The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-12-26
4 Shrewd WIdower.

Deacon Grinder was portE widower.
He was the surviving parent OF three
sprightly children, and regarded as in
possession of considerable propeK
The little darlings," as they were sty-
led, met with lavish expressions OF adj
miration in the presence OF the deacon
from a number of ancient maiden la
dies and widows. Miss Philena Peck
had taken care of them during his tenn
porary absence, and declared that she
fairly dotted on children. and hoped
the deacon would let them come again.
The Widow Clapp, as he was driving
by, hurried out with pail of honey in
the comb, all of which she said was
just the thing for the little dears.
Deacon" said she, when are they
coming to spend the day with me?"
As the deacon reached the village
green. out of millinery store tripped
Miss Barbara Bowper. She commenced
to hatter the widower for his "be yu-
tiful remarks in prayer-meeting few
evenings before, and then wound up by
presenting Tommy with collar, Josie
with handkerchief, and Dorothy with
doll.
"Oh! don't thank me, deacon" she
said, sit amt nothing compared with
the peace of mind got a-listening to
your precious remarks.
On drove the fattered father. As he
passed Naomi Poole's house, she was
but pleasantly smiled and nodded to
the party as they drove by.
In the evening, as the Deacon sat
| alone at the hearthstone with his sister
Mahala Ann, the latter commenced to
question him if he meant to marry
again. He replied he thought it would
| add to his domestic felicity. Mahala
| replied: ssIn that case, hope you'll
| make sensible choice, and not allow
| yourself to be imposed upon by pack
| of selfish widows and scheming old
| maids" She assured him it was only
| because he had nice home and farm,
and money at interest, that toey pre-
tended to love him and his children so
much.
.Well, he said, bringing down his
! palm forcibly upon the table, s.I amt
sorry that those investments of mine
in the Mariposa Silver Mining Compa-
| ny have proved failure.
"What do you mean?" said Mahala
Ann, curiously cycling him over the
| top of her spectacles.
But the deacon only shook his head
and smiled. Time will show" he said !,
'stime will show
The news of his less in Mariposa
| stock faw ahont the communitv
Shortly after the deacon made his an
nearance and told Miss Peck he was
ahont to go To California. and hoped
| .ha could he ;ndncod 10 Give his chill
1,re drer T . home W ~ o - -
"Oh! dear, mol" said Miss Peck,
| cbildreni dare say Won co,ild find
some ornban asvIum or nlaee of that
! sort bv ;nonirino aronnd 3 little.
'; M;as paai, sa4 90 ,,a,,, ,,,,,.;e,ht and
| olorad % fr;gbtfnl1v at the deacon that
6a Voc fo;n fo boat a ratraat as soon as
soon 90 % nos noss;hle
He He + InpcLad naxt az the Widow CLAIMS
door ~ 4 s1;nsbod I servant maid onened
-
.sTs Mrs Glenn at boma9o he asked
4 baad NO br +b,,,st 81 - nuar tho stair rail-
ing, and the widows shrili voice cried
ous; TITS that John Grinder with his swarm
of ,,o,,,,o, oTosi Ta1l hin, an, ,,art;cn-
iarly la ve engaged s Do p YOU B hear Betsy~par-
ticnlar
He then called at Barbara Bowper's
millinerv store and said to her:
esNf;ss Ro,y,,o,. .-.r.o 1o,, ,yara over a oen;al
ana . ahar;ta om ,lp so,., o r. ;s - uo,, that
@nu dm,,st 10 ,aaha bn,,,. for M, n,o+harless
I.tia Is onas ~ a..' mh;1a endaoyoy to retr;eva
NV ,nc-I lost , fortune ,,e i, +be far west
1sI conldn't think If snch a thing .
cold Mics Rerbora dronnino q hox of ar
t;f;cial ;1; rosehnds in her consternat;on
sand 7 really think. Deacon Grinder
Won haven't no business to expect It Of
me. It's all can do to support myself,
da.a le. aone paoa ~ co;,ld do some
ane th;no o for '1o them o1 nr" ,0- s0'-' - ---
81 thank yo,, I, said tne deacon. with
d;on;tv st sboil tro,, hle neither you ~.
h;1, >',-e --S-'1-
ssWall ), said Miss Rownar ssvou need
,o+ e., ;,,+o q ro 90 hooonsa ne;1hhor of-
fo,s ,.o,, b;+ of odv;ce.
Naa,,,; po-,1a ,.o,, ont of tha 1;ttla oar.
don cate as the forlorn deacon went Inv.
e6eaeon Grinder. hesitated she. turn
mo rosa rod and white nv turns. ais this
tr17e9"
.sA1,o,t NV Mar;nosa investment9
Voc >, - ''e.--S--s'
"a t,,a4 ,o,, aro oo;no 70 ca1;for-
n;a9,, ~ ''@' 'oa ''1o $50 ~
.sT am, +a1k;,o of T. ), said the deacon.
.s1VanldMconld Won let me take care
of tba little ones while Won are oone2''
said Naomi tenderlv drawing little Dolly
to ber side aYou have been 80 kind to
mother and me- Deacon Grinder. that
de e son, sa.b atI;n~ No. fnr ~ yon = - 1o =