The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-09-29
HoBsoN.s CHOICE.

lVDSON y NiiVtNL
"The fact o. it is. Joseph y Aunt Fhemy
Smith was saving. her knitting needles posed
in air. you'd ought to gel married; Girl
are.aH very wei, but they can't provide for a
man like wife, and, besides Phemy can't
stay with YOU always. Phllnder Dunn is nigh
about tired waiting for her now, aud il ain
right To Keep young folks apart so You'd
ought TO be married.
Uncle Joe Badger TIPPED his ehaiT back to a
more comfortable angle, and looked abstract
edly ut his baots. lie was tall an laak, aud
rot at all good looking; but very few people
were that in West Can on, and rs owner OF the
badger farm. H. FELT able TO dispense with 9th
er claims to regard Besides, guod looks be
ionccl To Young people, aud Uncle Joe did
not dcnv his half century of experience.
" WE'LL he said, slowly. Il s'poSe you're
about right. fhctny.n He sighed as he spoke,
but il was not all in memory Of the vile OF his
Youth Partly also the difficult les involved in
the choice OF her successo depressed his soul.
lie was shy man and he dreaded he need III
preliniiparics.
g You've waited proper time, /" Aunt Phe-
my went on. answering that half OF the sigh
which referred To her sister; - AMI Ia he the
last one to want yOu TO marry in unbecomin
haste. ilctty was "A COOL wife, and il ain [
likely you can find her match in Canton. She
was jest the caippcrest woman about u house
most ever see, an she'd be the last person
10 want Won unhappy FOR lack OF some one in
her place. y
jest about a week before she died she said
suthin' like that But didn't see no call 80
take il serious them He sighed again, look
ing out from the hrOad porch where they sat-
past the whcat-ield aud woodland O the de
serted grave yard on the hill Even At that
distance one could see the glinner OF the
whit stones la the sunshine.
"Dil she speak OF any one IN particular!i
Aunt henry asked = IL was always fond OF
G nthy Bascem. know. She told me once
she Thought Cynthy u make sucha good step
mo her"
There's no call 10 talk OF step-mother.''
Uncle Joe returned with Harrit an jose
pine settled in homes 0f their own out West,
aud Phcmy all really 10 be married.
Evidently his fancy was not caught by Gym
thy ilascom's virtues Aunt Phcmy il
and veered al once. '.Well, that's true enough
an il Cynth is smart She, not much to speak
of in looks. Now there's the wilder iiopI;
she's fun rs spry, an she's ine aPpearin'.n
''l'ut she's got children
'-Only one "a hoinr. ban provides for him
sell now, aa' theA d never he no expense 70
you. for they've got money comin' from their
grandfather
II don't b'lievc. IIetty Il like n wider
Uncle Joe said falling back NOW, as in h-r
aginst widders marryin a@in, leastyays il they
had children
"Wrll, there's Corneely Bugbee; she's suita.
hle for age, turned forty, know. an master
hand to work. She'd manage the farm for YOU
an take care of you ef YOU got down with
Rheumatic agin. An yOn know the doctor
said you WAS liable to another attack any time.
It's YOUR dooty to think of that. Joseph
Yes, but CorRccly, now-ain't she ruther
-sor er-old-and ,lomneering, so o spcak:'
ventured Uncle Joe. meeilly.
There's Jane iIotchkiss, but she's sort o
shfffirsS: never e-fts her washn' ont before
noon. An Diodeny Barnes, she's too young
"Why, ! Dunno answered the other, doubt
fully. ''She must be nigh on 10 thirty seven
or so amt shes''
.'weil, shouiln't wonder If she was" his
adviser remarked, after minutes pause %
think the matter over. ''But she amt very
healthy. Now let me see"
For in truth the field was narrowing. West
Canton was fun of spinsfers aud widows, and
Joseph Badger could certainly pick and choose.
But even lac could not be too critical Aunt
Ihemy saw the need OF little diplomacy, aud
took her cue from his last. remark
There's Maria stone. i you want some one
younger. Or Abby Stebbiils though I'm free
TO confess she'd never b my chTce.r
'Now, always thought well OF Abby, and
so did Hetty- She said once she tn pughr she'd
he happier If she had husband. An Nlaria's
took good care OF her old father, yea know
''Weil," answered Aant Phemy, sit amt
wife for me I'm selectin', an If you fancy
Maria or Abby. ts's your own business But /
hope you'll make up your mind right of
Joseph. Widowers amt expected to shiliv-
shally. Everybody knows what they're after
The first time they come, an' YOU might as well
say it straight out jest cit Yourself ready
come sunday night, au' go see one of EN- an
have II OF yonr mind It's between harvest
and threshin' You couldn't have bet er
time"
But from this awful proposal Uncle Joe re-
cooled. lie was willing 10 marry If his sister
in-law thought best; but he took such alarm
at the mention of the necdfui steps toward it
that at last, in sheer pity, Aunt Phemy volun-
teered To see the elect lady, and sound the
matter for him. In consideration OF that
favor, Uncle Joe lief the selection pretty much
to her.
''.Tess which you think hest Phernv.p he
repeated, anxiously, as he rose to go. al
dunno as Eve a mite o choice myselfn
But Aunt Phemy hail. and when next 6ay
she put on her sun-b met. took her knitting.
and dropped in for friendly call N Miss
Maria Stone IL was with peculiar burmese
IL was plain indication of Providence to her
mind, that the Stone would-lot adjoined the
Badger farm, since Uncle Joe's-own s.piece of
timber" was nearly cut away. Her father was
old and partly helpless from stroke of paraly-
sis. There were but the two daughters. and
nothing seemed easier than that Prudence the
Younger, should take her sisters place when
Maria went to a home of her own And Maria
was a famous manager. She could run both
homcsteaas IL she chose; and Mrs. Smith. be-
neyolcnty arranging the affair. felt quite sure
in her own mind that she would.
Miss Maria tall, angular homeIy II
would not have seemed wildly uncharitable to
suppose these the reasons why at the ripe ace
of forty-two she was still unmarried But the
lady herself always remarked, significantly
when approached on on the subject, that every
woman had her chances, anu the lucky ones
were those that never had Cause to regret
them-a Pythiau utterance which always 81
fenced inquiry She received Aunt Phemy as
cordially as the reserved fashions OF the house
permitted, and good Mrs. Smit thought this
favorable omen.
- was sayin only yesterday to father what
3 time 1t was sence we'd lad visit from YOU
Now just set down and AXE of your things,
and spend the .aftern BON. Father III be so
pleased to see you Slut up as we've been
The last three months II does one sight o.
good TO see some company"
- Whv 1np,ap - Ann
modestly. . only est dropped in; but sence
YOU'RE so urgent No, no I'H lest drop nv
bonnet OF here ffesisting Miss Maria's at
tempt TO take it, He's gone to mill to day,
an the Want nobt DIV but the cat to hunt Il
seemed sor o loness me, an set me thnkin'
OF you. s been along spell sence see YOU
An how is your fathesN He don't git over his
stroke, hear.n
80, he's a good deal SNetter of l.. He sets
up most all DAY now, aud he gets out about
The farm some. He's down. i'm the south lot
now with Prudy, but hen be back soon. He
likes to keep an eye on things hfmselfr
swell, YOU do hev your hands about full.
1on't Won, Miss stone?' began Mrs Smith,
who, considering the absence of the others a
favorable dispensation of Providence. rather
buried to her mission. THE folks wouldn't
know what to do without you. But IFS a
little coninin', to my thinkin,' for a woman
like YOU. fe'd ought to git out more.
source ever see you to meetin', an you don't
know what you lose. Parson Bellows give us
powerful sermon last Sunday
mo, can't git out much Miss Maria an
swered, and Aunt Phemy fancIed little sad |
cess IN her look and tone. 'sFa her seems TO |
need me most all The time, and there's a good |
Zeal TO see TO about the farm. Joel is honest /
and faithful, but he hain't much head, and of /
course, being the oldest, take most of the 1
care OF things"
Snow ! should Think veniured Aunt I
Phemy, "Prue an you'd lake turns seein' to !
things an takin' care o. your father You
could git cut more then. an it 'ud sort o. di-
~ eeqal-cares an pleasures, as the hymn