Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-05-02
Keturah Riddles Courtship.

boots along the brick walk leading to
Mrs. Selchow's dairy, and Here ye
be!' he said, in his sharp falsetto, min
ute later
eyes" said Mrs. Selchow, looking up
from the milk she was skimming
walk in, Brother Lazier."
Brother Lazier walked in. He was a
small, dry man, so stiff in the Joints that
he progressed by series of jerks sug-
gestive of Mrs. farley. He had dusty
complexion, miniature desert of Sahara
on the top of his head, surrounded by
clunps of sandy hair, and his very voice
seemed to have dried up and cracked
He sat down upon a pile of empty but
ter tirkins with preoccupied air, but
Immediately rising, crossed the room,
alternately taking 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.
"How's your mother?" inquired Mrs.
Selchow, making skirmish toward con-
VersatiOn.
"Marm's considerable poorly, l ex-
pect, =" replied her son; land that's what
I oollod fer speak about; that is. meant
ter say" Here Brother Lazier grasped
his umbrella convulsively and paused.
" She amt SO young as she once were. y
he resumed, "and it's hard on her to
take the heft of the work. Another
pause, during which our brother wiped
his brow with a pictorial handkerchief
illustrating scenes in the life of the Prodi-
gal 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 q
younger woman to see after it,"
THAT, now, was just what | was
a-coming to,' responded Mr.. Lazier.
much gratified GIVE been a-thinking,
this some time, whether or no Scripter
want about right, and I've come
a-purpose to ask you if 50 be you'd be
so good as to pick out some likely girl
for me. You see, young man like me
feels kinder diffodent round amongst
the girls" he added, stroking his hay
colored goatee, which was plentifully
streaked with gray "Not but what
tthere'd be plenty of 'em that would
jump at the chance" he resumed, glibly
for, the bars once down, Mr.. Lazier
felt perfectly at ease but, you see,
there are so many | can't make up my
mind, and | want you to sorter tell 'em
over, sot | can chalk 'em off. You see,
Sister Selchow, | want master-hand to
work. She must be able to hetchel
round; can't have no poor weakly crea-
ter. But then, you see, dhe smart kind
are aptt be topping. l can't have that.
She mustn't be a-tryng to usurp author
ity nor nothing; I'm particular about
that. She must be obliging-be willing
to help about the chores, and that'll save
my keeping a boy, She must be eker-
nomical, and know how to live on plain
vittle, and not be a-wanting new cali
ker every little while. / want she
should be able to make fust-rate butter
and cheese. Mother is falling off little
on butter; didn't get as much by ten
cents as I'd. orter for that last box. And
if she has a few hundreds in the bank, it
would come handy, for, you know, our
place has mortgage. Now, you see,"
he added, '' | amt particular; but these
ere few things | do insist upon"
Him." said Mrs. Selchow, watching
the milk as it dripped through the skim
mer. Perhaps Widow Voss would
suit you"
Number one," said the bachelor, in
business-like voice, producing a lump
of chalk, with which he proceeded to
make q mark on the dairy floor. "Now
let's see," he went on, assuming Judi
cial air, Widder Voss is as spry as a
cricket-good-temp too; but then |
never took much stock in widders, and
I'm little skittish of 'em. They're al
ways a-throwin' of it in your face how
that you amt adding so well by 'em as
their first husbands did [ guess We'll
cross her out; and he stopped to draw
q line across the mark which represented
the unfortunate widow.
Miranda Brown" suggested the
mentor
"Mirandy is good girl; she'd make
fust-rate of wife; but there's her
father, being took down with paralysis
so, he's liable to live for years. That
spiles her," and another cross decided
the destiny of Miranda.
"Jane Tucker" prompted the inde-
fatigable Mrs. Selchow.
Number three" asserted the pro-
pective lover. "Jane is almost too
ready. ] mistrust she's been a-lookin'
out for this chance for some time; she's
asked after marm's rheumatism twice
now within week, and make no doubt
she's all prepared to step in. ! won't
have woman that don't wait to be ask
ed, said Mr.. Lazier, decidedly, as he
Cancelled James hopes.
"Well, now, there's Keturah Kiddle, y
exclaimed Mrs Selchow, running her
fin ra1 arnIlnd the adpa of the nan to