The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-07
MARRIED At EIGHTY,
Dan1 O~nderdonk's Journey In Search
of a Wife.

A Widow Who Was Not MatrimoniaHy
Inclined Herself, But Who Had
An Eligible Sister.
New York SUM-
Uncle Dan'l Onderdonk Is one OF the patri-
archs OF Rockland county. He Is a cousin ~
the we'll known Barmore Brothers, pianoforte
manufacturers OF this city. and is the favorlte
nephew OF the venerable Mrs. Effie Barmore,
who, In January. next, will be 1oo years o.
age. Uncle Danl himself is q tritie over Y.
Uncle Dan'Fs excellent helpmeet, died. after
d welded life OF upward OF fifty. years. lt was
a sad blow to the old man, who, throughout
hill, long career, has been one OF the most al
fectionate Of husbands. After Mrs. Onderdonk
died and was buried he became tnconsolable,
and declared that he could not be the same
man again until he got another wife. he
talked the matter over with Thomas Jefferson
Tallman one day In the haying feld, ana the
upshot of the matter was that Uncle Danl de-
termined to go down to York" and get q
wife.
he babe gOod-by to Tallman at the crook III
tlou OF the city. II hain't been down In years,
but I guess there's plenty OF women there
thatlf' have me. It's changed since fifty Years
ago IL there ain't."
He put On his long brass-buttoned coat,
high hat, and took In his hand his staff, which
he always uses to assist him in walking. He
got off at Washington Market 2 walked
along the stands until he came to 254 Country
Row. Then he paused. There was q buxon,
authenticated young. woman behind 1t cut,
ting up lamb. Her plump bare arms looked
attractive In the sunlight as she raised her
cleayer aloft and brought 1t down on the firm,
hard meat. Uncle Danl thought her pretty,
and paused to take !. longer look. Presently
he got into conversation.
"Are you q married woman?'' he asked,
with just O bit of trembling In his voice.
''Old maidr'
Mo
"Widder?"
The fair butcheress NODDED her head, and
Uncle Dan'l smiled a significant smile.
%''Supposin' you have me?"
The butcheress blushed and said hastily
that that couldn't possibly be-. She thought
too much Of her last husband, and besides had
four small children to provide for. Then she
hesitated for a moment, and added archly:
But I've got q sister
as she q wilder? L. she as good lookin' as
you? Where Is she?" asked Uncle Dan1
somewhat flurriedly and oil In q breath.
"NO. She is d few years older than j am,
and a good deal better looking, l can assure
you. I'll give you her address and q note OF
1IUL UuuCblJL, hiIu yUu Suh GU ULu Ob1 cA hUA
Ii you want to-"
'iGive me the note" said Uncle Daniel,
energetically. The authenticated stand
keeper wrote neatly on the back OF one OF her.
Dominick street. Introducing Uncle Dan1
Onderdonk of Rockland." Aud Uncle Danl,
pockstiug ii, made his way out Of the crowd.
In fifteen minutes his snow-white hair, long
attracting o Grove OF ganins and street
loungers In Dpminick street. Uncle Danl
marched up to 25. which bore the sign, ."Mil-
linery and Dress-making,' and used the
brass knocker with q vigor that made the
house resound. A female head was popped
out Of the window.
"Why, what's all that noise about?'
TITS me. Uncle Dan1 Onderdonk, from
Rockland county, come to marry yer!' ex-
pleined the old man. BE quick IL you want
to catch the 3 o'clock boat backr'
There was a scream, q popping back OF the
head, o scurrying through the hall above and
a banging OF doors IN all sides, all OF which,
however, did not in the least disconeert Unele
Dan'l. He stood there patiently until he was
admitted. In the front room ne found q Wo-
man as buxom and well favored as the one In
Washington Market. She was, perhaps, ten
years older, and had darker hair and eyes.
Uncle Danl explained his business; told her
about his farm in Rockland, how his wife had
died, how he'd got tired of keeping bachelors
hall all alone there by himself. and must have
q helpmeat. Then he asked her to be his help
I IitSL. MISS 1lDSOH plOJEotCu LIIuG IL "aC
astonished; that she hadn't dreamed OF such
u thing, etc, and that she must have some
time TO reflect.
eau right" replied Uncle DAM, though
again In two weeks with @ load Of truck. and
I'll give you till then to think over it. By
the way, what religion are ye "
I'm an E~piscopalian," replied the lady.
"And I'm q hard-shell Baptist. Baptist
and Piscopal go we'll enough together though.
What's the difference whether you only
sprinkle d man or half drown him, so longs
It's q savin' ordinance both ways 2"
A fortnight later, when the Rockland coun-
ty patriarch called at % Dominiek street, he
found the dressmaking sign taken down and
several trunks and Goxes In the hall packed
and corded for shipment. The lady to whom
he had proposed was in the front parlor
arrayed in her Sunday best. After exchaDg-
ing a smack that made the glass In the win
dows rattle, the patriarch picked up his hat
and staff, and said:
Put on your bonnet and shawl, Sahrer.
I'll leave 1t toyou to pick out the minister
Only get a 'Piscopal. They do 1t up In liner
STYLE"
Miss Gibson was a member of st. Johns
Chapel, n she preferred to have one OF the
clergymen attached TO it. At Varick street
the pair boarded d Sixth Avenue car. At For
ty-iifth street they got out and crossed to the
house of the Rev. Sullivan Ell. Weston In Fifth
Avenue. The doctor, who is chaplain OF the
Seventh Regiment, Is reported to have mar
fled more couples IMAM any otneI Infee
Clergyman in Trinity parish, received them
in his study, and shook hands heartily with
bride and bridegroom. "Why, what brings
you here Miss Gibson? Who Is this pleasant
old gentleman with the white hair-your IA
Their or grandfather"
Uncle DanI grasped the doctors arm AND
whispered Il aim neither of 'em, Elder, but
I'm going to be her husband Iii about ten
minutes" The doctor was at first taken
aback, but he laughed and shook hands with
the old man and congratulated him upon his
Uncle DanI put his hat Oh the table and his
staff in the corner, and standing up alongside
his bride the pair we're duly pronounced man
and wife according to the rites of the church
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