The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-30
HOBSON,S CHOICE.

"The fact of it Is, Joseph,'s AUNT Phefny
Smith was saying, her knitting-needles piosed
in air, YOU'D ought to get married. Girls
are all very well, but they can't provide for a
man like wife, and, BESIDES Phemy can't
stay with you always. Philander Dunn is nigh
about tired waiting for her now, and it ain t
right to keep young folks apart so. You'd
ought to be married.
Uncle Joe Badger tipped his chair back to a
more comfortable angle, and looked abstract
edly at his boots. He was tall and lank, and
not at all goOd-looking; but very few people
were that in West Canton, and as owner of the
Badger farm, he felt able to dispense with 9th
er claims to regard Besides good looks be-
longed to young people, and Uncle Joe did
not deny his half-century of experience.
Well" he said, slowly, 81 s'pose you're
about right, Phemy.n He sighed as he spoke,
but it was not all in memory of the wife of his
youth Partly also the difficulties involved in
the choice of her successor depressed his soul.
He was shy man, and he dreaded the needfu
preliminaries.
" You've waited proper time" Aunt Phe-
my went on, answering that half of the sigh
which referred to her sister; "and I'd be the
last one to want you to marry in unbecomin'
haste. Hetty was a good wife, and it amt
likely you can find her match in Canton. She
was jest the chipperest woman about a house
/ most ever see, an she'd be the last person
to want you unhappy for lack of some one in
her place"
well, that's So" Uncle Joe assented, with
a shade more animation; an l remember now
jest about a week before she died, she said
suthin like that. But | didn't see no call 10
take it serious then" He sighed again, look
ing out from the broad porch where they sat-
past the wheat-tield and woodland to the de-
serted graveyard on the hill. Even at that
distance one could see the glimmer of the
white stones in the sunshine.
''Did she speak of any one in PARTICULAR"
Aunt Phemy asked. ''She was always fond of
Cynthy Bascom, | know. She told me once
she thought Cynthy ID make such good step
mother"
''Theres no call to talk of step-mother,"
Uncle Joe returned with Harrit an jose
phine settled in homes of their own out West,
and Phemy all ready to be married"
Evidently his fancy was not caught by Gym
thy Bascoms virtues Aunt Phemy saw it
and veered at once. swell, that's true enough
an if Cynth is smart she's not much to speak
of in looks. Now there's the wilder Hood:
she's full as spry, an she's tine-appearin'."
''But she's got children"
"Only one to home. Dan provides for him
self now, an they'd never be no expense to
you, for they've got money comm from their
grandfather"
Il don't b'lieve Hetty d like widder,"
Uncle Joe said falling back now, as in her
life, behind her apron. ''She was always sot
a:ginst widders marryin' agin, leastways if they
had children"
''Well, there's Corneely Bugbee; she's suita-
BILE for age, turned forty, know, an master
hand to work. She'd manage the farm for YOU
an take care of you eff you got down with
rheumatic agin. An you know the doctor
said you was liable to another attack any time.
It's YOUR dooty to think of that, Joseph.n
eyes, but Corneely, now-ain't she ruther
-sorter-old-and domineering, SO to speak! 2"
ventured Uncle Joe, meekly.
There's Jane Hotchkiss, but she's sort o.
shiftless; never gifts her washn' out before
noon. An Diodeny Barnes, she's too young"
"Why, dunno, answered the other, doubt
fully. "She must be nigh on to thirty-seven
or So amt she?'
"Well, shouldn't wonder if she was" his
adviser remarked, after minutes pause to
think the matter over. "But she amt very
healthy. Now let me see."
For in truth the field was narrowing West
Canton was full of spinsters and widows, and
Joseph Badger could certainly pick and choose.
But even he could not be too critical Aunt
Phemy saw the need of a little diplomacy, and
took her cue from his last remark.
"Ihere's Maria Stone. if you want some one
younger Or Abby Stebbins, though Pm free
TO confess she'd never be my ch'ice.n
Now always thought well of Abby and
so did Hetty. She said once she thought she d
be happier if she had husband. AM Maria's
took good care of her old father, you know"
"Wel," answered Aunt Phemy, sit amt a
VINE loI me Ill selecCln', an III you fancy
Maria or Abby it's your own business. But |
hope you'll make up your mind right off,
Joseph Widowers amt expected to shilly-
shally. Everybody knows what they're after
the first time they come, an you might as well
say it straight out. Jest git yourself ready
come Sunday night, an go see one of 'em, an
have it off your mind. It's between harvest
and threshin' You couldn't have a better
time"
But from this awful proposal Uncle Joe re-
coiled. He was willing to marry if his sister
in-law thought best; but he took such alarm
at the mention OF the needful 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 left the selection pretty much
to her.
'Jest which you think best Phemy," he
repeated, anxiously as he rose to 90. 81
dunno as rve mite o. choice myself"
But Aunt Phemy had, and when next day
sheput on her sun bonnet, took her knitting
and dropped in for friendly call on Miss
Maria Stone, it was with a peculiar purpose
1t was a plain indication of Providence, to her
mind, that the Stone wouldlot adjoined the
Badger farm, since Uncle Joe's own 'piece OF
timber" was nearly cut away. Her father was
old and partly helpless from a stroke of paray.
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 home of her own. And Maria
was famous manager. She could run both
homesteads II she chose and Mrs Smith, be
nevolently arranging the affair felt quite sure
in her own mind that she would.
Miss Maria was tail, angular, homely. Il
would not have seemed wildly uncharitable tc
suppose these the reasons why at the ripe ag,
Of forty-two she was still unmarried. But thu
lady herself always remarked Significantly
when approached on on the subject, that ever,
woman had her chances, and the lucky onei
were those that never had cause to regre
them-a Pythian utterance which always 81
fenced inquiry She received Aunt Phemy a
cordially as the reserved fashions OF the hous
permitted, and good Mrs. Smith thought thi
favorable omen.
% was sayin' only yesterday to father wha
a time It was sence we'd had visit from you
Now just set down and take off your things
and spend the afternoon. Father III be 81