The Osceola times., 1881-10-22

the Magic Drops" Ifthey were anlict-
ed with headache, though she might
| have sometimes been unable to spare
time 10 apply the Electric Relief" her
self she detailed Idelia Rosanna TO act
in her stead. And through the quite
evenings she always sat by her husbands s
side, busted either on q dress or a wed.
ding bonnet, or a shroud, while the visi.
tors dropped in one after another with
plenty Of news and chat. There was al.
ways good stock OF apple pie In the
pantry. and all the hymn singing the
most devout soul could possibly wish for
In the parlor Of Sunday night. To be
sure the graves OF the departed were In
sight from the sunny windows and rather
mournfully suggestive; but still the scene
must have been very peaceful. with the
grass ripping and tossing in the breeze,
and there were no gravestones in the re-
gion more fine and costly than those
which July Ann raised TO the memory of
her spouses. II was not more than q
year since the last occupant of the chair
had joined those sleepers, and that the
fascinating widow did not marry again
was q circumstance which everybody
wondered at. II certainly could not be
for lack of opportunity, so tenderly did
she protect and cherish husbands, so
amply able was she to provide for them,
so popular was she with young and old
OF both sexes.
! noticed that Mr.. Squirting, the
rosy and robust leader of the
choir, directed decidedly tender
glances toward the region of
her Grape veil over his hymn book on
Sundays, and that more than one Jolly
captain made an errand to the shop
when the mackerel schooners were in
during spell of weather"
"Why isn't she married? she has so
many admirers?" | ventured to inquire
myself, speaking my thoughts aloud to
ldelia Rosanna, one day while waiting
for this airy damsel TO match pattern Of
crimson worsted.
"Lor' they're all too healthy. There
hain't no consumptive or rheumatic men
round just now, nor but one with the
shakin' palsy, that | know Of m he's
married. Aunt, she don't care much
healthy folks. male or female. Diseases
is fascinatin' TO her, though if she ever
has as much as a cold or crick in the
neck herself she's blue as a milestone"
This was two years ago. Last summer
the first news that | heard after reaching
the harbor was that Mis- Bebson was
about to be united in the holy bonds of
matyimony for the fourth time. ! saw
at once that the chambermaid who came
TO attend my room had something on
her mind. Usually extremely parsimon-
ions in the matter of towels, she hung
seven, one after another, in an absent.
minded way on my rack, and forgot TO
inform me that she was school teacher
ia reality and had only slipped from
that loitier sphere of usefulness for
short time TO accommodate Mis- White,
the landlady. "What is it, Mary Jane?'
inquired at length.
"You know Mis- tBabson, the dress
maker" acknowledcd my acquaint-
ance with this lady, aud waited with
some curiosity TO hear what she had to
say concerning her. "Wall, don't you
think, she's been and found an invalid
man and is goin' to get married next
Sunday He's a stoppin' at her house
now, with a cough that sounds half as if
he made il. lie is rather poor n peak
ed, though, but harnsuiHc rs a peacock" :"
"But where did she find the invalid?"
| asked II thought the gentlemen Of
Green llarbor were all hopelessly
healthy"
$50 they be. Mr.. Spnrlin' he's done
everything to get hissolf up pale look;
he's eat slate pencils N pickles by the
ton. they say, n KEEP awake nights
thet's drcl ful wcarin, vou know but il
didn't do no good. He b'longs to aw-
hil shinless race, N she got good bit Of
L.. 4 =.
the world. tap'n Loud he actually
made a congh till he began to hev one
in reality, n that scarf him so thet he
left of courtin' her n went of ON 4
Wy age, TO the Banks N hain't been seen
in these parts sense. This man came
from PiumhGeld, 80 or 20 miles away
He heard tell Of her over there, they
say, N come over here purpose to
marry her though she's old enough to
be his mother ldely she sticks to il
tibet he hain't got no more lung trouble
that she hes; but there he sets in the
rockin chair lookin' at his finger nails,
n she waits upon him by inches N doses
him with enough of thct piZen relief
to kill a common man. She's wonder
ful woman, Mis- Babson is, tendin' to all
the business she hes on her hands m
sick husbands besides"
The next morning ! went over TO the
shop 10 make a congratulatory call
There was no change around the house.
The small dog awoke from his slumbers
and threatened my ankles until | trem-
bled with fear. The gate, as usual, re-
sisted all my efforts 20 open il, and ldelia
Rosanna, as usual, appeared to my re-
lief
81 s'pose you've heard the news about
aunt's gitting marricdr' said she. "The
hull country's talkin' about It, m take
a seat"
The little shop was as bright as ever,
and everything Just rs it had been the
year before, but that the big chair, which
had been decorated with black Grape in
memory of the departed husbands, was
row radiant with new chinz covering
and was occupied by decidedly rustic
but rather handsome Young man with
hectic checks. | stole a good look at
him, and he dropped his eyes with a
somewhat shccpish expression. The
window was omen, aud the three white
headstones Of the three departed hus-
bands glttered brightly in the little
family burying ground not far away. /
involuntarily glanced in that direction.
Mrs Babson made her appearance be.
fore very long, with her usual mournfnl-
ly beaming countelance and her usual
apologies for negligent appearance. You
always do ketch me lookin' Jest so. MIS-
Smith; but | hev so many things to tend
10 that hey To- hurry through with my
housework the best way kin m not
etnr, IN fix nm much I've been maxim
apple pies this mornin' m it always
breaks me down to make apple pies; for
there was my first husbsn', there warnt