Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-01-07
Cured.

1etcf Patterson WAS lll-du leaoo ho
thought so-and depressed; he had a
headache and he hated the duty 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 do, doctor?' he said.
You say nothing ais me, but | can
tell what my feelings are better than
you can. I know shall be down With
something soon. l rode in car with
a half-dozen dirty children the other
day-to the smallpox hospital, have
not a doubt-very red and nasty-look
ing all of them; and while was buy
ing something in store down Broad =
way the other day horrid old woman
begged Of me because her husband was
sick with typhoid fever. No doubt l
have caught both diseases, and it's the
complication that puzzles me. Couldn't
relish my coffee this morning. left my
milk toast untouched. Hateful life,
that Of bachelor at a hotel. Oh, dear
me 7
Why don't you marry, then? sud
the doctor
They need SO much courting,' said
Patterson. You spend SIX months or
So at least dangling at a woman's
apron strings You must 60 to the
theatre and opera if she is gay, and to
church if she is pious. At fifty a man
likes his slippers and dressing gown and
chair Of an evening. If it was just
stepping over to the clergymlh's and
getting married, putting a ring on her
finger and saying or noddng yes two
or three times, why wouldn't mind it,
you know
'Ah, WE'LL 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 ont into the
country.
TO another hotel and more mercen-
airy walters said Mr.. Patterson.
No. said the doctor; go to nice
private home. ! know one--a motherly
widow lady, who cooks dinner fit for
king. River before the house, woods
behind it, orchard to the left, kitchen
garden to the right; no fever and a8Ne;
no mosquitoes. Heavenly. | am go,
:ng up there tomorrow, and III See II
she'll take YOU
Very we'll, SAID Mr.. Patterson; 4
think will try it.
And you must drink plenty of milk
and eat plenty Of nice homemade
bread.
Yes, | will,' said Patterson, over
loved at least at hearing sonnet thing
that sounded like prescription. And
YOU would advise milk p
Quart of it every day said the doc
tor.
I'll take note Of it, SAID Patterson,
and if should be very i'll she'll nurse
me.
'splendilly, said the doctor, and
went his way.
Mr.. Patterson thought the matter
over and thought better of it 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 ready to start
afternoon. As for the widow, the doc
tor had prepared her for her boarded $
peculiariues thus:
Nice fellow; social; plenty of money;
thinks himself i'll, but isn't; ought to
be married; told him SO, but ne hates
the idea OF counting; marry OFT some
day, no doubt. Will you have NE ?
Yes Call in Clergyman, but then
old bachelors are peculiar generally.
The widow was 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-five 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
savings by taking a summer boarder or
two, if they happened to offer.
Fifty and a bachelor said Mrs.
Muntle, looking in the glass. We'll,
it seems pity; but when elderly gen
tlemen marry it Is to some hity-tity
girl that leads them terrible life, and