The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-01-22
HOW HE WAS CURED.

ClcI dItcISbll WIS Hit lcdSJ lc
thought so-and depressed; he had head
ache 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 geran-
iums, which had come to be SO blessedly
popular in New York, lent their summer
freshness.
'tWhat shall | do, doctor ?' he said.
"You say nothing ails ne, but | can tell
what my feelings are better than you can.
|. know shall be down with something
soon. | rode in a car with half-dozen
dirty children the other day-to the small
pox hospital, haven't a doubt-very red
| and nasty looking, all of them; and while
| was buying something in store down
| Broadway, the other day. a horrid old wo-
man begged of me because her husband was
sick with typhoid fever. No doubt have
| caught both diseases, and it's the compli-
cation that puzzles you. Couldn't relish
my coffee this morning; left my milk toast
untouched. Hateful life, that of bachc-
| lbF i'll IL ilptcit vi, utdl Nlc.
"Why don't you marry, them said the
doctor.
"Thcy need so much courting," said
! Patterson, "You spend six months or so, at
least, dangling at woman's apron strings.
| You must go to the theatre and opera if
! she is gay, and to church if she is pious.
At fifty a man likes his slippers and dress
| ing gown and chair of an evening. fit
was just stepping over to the clergyman's
and getting married, putting ring on her
finger ard saying or nodding yes two or
| three times why | wouldn't mind it, you
| know
"Ah, well, counting is the fun of it all,
in my opinion said the doctor, "but every
one to his taste. And my advice to you is
| to get out into the country"
''To another hotel and more mcrcenary
walters ?'' said Mr.. Patterson.
NO said the doctor; Ego to nice,
private home, | know one-a mothcrly
widow lady, who cooks dinner fit for a
king River before the house, woods be-
nlliu IL, pTClldIti III tiit ltlt
to the right; no fever and ague; no mos
quitocs. Heavenly! | am going up there
tomorrow, and I'll see if she'll take
you
think | will try it"
''And you must drink plenty Of milk
and eat plenty of nice homemade bread. y
Eyes, | will, - said Mr. Patterson, over
.ioyed at least at hearing something that
sounded like prescription. "And you
would advise mike
''Quart of it every day said the old
doctor.
'I'll make a note of it, said Patterson,
''and if | should be very i'll she'll nurse
mc?'
sSpcndidly," 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 that afternoon. AS
for the widow, the doctor had prepared her
for her boarders pcculiarities thus:
''Nicc 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 will marry off some day, no
doubt. Will you have mc?' Yes Call
in the clergyman; but then old bachelors
are peculiar generally
The widow was a smart woman. She
had married at sixteen, and had never fail
cd to have her washing over when other
people were hanging ont theirs. Her
bread always rose, her cake was always
good and her butter always sweet. AT
forty-fivc 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 summer boardcr or two, if they
| happened to offer.
FIFTY, aud bachelor said Mrs.
MUiillc, iookilS III tue Si"or. WIN, 1t
seems pity; but when elderly gentlemen
marry it is to some hity-tity girl that leads
them terrible life. and likely it's for the
best"
Then she looked in the glass again, for
the widow was but woman after all.
Mr. Patterson came to the widows and
obcycd the doctors prescription carefully.
He ate bread and milk, robbed the orchard
like a school-boy, and reclined over the
strawberry short-cake after fashion that
would have made his reputation ut the bar
Then, too, Mrs. Muntle did not smile at his
aches and pains and insist that he must be
perpctually well because he had fresh
complexion and dmpes in his cheeks.
She had savory herb teas and potions which
she produced when he complained of feel
ing miserable.
For two months and more Mr. Patterson
boarded with Mrs. Muntle and happier
months he never lived through. Then he
| went back to the city for few weeks, re-
turning in urgent need of more pellets
from tho medicine chest, and staying until
the last pink chrysanthemum was bloom
ING ON its wthered branches. He had
"a.