The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-07-08

set in order for his arrival, his clothes
washed and mended, and his meals nice
I " cooked and served; but since Patty's
marriage, he had been thrown upon his
own resources, and had found woeful
change in his home.
| His friends had suggested that he
should follow his sisters example, and
take unto himself helpmate, but the
captain was rather di ffdent on this point,
and averred that he had no time to waste
| in courtship. If the right woman were
to turn up, who would marry him right
away, without any decentralization and
fooling, why he might be induced to think
of it, for his clothes were woefully in want
of repair, and his cooking was none Of the
best, to say nothing Of house cleaning, and
other such drudgery, for the execution of
which women had been specially created,
by wise and considerate Providence.
! AS it was the captain slowly shook his
iron-gray locks, and bravely announced
his own and Pickles intention to rub
along together, and rough it out as best
they might-maybe something would
turn up In time.
| The captain was of a philosophical
turn of mind, and inclined to take things
easy. Not so Pickle, who made an occa-
sion of demur or aggression Of every thing
that fell in his way.
| And thus it had been, indeed, that
Capt. Teller had had the misfortune of q
understanding with Miss Mehitable
Parson, before he had been three DAYS
her neighbor.
| It had sill come through Pickle and
Spice. Spice had throughout her life
enjoyed the undisputed privilege Of daily
siestas on the summit Of the fence-post
separating the two gardens; which
| Pickle, observing, had resented and re-
sisted as an unwarrantable intrusion up
on his own and his masters domestic
privacy.
a deadly feud had thereupon sprung
i up between these two, resulting in more
than one bloody encounter, wherein
Pickle had nearly lost an eye and
/ Spice had narrowly escaped with her
Life.
Miss Mehitable had taken part with
her prosecuted cat, and Capt. Teller had
defended the cause of his aggrieved dog;
80 that the GOODNESS existing between
these two ANIMALS had extended to their
owners.
| No one, however, not even Mchitable,
had dreamed OF the captains carrying the
matter so far as to threaten to murder he,
precious cat.
Spice was the best known and most
highly respected cat in the town, and
with the exception of that incorrigible
youngster, Dick Purnell Pur
nell's son, to whom most of the mischie
IN the place might be traced-no one hac
ever yet dared to shy brickbat at Mis-.
Parsons favorite, or to shave her tai
and string 1t with spools of assorted
sizes.
As for pickle, a bov-legged, crop cared
bull-terrier, his master often declared
J him to be the perfection of the canin,
. species. with whom he would not par
} for his weight in gold. Pickle had on,
, weakness, the captain sorrowfully admit
ted, and that was cats.
On this particular April morning, Cap
tain Teller, having paid an early visit t.
} the boat, returned home to his sever
o'clock breakfast. He entered at tn,
front door with cheerful countenance
fol lowed by Pickle; but when fiftee,
minutes later, he made his appearance II
his back garden for the purpose of cut
! ting wood for his fire, his broad, homes
! and not uncomely countenance wore
thoughtful and severe aspect, and hi
eyes rested sternly upon Sally. as she file,
into her mistrsss's back door with Spice
Capt. Teller turned over a log Wit
his foot, and muttered to himself:
3 "Rum 'un, she is! All women ar
rum 'uns, seems to me. Glad I have go
r nothing whatsumdever to do withum
5 I'm Independent Nv the hull set, am p
He turned to the log again, lookin.
for a favorable spot whereupon to com
mence operations, glanced at MS tattere,
coat and trousers airing on the bac]
/, stoop, and sighed.
ssNot but what there might be som
8 good ones among them, if body onl
knew where to find them, as the di'man,
:, washer said to the pebbles. A smart, ii
4 dy, cheerful, willing housekeeper woul,
: be a convenience to hev about one
: home; but -ahem- she is rum speci
+ men, there is no denying. What's 90
her back up so sudden this time, Xix
!! that pesky cat of hers 80
e It was at this moment that Miss Par
sons, with virtuous indignation IN he
8 eyes, and outraged innocence in her as
! pect, made her appearance on the BAG
T porch.
r "Capten Teller!"
"Good morning, marm!n responde
q the person addressed with much dignit,
}, 81 am surprised at your said Miss Pal
e sons by way of commencement, and wit
i marked emphasis.
"Same to you marin, if may be pc,
IS mitted to express myself meaning notf
ing disrespectful to a woman . s
i Miss Mehitable1s face flushed.
= 81 don't see, Capten Teller, why 70
!, should be surprised at a woman having
g word to say for herself, when she
; abused and ill-treated."
Every sorry, marin, If you have bee
/" worried. Pickle never meant it for 70,