, 1879-08-14
Tobias Jones Matchmaking


down his fist on the dinner table with
an emphasis that caused the bottles in
Mrs. Tobias new caster to attletogether
ominously. "I say, wife, | have it now"
Have whatY" asked Mrs. Tobias
"Wby, an idea, a splendid idea-that
is to say, a plan You will surely get
an invitation to wedding, Belinda, be-
fore the Winner is ended, or my name is
not Tobias Jones"
"What2 who2 wherel" asked Mrs.
Jones "I am thankful something Is
going to happen; I've stayed at home
until l am tired, and my clothes are get
ting out of fashion"
"If wearing good clothes keeps them
in fashion, YOU might wear them here at
home," suggested her husband. v
That's Just the way with you men,"
said Mrs, Jones "you expect us to
wear our best clothes at all times and in
all places, and yet always have them
look new and fashionable. But who is
going to be mairied4"
"Well, you see it amt a settled fact
yet, but it might as well be, for if Squire
Chase and Widow Hooker should happen
to meet, it's my opinion they would
make a match Of it and," he added, as
he noticed his wife's heightened face, 81
think you had better send for them both
Z to come here to tea tomorrow night.
We have no children, you know, and you
ought to have things in apple-pie order
all the time" iegl9 8Hliii ih
"Children p exclaimed Mrs. Tobias.
"You talk as if folks who haven't chill
dren don't have anything to do. For
my part, / think work full as hard
and have full as much trouble as any OF
my leighbors who have children. How
ever, l don't care how many you invite
to tea-Ill have enough for them to eat !;
but don't think you'll make match for
Squire Chase, for I know you won't"
swell" said Tobias, "you take Dob
bin and drive over and get the widow,
and I will take care that the Squire is
here all right; and, mind you, Belinda,
if they are not married before the Win
ter is over, | will give you new dress ];
and if they are, you shall buy me a
pound of tobacco" M
"Agreed," said Mrs. Jones, provided
you bring about the match"
just at sunset Squire Chase was reap
ing in the field near the road, when,
happening to look up, be saw his friend
Jones leaning over the fence. 5s
"Good evening, Jones" "~.4H '-''FA
GOOD evening, Squire. l just called
over to say that my wife is going to
have company to tea tomorrow night,
and she wants you to come over and
make one of us.
"Much obliged, neighbor, butt don't
know about it; I've got to reap all this
field tomorrow. IL get it done in
season, perhaps III come, but don't look
for me. Who are you going to have
any strangersp
"Well, yes; Widow Hooker is a
stranger to you, / suppose, though my
wife has known her for years, and sets
sight by her. She lives over to the
north part of the town. l presume you
have heard of her often enough"
ayes, have heard of her, sure" said
the squire. "I suppose she's the woman
who owns the big meadow farm called
the Ok Bow, and manages it all by her.
self"
fright" said Jones, and, thinking to
make matters better, he added al
know you would like her, squire, fol
most everybody does"
81 don't much admire women folks
who try to take the places that belong
by right to men" said the squire, posi-
lively. "Here, Silas," he called to his
youngest son, who had just returned
from the pasture with the cows, "did
you see the hrindled OK tonight :"
'No, father, hunted and hunted for
him, but he is gone, sure"
"Hang the luck ! That's just the way
with that brindle, he never jumps unles,
the feed begins to get short, and ther