The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-06-22
CHOOSING A WIFE.

CHOOSING A WIFE.
In from the bayfield, came John West
lake and went into the cool sitting-room,
threw himself upon sofa, picked up a
paper and read as follows:
"a young man having matrimony in view
Should ascertain before taking this important
step what the housekeeping abilities of his in
tended one are. Many man has had both
fortune and happiness wrecked by overlook
ingthis important point. lit
u ANY man, byfa little strategy, can obtain
che desired information; he can have some
business at her fathers house early in the
morning, or if she lives by the roadside he can
ride by and glance in at the open door or win
dow and thus see which, mother or daughter
cooks the breakfast.
"Or he can take q position behind some tree
in the orchard, commanding a view of the
barn-yard, and find out who does the milking
the knowledge can be obtained, and it should
be obtained by some MEANS and in this case
the end justities the means"
What paper is thisP'' said John,
looking for the heading. "The Cramp-
ton Herald. Yes, and this is good ad-
vice for farmers son. Now" solilo-
quized he, II have about concluded
to marry Mary Johnson-th is, if she
will have me, and / think she will-but
must confess that do not know much
about her abilities as a house-keeper.
know that everything in their house
that IS, as lar as / have seems in per-
feet order; but who takes care of the
house don t know-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 argues
somewhat against her knowledge of
domestic affairs will find out.
John, dinner,'' said his little sister
Kate, poIing her curly head in at the
door.
While eating, John outlined plan of
operation.
81 WILL" thought he, ''get up early
tomorrow morning, 90 across the
meadow to Johnson's corn-feld, then
through the corn-field to the barn-yard,
cross the barn-yard to the meadow
fence, and then creep along this until l
get to the bushes in front of the sum-
mer-kitchen window, where will hide,
and there, not more than rod away, [
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-
ton and ease Of execution.
81 will tell Mary" said he, "of my
strategy after we are married-that is,
il 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-
tected my vision. And again, getting
married ssaid to be like putting your
hand into bag in which are ninety
nine snakes and one eel, and know Just
where toreach for it." #
Next morning John arose very early,
dressed quickly, and went down stairs
very quietly. j r
Going first to the barn he went half
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, 90
home!'~ exclaimed John, fiercely.
Nero looked up into his masters face
with an injured expression, then turned
round and trotted slowly homeward
@The confounded old scamp,p NUT
tered John, "would have all the
Squirrels dogs about me in less than
minute, and then goodbye to my plan.
Mary Johnson was the daughter, as
we have seen, of Squire johnson, who
lived on the farm adjoining Westlake's.
She was ashandsome, intelligent Girl,
and Of course q good house7keeper, as
most intelligent country girls are, and
as all girls ought to be. Mary's several
years at school had made some change
in her but John found to his sorrow
thatlshe had lost the habit of early
rising.
This morning she arose somewhat
earlier than usual and went to the barn
yard to do the milking. AS she was
about to begin she glanced towards the
corn-tleld and saw some one coming.
"Who can that bepn she said. f'As
sure as the world it's John Westlake! I
wonder what he is afterl And he's
coming right here, and I've nothing on
but this thin gown! Oh, dear! what
shall l do?"
Her first impulse was to run, but OBJ
serving that he was coming very eau
tiously, as if in fear of being seen, and
knowing that she was undiscovered,
curiosity prompted her to stay; so glid-
ing behind hay-stack near by, she was
IN position to note his actions undis-
covered
Coming to the barn-yard, he ran
across it, in a half-stooping posture, to
the meadow fence. Getting inside, he
began to creep along the fence towards
the house, much like a savage trying to
steal upon his enemy.
"What does he meanP'' said Mary.
her blue eyes dilating in wonder.
The summer-kitchen was short dis
lance from the main building and be-
tween it and the meadow fence was the
spring.
From the spring issued quite large
stream, flowing under the fence and
across the meadow. Where it flowed
Uluer the fence, near the summer kItch-
en-, was small but dense thicket of
alders, briars and wild grape-vines.
This was the point for which John
was making.
Arriving within a few rods of the
house, ne ran, STOPPING, across the lit
tie open space of meadow between the
fence and stream then, behind the
alders that lined the bank he hurried
along until he reached the thicket, into
which he crawled. and fixed himself %
that he could have view of the win
dow.
Mary's eyes flashed in anger.
$50, John, said she, s.you have
been reading the Champion Herald.
Well, we'll see how much information
you'll obtain for your trouble. Z
Then, taking roundabout way, so
that he might not see her, Mary entered