The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-06-13
KETURAH KIDDLE's COURTsHIP.

bep' he said in his sharp falsetto, a
minute later.
EYES," said Mrs. Selchow, looking
up from the milk she was skimming.
"Walk in, Brother Lazier."
Brother Lazicr walked in. He was a
small, dry man, so stiff in the joints
that he progressed by series of jerks
suggestive of Mrs. farley. He had a
dusty complexion, miniature desert
S lhara ON the top of his head, surround
ed by clumps of sandy hair, and his
very voice seemed to have dried up and
cracked.
He sat down on pile of empty but
ter firkins with preoccupied air, but
shortly rising crossed the room, altern-
ately taking few steps and then stop
ping short like robin. At last he re-
marked: "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.
"How's your motherw inquired Mrs.
Selchow, making skirmish towards
conversation.
"Marm's considerable poorly, | ex-
pect," replied her son; "and that's
what called ter speak about; that is,
| meant ter say"-1Iere brother Lazier
grasped his umbrella convulsively, and
paused. "She amt so young as she
once were," he resumed, "and it's hard
OH her to take the heft of the work"
Another pause, during which our broth
er wiped his brow with a pictorial
handkerchief illustrating scenes in the
life of the prodigal son.
eyes," said Mrs. Sechsw, foreseeing
I'd anxious to help her visitor out
"Yes, you need somebody there that
can take right hold and go ahead.
Your motherls getting on in years, as
you say, and the place needs younger
woman to look after it,"
"That, now, was just what was a.
coming to," responded Mr.. Lazicr,
much gratilied. I've been a-thinking
this some time, whether or no Scripter
want about right, and I've come a-pur-
pose to ask you if you'd be so good as
to pick out some likely gal for me. You
see young man like me feels kinder
diffident round amongst the gals" he
added, stroking his hay-colorcd goatee,
which was plentifully strcaked with
gray. "Not but what there'd be a
plenty of 'em that would jump at the
chance" he resumed glibly-for, the
bars once down, Mr.. Lazier felt per-
fectly ut ease-"but you see, there are
so many can't make up my mind, and
| want you to kinder tell 'em over so't
| can chalk 'em off. You see, Sister
Selchow, lwant master hand to work.
She must be able to hetchel round ;
can't have no poor weakly Greater. But
then, you sec, the smart kind are apt TO
be topping. l can't have that. She
mustn't be a-trying to usurp authority
for nothing; Pm particular about that
She must be obliging-be willing to
help about tho chores, and thatll save
my keeping a boy. She must be ekcr-
nOmical and know how TO live on plain
vittles, and not be wanting a he " cal
iker every little while. want she
should be able to make first rate butter
and cheese. Mother is falling off lit
tie on butter. l didn't get as much by
ten cents as I'd Orter for that last box.
And if she has few hundred in. the
bank it would come handy, for you
know our place has mortgage. Now,
you see," he added, 81 amt particular
but these few things do insist upon"
"H'm" said Mrs. Selchow, watching
the milk as it drippcd through the skim
mer. 'Perhaps Widow VOss would
suit you"
"Number one," said the bachelor, In
a business like voice, procuring a lump
of chalk, with which he proceeded tC
make a mark on the dairy floor. "Now
let's see," he went on with Judicial
lair, "Widow VOss is as spry as a crick.
ct-good tempered too; but then new
er took much stock in widders, and
am little skittish of 'em. They're al
ways a-throwin of it in your face how
that you aint adding as well by then
as their first husband did. Igucss wei
cross her OUT" and he stopped to draw
line across the mark which represent
ed the unfortunate widow.
"Miranda Brown" suggested TIN
mentor.
"Miranda is good girl; she'd max
first rate of a wife; but then there
her father, being took down with paral
ysis so, he is liable to live for years
That spiles herr" and another cross de
cided the destiny of Miranda.
"Jane Tucker" prompted the inde
fatigable Mrs. Selchow.
'sNumber three" asserted the pros
pective lover. ''JaDe is almost to
ready. l mistrust she's been a-lookin
for this chance for some time; she aske
after marm's rheumatism twice no,
within week, and l make no dout
she's all prepared to step in. won
have woman that don't wait to b
asked" said Mr.. Lazier, decidedly, &
he Cancelled James hopes.
"Well, now, there's Keturah Kiddle,
exclaimed Mrs. Selchow, running hi
finger around the edge of the pan
loosen the cream. "She's as good ,
gold, and neat as pin There amt
better housekeeper In town, and 81
can sing like lark, and hasn't any il
n eumbrances either"
' "And they do say she has preti
sum in the bank, too; but then she
uncommon homely," objected Mr.. I.
rubbing his nose rehoctiyely with Il
handle of his umbrella.
"Handsome is that handsome does
returned Mrs. Selchow. "Keturah hi
a great deal of good sound sense, al
her butter took the prize at the catt
show last fall"
| "Well, here she goes-number four
| reluctantly admitted Mr.. Lazicr.
4 am great mind I'll go and see her
1T warnt for her being so prodigio
plain featured. Well, l am great
obliged to you, Sister Selchow, and l
do as much for You sometime" said
bachelor with an innocence which ups
Sistsr Selchow's gravity, and with
the pan of skim milk which she W
u cmptying into the pigs pail. The Il
II conscious author of the mishap was
ready ambling peacefully through I
Selchow garden, bright with phlox a
poppies, with u rear guard of melc
aud cscumbers.
,"Hezekiah Lazier!" said his mott
a few DAYS later, II do do declare fol
If you amt a-growing deefl 1 hs
blowed tle horn e'ena'most tin
enough to bring down the walks of j
icho, and here ye be out behind
ll-...o Ill tI,r xx,hfla 10