Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-15
HOBSON'S CHOICE.

WY wen, out tney can I provide Tor q man IKE
wife, and, besides. Phemy can't stay with you
always. Philader Dunn is nigh about tired
waiting for her now. and it amt right to keep
Young folks apart so. You'd ought to be mar
ried
Uncle Joc Badger tipped his chair back to a
/ more comfortable angle and looked abstracteGly
at his boots. He was tall and ank and not at
all good-looking: but very few people We're that
in West Canton. and as owner of the Badger
farm, he felt able to dispense with other claims
to regard. Besides. good looks belonged to
young people. and Uncle Joe did not deny his
half-century of experience.
We'll. he said slowly, | spose you re about
right. Phemy- He sighed he spoke. but it
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 needed preimina-
Tira.
You've waited a proper time" Aunt Phemy
went on. answering hat half OF the sigh which
referred to her sister: land 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 hcr match in Canton. She was Just the
chipperest woman about a house most ever
see. an she'd he the last person to want YOU
unhappy for lack OF some one in her place.
We'll, that : so. [ ncle Joe asscnted. with a
shade more animation.
Did she speak Of any one in uarticIllar2"
Aunt Pheiny asked ''Shc was ALWAYS fond of
Cynthy BaScGm. ] know. She told me once she
thought Cynthyd make such a good step
other
There's no call to talk of ster-mother Uncle
Joe returned, with iiarrit an Josephine set
tied in hofne, of their own out west and Phemy
ALL ready to rel married.
Evidently his fancy was not caught by Cynthy
Rascom's virtues. Aunt Phemy saw it. and
yccred at once. Well. that's true enough; an
tIJ * Oh,
looks. Now there's the wilder Hood; she's full
as sI'ry. an she's fine appcarin'"
But she's got Children
"Oniy one 80 home. Dan provides for himself
now All they d never be any expense to YOU.
inr they We got MONEY comm from their grand
father
81 don't bhevc HetJs d. like widder." Uncle
Joe said, failing back now, as in her life behind
her apron she was always sot against wild
ders narryin agin, least ways if they had chill
dren."
We'll there's Corneely Bugbce: she's suitable
for age. turned forty. know an a master-hand
TO work shed manage the farm for you an
take care of you eft you got down with rheulna-
w a@in An you know the doctor said you was
Liable to another attack at any time It's YOUR
dooty to think of that. Joseph"
Yes. but Corneely. now-ain't she ruher-
sorter-o,d and dommeering, SO to speak,"
ventured Uncle Joe merky
There's Jane Hotchkiss but she's sort o.
noon. An DiOdemy Barnes she's too young
why. dunno. answered the her. doubt
fully she must be nigh Oh to tlirty-seven
amt she:''
Well. / shouldn't wonder if she was his
adviser remarked. after minutes pause TO
thln@ the matter over. There's Maria Stone
II you want some one Younger. Or Abby Steb-
bins. though I'm tree to confess she'd never be
my chice.''
Vow. l always thought well of Abby. and so
~ Holt g,,I,y.
happier if site had a husband. An Maria's took
good care OF her old father YOU know
Well answered Aunt Phemy. lit amt
VIE for me I'm a-seectin', and if you fancy
Maria or Abby, it's your own business. But /
hope You II make up your mind RIGHT Off .Io-
seph. Wiiowers amt expected to shillyshaIly.
Every body knows what they're after the first
time they come. an you might as we'll saw if
straight out Jest. get yourselfready some sun
day night. an 20 see Ole of EN-. an have it off
Your mina. IL : between harvest and threshin'
You coulit't have a better time
But from Ills awful proposal Uncle Joe re-
cooled. He was willing 70 marry il his sster-in-
la" thought best; but he'tcok such alarm at the
mention OF IL" neeiiul steps toward it, that at
last. III Shccr pity. Aunt Phemy volunteered to
see the elect lady. and sound the matter for
him. liz consideration OF that favor. Uncle Joe
-eit the selection pretty much to her.
jest what YOU think best. Phemy" he re-
peated nXipusly, a. he rose to 20 Il dunno AS
We might of choice myself"
But Aunt Pheny had. and when mex. day she
put on her stlil-bOnnet. took her knitting and
dropped in tor q friendly call on Miss Maria
Stone. II was with peculiar purpose. 1t was u
plain Indication of Providence. to her mind that
the Stone wood-lot adjoined the Badger farm.
since Uncle JOe's own piece of timber was
nearly cut away. Her father was old and partly
helpless from stroke of paralysis. There were
but the two daughters and nothing seemed
easier than that Prudence the younger. should
W Maria 70
home OF her own. And Maria was a famous
manager. She could run both hOmesteads if
she chose; and Mrs Smith. benevolentiy arrang-
Ing the affair, felt quite sure in her own mind
that she would
Miss Maria was tan, angular, homely. It
would not have seemed wildly unciaritabIe TO
suppose these the reasons why at the age OF AZ
she was still unmarried But the lady herself
always remarked, significantly. when approached
on the subject. that every woman had her
chances. and the lucky ones were those that
never hai cauS" to regret them-a Pythian ut
t''fance which always silenced inquiry She re-
crived Aunt Phemy as cordially as the reserved
fashions Of the house permitted, and good Mrs.
Smith thought this a favorable omen.
Il was sayin' only yesterday to father what a
time II vas scnce we'd had q visit from YOU
Now lest SCI down. and take off your things
and spend The afternoon. Father'll he so
pleased TO see you. shut UP as we've been for
TIE last three months. it does one sight OF
@ocs To see some company"
well dunno Aunt Phemy hesita ed mod
estly. Il only Jest dronFcd in: but scncc you're
50 trrent-Ao. no. III Jest drop my bonnet off
here tres!sting Miss MaIias attelnnt to take
IT, lies gone to mil to-day. an the want
nobody but the cat to hum. 1t seemed sort O.
lonesome. an set me- to thinking of you. An
how is y"ur father: He don't get over his
stroke, hear:
ION. he good deal better Of it. He sets up
most all dag now. and he gets out about the
farm some. He's down in the south lot now
with Prudy. but he'll he back soon. He likes to
keep an eye or things HIMSELF
well. you Ito hey your hands about full. don't
yCr Miss Stone" began Mrs. Smith, who con-
sidcr,ng the absence of the others a favorable
diSrenSatiOn OF Providence. rather hurried to her
mission. The folks wouldn't know what to do
without YOU. But it's little confinin'. to my
thinhin. for a woman like you. Ie'd ought to
GET out more. i scarce ever see you TO mretn
an you don't know what You lose. Parson Bel
lows give Us powerful sermon last sunday"
NO. / can't get out much" Miss Maria
answered. and Aunt Phemy fancied q LITTLE sad
Ness in her look and tone. Father seems to
need Inc most all the time. and there's a good
deal TO see about the farm .:Dcl is honest and
faithful, but lie haint InUcl read and of course
being the oldest, take most OF the care of
things"
Now | should think vcntured Aunt Phemv.
''Piue an you'd take turns seem to things. an
tahin care o yOur father. You could get out
more then an il nd sort o divide equal-cares
an pleasures. aS the hymn-took saws II Won
was 20 cit married. now. what would they do:"
We'll, don't know as I'm thinking Of mar
ring returned Miss Maria modesfIy. bnt bor