely of cucumbers.
Widow Thorn, you know I'.a 90 r,,no,
e alone as he is
'Well-bless me sir-what are you driy
e ing at ? asked she.
Nothing, he said with melanchol.
d smile and left the shop.
Ten minutes after she saw him go HON
Il with five overgrown cucumbers in his hand
! she knew how many, for she pulled bo
in the window aside to count them. Sh
IT smoothed her apron down and shook he
d head She expected as much-and more
d Just at that moment in came the bacheo
from over the way.
e is anybody sick next door, ma am p
asked.
:. 'Yes,s DR., Ash was taken i'll last nigh
Why"
:, L was playing we met, twas in crowd
late, feeling miserable, and | saw his servsr
come here, and saw you 60 in with he
What allied him?'
~ Now, sir, can't tell you, I'm afraid "
been the innocent cause of future agony
, the baker at the corner by telling him
yoa'Il excuse me, we'll say the doctor W;
- imprudent'
=; Pm afraid I'm that myself ma'am,'
~ said, low. w.spiritedly and lately I've got
feeling pain here And he pointed in Il
region of his heart-tbat is, his left sic
10 where nobody's heart is, you know
-, 'Oi you play too vigorous. sir, she sal
~ L once knew u gentleman who played Il
fife lovely; but he died suddenly, sir. al
eh the doctor who opened him told me he W
as clear as 4 whistle inside, sir-his ow
, a identical words clear Is whistle f
he verything had gone
But dare say he was = married man r
- Yes, indeed blessed wife and twins
'Ah That's the reason. I'll never d
that way ma 'am-for there's no one to mou
he for me. I'll keep on blowing till, after
Id while, you'll hear the echoes rolling in n
ID, and I'll play the same tune twice at ono
ou and one bar behind the other
'Ol gracious me ? she said, you'd bett
ad see a Doctor
tn Then he shook his head sadly and we
re on.
mt She sat in the little shop an hour or mC
he writing long letter, She linked her finge
ID said 'botherp to the pen for splutterir
folded the letter crookedly, refolded
ed strsightly, directed the envelope, put star
on the left hand corner, went out, dropp
he it in the box, and came to d. Ash's do
He knocked, inquired how he did, and ca
an. home again. Then l think she was br
,er for quite time as all such are,
nd Soon popped in the doctor, with a hr
til Doquet in his hand.
40. You've saved my life, ma'am, said he
nk Nonsense she exclaimed but
i'm smiled in a pleasant way, too,
Then he put the flowers beside her, pr,
he her hand, aud went to see his patients.
The little widow hummed tune, tapp
her her foot on the floor, late in the afterno
when the bachelor from over the way ru
ed to her.
I've done it, ma am + said he shiyerir
Lord bless the man What have
doneY
haap