Sharp County record., 1885-11-05
MIR. PATTERSON'S MISTAKE.
A Chance Proposal, and It's
Happy Result.


Peter Patterson was ill-at least he
thought so-and depressed; he had a
headache; and he hated the dusty
streets, in which the summer heat
burnt and the summer sun shone before
the green leaves had draped the trees,
and potted geraniumS, which had come
to be so blessedly popular in New York.
lent their summer freshness.
"What shall l do, doctor?' he said
to the white-headed old physician.
'You say nothing ails me, but l can
tell what my feelings are better than
YOU can. know | shall be down with
something soon. I rode in car with
a half-dozen dirty children the other
day-to the smallpox hospital, l
haven't a doubt-very red and nasty
looking, all of them; and while l was
buving something in a store down
Broadway the other day a horrid Old
woman begged of me because her huS-
band was sick with typhoid fever No
doubt | have caught both diseases, and
it's the complication that puzzles you.
Couldn't relish my coffee this morning;
left nv milk-toast untouched. Hateful
life, that of bachelor at hotel. Oh,
W why don't you marry, them" said
the doctor.
"They need so much counting said
Patterson. "You spend six months or so
at least, dangling at woman'S apron
strings. You must 90 to the theater
and opera if she is gay and to church
if she is pious. At fifty man likes his
slippers and dreSsing-gOwn and char
of an evening If it was just stepping
over to the clergyman's and getting
married, putting a ring on her hnger
and saying Or nodding yes two or
three times, why, wouldn't mind 1t,
you know"
"Ah, well, counting is the fun of it
all, in my opinion" said the OLD
doctor, " but every one to his taste.
And my advice to you is to get out into
the country"
ITO another hotel and more merce-
nary walters" said Mr.. Patterson.
No" said the doctor; "go to
nice, private home. l know one-a
motherly widow lady, who cooks a din
ner fit for Il King. River before the
house, woods behind it, orchard to the
left, kitchen garden to the right; no
fever and ague; no mosquitoes. Heay-
enly! | am going up there tomorrow,
and I'll see if she'll take you.
Every well, " said MIR. Patterson; Il
think will try it," -,
"And you must drink plenty OF milk
and eat plenty Of nice homemade
bread"
Eyes, will" said Patterson, over
loved at last at hearing something
that sounded like prescription. "And
YOU would advise milk?"
Quart of it every day, said the
doctor.
.Pll take a note of it," said Patter-
son. "and if should be very ill she IL
nurse me-"
"Splenddly," said the doctor, and
went his way.
Mr.. Patterson thought the matter
over and thought better of IL every day,
and when the little note informing him
that the widow would be willing to
take him in and do for him. reached
him. he had his trunk and portmanteau
already packed, and was already to
start that afternoon. As for the widow,
the doctor had prepared her for her
boarder's peculiarities thus:
'Nice fellow; social; plenty OF
money; thinks himself i'll, but isn't;
ought to be married; told him so, but
he hates the idea of courting; marry off
some day, no doubt will you have
me?' Yes Call in clergyman. Over
Very peculiar old bachelor, but then
old bachelors are peculiar, generally "
The widow was what the Yankees
call an amazing smart woman. She
had married at sixteen, and had never
failed to have her washing over when
other people were hanging out theirs
Her bread always rose, her cake was
always good and her butter always
sweet. At forty-fve she had married
off all her daughters, was well-to-dO,
buxom and happy.
Her son and his wife boarded with
her, and she added to her plentiful saw
ings by taking q summer boarder or
two. if they happened TO offer