Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-06-20
EETURAH KIDDLE's COURrsHIP.

I
With its rest and JOY forever,
After creeping up the stalEs-
KETURAH KIDDLE'S COURTSHIP.
CLU8EP clumpl went Farmer Laz-
ier's boots along the brick walk leading
to Mrs. SelchoW's dairy, and Here
ye be l'' he said, in his sharp falsetto,
a minute later
"Yes," said Mrs Selchow, looking
up from the milk she was skimming.
s'Walk In, Brosher Lazier."
Brother Lazier walked in. He was
q small, dry man. 50 stiff in the joints
that he progressed by a series Of jerks
suggestive ot Mrs. barley. He had q
dusty complexion, 3 miniature Desert
of Sahara on the top of his head, sur
rounded by elunps of sandy hair, and
his very voice seemed to have dried up
and cracked. - ~
He sat down upon 8 pile of empty
butter frkins, with preoccupied ain
but Immediately rising, crossed the
room, alternately taking a few steps
and then stopping short, like robin
At last he remarked: '' Uncommon dry
spell we are having" ~
Mrs. Selchow assented cordially; and
this subject being disposed of, silence
ensued, during which Mr.. Lazier and
his green cotton umbrella continued to
mount guard. S.
"How's your motherP" inquired
MIR. Selchow, making a skirmish to-
ward conversation. IL
Marm's consider BILE poorly, ex.
pect," replied her son; "and that's
what called ter speak about; that is,
Imesnt ter say" Here Brother Lazier
grasped his umbrella convulsively, and
paused. "She amt so young as she
once were," he resumed, !" andit's hard
on her to take the heft of the work. g
Another pause, during which our
brother wiped his brow with pictorial
handkerchief illustrating scenes In the
life Of the Prodigal Son.
"Yes," said Mrs. Selchow, foreseeing
what was coming, and anxious to help
her visitor out" Yes, you need some
body there that can take right hold and
go ahead. Your mother is getting on
in years, as you say, and the place
needs & younger woman to see after
it."
That now, was Just what ] was
coming tOSt responded Mr. ,Eakier,
much gratifed. ."rVe been a-think-
ing, this some time, whether or no
Scripter want about right. and I've
come a-purpOse to ask you if 80 be
you'd be so good as to pick out some
likely girl for me. You see, a young
man like. me feels kinder difident
round amongst the girls" he added,
stroking his hGy-eolOred gostee, which
was plentifuliy gtreaked with gray
"Not but,what thereid Be 8 plehty of
'em that would jump at the chance"
he resumed, glibly-for the bars once
down, Mr.. Lszier felt perfectly at ease
-"but, you see, there are so many
can't make up my mind, and l want
you to sorter tell 'em over, so't can
chalk 'em off. You see, Sister Sell
chow, want master-hand to woSk.
She must be able to hetehel round !;
can't have no poor weakly Greater.
But then, you see, the smart kind are
apt to be topping. can't have that.
She mustn't be a-trying to usurp au-
thority nor nothing I'm particular
about that. She must be obliging-be
willing to help about the chores, and
thasA1 saYs my keeping boy. she
must be ekerno onsieal, and know how
ID. live on plain Eittle. and not Be -
wanting anew caliker every little while.
want she should be able to make fust-
rate butter and cheese. Mother is fall
ing off a little on butter 1 didn't get
as much by ten cents as I'd orter for
that last box. And if she has few
hundreds in the bank, it would come
handy, for, you know our place has a
mortgage. Now, you see," he added,
" [ amt particular but thes ere few
things do insist upon"
"H'm," said Mrs. Selehow, watching
the milk as it tdripped through the skim
mer. perhaps Widow Voss would
suit you"
Number one," said the bachelor,
in q business-like voice, producing
lump of chalk, with which he proceed
ed to make o mark on the dairy floor.
"Now let's see," he went on, assuming
q judicial air, " Widder Voss is as sprY
as 8 cricket-good-t od-temper too;, hut
then 1 never took much stOck "a wid-
ders, and I'm little skittish of 'em.
They're always a-throwin' of it in your
face how that you amt a-doin' SO well
by 'em as their first husband did. l
guess we'll cross her outjn and he
stopped to draw hne across the mark
which represented the unfortunate
widow.
miranda Brown" suggested the
mentor.
Mirandy is good girl; she'd make
q ff1of yofa oF q 1-.eo. l,,E kboro3 o ho-
father, being took down with paralysis
so, he's liable to live for years. . That
spiles keTsS' and another cross decided
thSdestiny of Miranda.
"Jane Tucker" prompted the inde-
faIgable Mrs. Selchow.
Number three" asserted the pros
pective lover. "Jane is Almost too
ready. mistrust she's been a-lookin'
out for this chance forsometime; she's
asked after marmis rhenmatism twice
now within a week, and make no
doubt she's.aH prepared to step n. I
won't have woman that don't wait to
be asked" said Mr.. Lazier, decidedly,
as he cancelled James hopes.
We'll, now, there's Keturah Riddle"
exclaimed Mrs. Selch6w, running her
finger around the edge of the pan to
loosen the cream. "She's good as
gold, and neat as pin. There amt
better housekeeper in town, and .she
can sing like a lark, and hasn't any in
cumbrances either.'' -, Fu...
"And they do say she has pretty
little sum in the bank, too; but then
she is uncommon humbly," objected
Mr.. L., rubbing his nose rehectiVely
with the handle of his umbrella.
Handsome is that handsome does,"
returned Mrs. Selchow. "Keturah has
great deal Of sound good sense, and
her butter took the prize at cattle show
| last fall" So
swell, hereshe goes number four"
reluctantly admitted Mr.. Lazier. t'I'm
great mind I'll 90 and see her-n it
want for her bein' so prodigious plain
featured. Well, I'm gretly obliged to
you, Sister Selchow, and I'll do as
much for you some time" said the
bachelor, with an innocence which up
set Sister Selchow's gravity, and with
! Il the nan of sirif1.tIi iil< yyiitrh aha wa