Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-04-30
a little silence fell upon US. Sam broke

little silence fell upon US. Sam broke
it.
81 say, girls, I've been thinking"
Nonsense ~ interrupted Bertha.
"We can't believe that, you Know"
''Of your nonsense" pursued Sam.
SIT will bring us Miss Raspberry Vine
gar for a step-mother, If We are not
careful"
Sand if We are careful, too, fear,"
remarked /.
NO." said Sam, decidedly. "There
is another aspirant for that doubtful
honor"
"Who ?" asked Bertha, eagerly.
Sam assumed look of preternatural
gravity, slowly closed his left eye and
as slowly opened it.
81 know but one person whom L
could bear to see mistress here" said
I-'dear Mrs. Wood, of Fosse Cot
tage."
(which she is the very identical !"
exclaimed Sam.
what do you mean ?" was my re-
joinder.
THAT this amiable widow. fair, fat,
and forty, bushes like a schoolgirl,
when one Martin Venney pays her or
dinary attentions"
Dear little lady," said Bertha. "I
could call her mether.'-
"Y ou shall have that pleasure, as
serted Sam, a wicked twinkle in his
eye. 81 am about to make her an Of
fer"
s'You 2"
by letter-in the pdter's name, of
course-and she will not refuse it,"
And the pdter ?"
Must make the best of the situa-
ton. If he declines to accept it, he is
too thorough gentleman to marry an
other woman for many long months,
at least"
l listened with mute amazement.
Madcap Sam was displaying method
in his madness. Here was scheme,
wild enough, but feasible, and one that
promised to effect that great end, the
discontinue of Miss Raspberry Vine
gar.
'Draw up to the table girls" said
Sam, land let us each write draft of
the pdter's love letter; but l depend on
yours, Madge."
For some minutes there was no sound
but the scratch, scratch of our three
pens; but soon became conscious that
two had ceased TO fly over the paper.
Looking up, / saw Bertha nibbling her
quill in a perplexed and meditative
way, and Master Sam with one hand
pressed to his heart and the other out
stretched to her, his whole attitude ex-
pressive of extreme devotion. Bertha
and | burst into a roar of laughter,
whereupon he gravely rebuked US for
''unseemly l6vity and waste of precious
time" scolding us until we resumed
work. Five minutes later our compos-
itions were finished, and Sam proceeded
to read his own.
Dear Mrs. Wood,-Why should you
and be content with single wretched-
ness, when welded bliss can be so easi-
" assured ? | have a fair income, a
good position, a large house and small
family. With respect to the last, L
must own that Madge is of somewhat
uncertain temper"-here made dash
at his hair, and gave it good tug
''and Bertha as harum-scarum a young
NOu W lol W oCC
here Bertha jumped up and boxed his
ears pretty sOandly-''but my dear boy
Sam, the hope and joy Of my heart, is
so staid, so studious, so sweet-tempered,
and so perfect IN every way that he
more than atones for the shortcomings
of the others. Will you be mother
to them, and the hOnOred wife of your
devoted admirer,
MARTIN VENNEY 2"
"Ridiculousl" said Bertha.
"Then we will hear yours" replied
Sam, snatching it from her fingers.
"Listenp'-and with ludicous and
exaggerated emphasis, he read the fol-
lowing
Adorable Cbarmer-Your manifold
perfections have kindled so intense a
flame in a heart haG deemed almost
insensible to woman's wiles that the
great desire of my life is to call you
mine. To describe the rapture of love
which fills this manly breast is indeed
impossible; to make you feel 1t in some
degree, If you will come to these dear
arms as my dear wife, is the hope OF
my existence.
"Pretty strong" said Sam, ''for
forty-fve and forty. Read yours,
Madge."
"My dear Madam-I have come to
believe, for the second time in my life,
that it is not good for man to be alone
and it is your sweetness Of disposition.
your goodness and amiability, and the
certainty that in you my dear children
G,,d
that have brought me to this convic.
ton. 1 cannot offer you that passion.
ate regard which is youths preroga
tive, for my youth, dear Madam, l:
over, and l am forty-fiye years Of age.
But L can give you the deepest and
truest affection, and it shall be my
first aim, if you will confide your hap
piness to my keeping as your husband
to prove worthy of the trust. What
ever may be your reply, believe ne,
dear Madam, always faithfully and af'
fectionately yours,
MARTIN VENNEY."
"Here goes mine," cried Bertha,
tearing her sheet in two.
"And mine!'' laughed Sam, follow
ing suit.
'sAnd mine" said L.
'sNot SO fast, old lady," chuckled
Sam, snatching it from me. Why
yours is the precise thingl 1 will copy
and post it in ten minutes; then you
may have your precious h.ndwork'.
We had one days breathing time
for, unless Mrs. Wood replied by spec
ial messenger, her letter would not ar
rive till the second morning. All thre'
of us were guilty quite; but our fathel
did not observe it. He startled us a
dinner by remarking-
"I called on Mrs. Wood yesterday
TO ask if she would join me in soup
kitchen scheme"
"Did she consentf" 1 inquired.
"She asked a day or two for consider
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