Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-06-22
CHOOSING A WIFE.

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CHOOSING A WIFE.
In from the bayfield, came John West
lake and went into the cool sitting-room,
threw himself upon sofa, picked up n
paper, and read as follows:
"a young man having matrimony in view
should ascertain before taking this important
stepwhat the housekeeping abilities of his in
tended one are. Many man has had both
fortune and happiness wrecked by overlook
ing this important point
ANY man, by little strategy, can obtain
the desired information; he can have some
business ut her fathers house early in the
morning, or IL she lives by the roadside he can
ride by aud glance in at the open door or win
dow and thus see which, mother or daughter,
cooks the breakfast.
"0r he can take position behind some tree
barn-yard, and find out who does the milking
the knowledge can be obtained, and II should
the end iustfes the means"
What paper is this?" said John,
looking for the heading. "The Cramp-
ton Herald. Yes, and this is good ad-
vice for farmers son. Now,n solilo-
quized he, "I have about concluded
to marry Mary Johnson-that is, if she
will have me, and l think she will-but
must confess that do not know much
about her abilities rs house-kcapCr. 7
know that everything in their house
that is, as far as / have seen--is in per-
feet order; but who takes care of the
house j don't tknow-perhaps Mary, per-
haps Mrs. johnson. Mary, l know, has
taste, for she comes into company as
neatly dressed as any young woman in
the neighborhood; but then she has had
the advantage of two or three years
city schooling, which fact may account
for her knowledge of dress, but it ergues
somewhat against her knowledge of
domestic affairs-but will find out.
"John, dinner" said his little sister
Kate, poking her curly head in at the
door,
While eating, John outlined plan of
operation.
"Iwill," thought he, "get up early
tomorrow morning, go across the
meadow to Johnson's corn-field, then
through the corn-feld to the barn-yard,
cross the barn-yard to- the meadow
fence, and then creep along this until
get to the bushes in front of the sum-
mer-kitchcn window, where / will hide.
and there, not more than u rod away, l
can see everything that goes on.
''What splendid General I'd make"
said he, chuckling, as he went to the
field by himself; and the more he con-
templated his plan the more he became
convinced of its brilliancy of concep-
tion and ease of execution.
II will tell Mary" said he, "of my
strategy after we are married-that is,
if she suits me, and | think she will.
Love-" continued he, sis said to be
blind, but will show Mr., Cupid that if
he has pierced my heart he has not af-
fected my vision. And again, getting
married is said to be like putting your
hand. into bag in which are ninety
nine snakes and one eel, and know Just
where to reach for it,.
Next morning John arose very early,
dressed quickly, and went down stairs
very quietly.
Going first to the barn he went hal
way around it to get it between himself
and the house, and then struck bee
line across the new-mown meadow to-
wards Squire Johnson's corn-feld.
He had not gone far before he heard
noise behind him, and looking around
he saw his old dog Nero at his heels.
go home, you old scoundrel, &C
home!" exclaimed John, fiercely.
Nero looked up into his masters fac,
with an injured expression, then turned
round and trotted slowly homeward
"The confounded old scamp" nut
tered John, "would have all tn,
'Squire's dogs about me in less than
minute, and then goodbye to my plan.
Mary johnson was the daughter, Il
we have seen, of Squire johnson, VIII,
lived on the farm adjoining Westlake's Is
She was a handsome, intelligent girl
and of course good hogse-keeper, n
most intelligent country girls are, an,
as all girls ought to be. Mary's severa
years at school had made some chang
that she had not lost the habit of earl
rising
This morning she arose somewha
earlier than usual and went to the barn
yard to do the milking. Az she wa
about to begin she glanced towards tn
corn-field and saw some one coming.
"Who can that bep" she said. IA
sure as the world it's John Westlake!
wonder what he is after And he
coming right here, and I've nothing o
but this thin gown! Oh, dear! wha
shall dop"
Her first impulse was to run, but oil
serving that he was coming very eau
tiously, as if in fear of being seen, an
knowing that she was undiscovered
curiosity prompted her to stay; so glid
ing behind hay-stack near by she wa
in a position to note his actions undis
covered.
Coming to the barn-yard, he IA
across it, in half-stooping posture,
the meadow fence. Getting inside,
began to creep along the fence toward
the house, much like a savage trying
steal upon his enemy.
"What does he meanP" said Mary
her blue eyes dilating in wonder.
The summer-kitchen was short dil
tance from the main building and b,
tween it and the meadow fence was th
spring.
From the spring issued quite a larg
stream, flowing under the fence an
across the meadow. Where it fowe
under the fence, near the summer kitcl
en-, was small but dense thicket
alders, briars and wild grape-vines.
This was the point for which Joh
was making.
Arriving within few rods of I'll
house, he ran, STOPPING, across the Ii
tie open space OF meadow between I'll
fence and stream then, behind I'll
alders that lined the bank he hurrie
along until he reached the thicket, int
which he crawled, and fixed himself {
that he could have view Of the viii
dow
Mary's eyes flashed in anger.
$50, john" said she, "you ha,
been reading the Champion Heral,
Well, we'll see how much informatio
you'll obtain for your trouble"
that Ss might % %, .so nSISUp, Sar Isp, w sni.,,