The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-08-03
MR.. APPLEToN's BOARDERs.

worn the same blue coat with brass buttons for
10 years, to church and to muster, and there
was considerable probability of its having to
| serve for as much longer. Hiram was bach
elor. He considered wife an expensive lux
ury, from which he abstained from economi-
cal motives.
In the course of time, however, Hiram came
| to take a different view of the matter. He read
| somewhere that it was saving to be married,
as the work that wife would do would more
than pay the expenses of her board and cloth
| ing On reflection Hiram considered that,
under his circumstances, this was considera-
| ton of some importance
| ''Besides," thought he, 1--WE might take
boarders, and taking boarders is profitable if
| you don't keep 'em too well. I've heard that
| Aunt Jane Doolittle made thousand dollars
clear in one-year from keeping boarders. And
| all the labor comes on the wimmin folks, too.
| guess / must be married"
Mr.. Appleton decided on the whole, to marry
| a widow.
We give his reasons in his own words:
''It stands to reason" he soliloquized, that a
| widow must have more experience about
| household matters than one who hasn't been
married. Now, one that isn't experienced is
| very apt to waste things, and it takes a good
deal of time to teach 'em better. Now wild
| owls already broken into the ways of a house
hold. l must be on the lookout for widow" "
Mr.. Hiram Appleton, accordingly, began to
| to look about him.
tain Widow Jones, on visit to relation.
AS Mr.. Appleton was well acquainted at the
house where she was visiting, he soon found it
in his way to "call round"
The widow was sitting in the keeping
room," with Mrs. FELTON,, her relation.
"Mr. Appleton" said the latter, "let me in
troduce to you my cousin, Mrs. Jones"
Hiram bowed.
'I wonder whether she's a widow" he
thought to himself.
When Mrs. FELTON, accompanied him to the
door, he ventured to make the inquiry.
"Yes' said Mrs. FELTON,, 'her husband died
you see Mrs. Felton," said Hiram in a
business-like tone, ''I've been thinking of get
ting married. think on the whole, it would
be good policy. l guess l should prefer a
smart, industrious, economical widow, if 1
could hear of one anywhere"
''Then," said Mrs. FELTON,, 81 am quite sure
that my cousin would suit you. She's as indus
trious creetur as you ever saw. Always has
work in her hand"
''There's one thing want to know about, I"
said Hiram anxiously. SIS she fond of dress !?
don't know much about it, but I've heard
that some wimmin spend sight on their dress.
Now can't stand that anyhow. calculate
that my wife-if 1 ever have any-shall dress
decent but as to silk dresses and gold chains,
and such, they won't come out of me-"
Mrs. FELTON, assured the inquirer, that no
one could be more simple in her tastes than
her cousin-an assurance which gratified Mr..
Appleton exceedingly.
ing" said Hiram. "Pll come in again two or
three times, and see how L like her ways, and
if do I'll propose pretty quick"
You'd better" said Mrs. FELTON,. for
there's no knowing how soon somebody else
may pick her up"
Instead of regarding Hiram's injunction,
Mrs. FELTON, straightway communicated the
substance of the conference to the widow.
Now it so happened, for reasons which will
appear, that the widow was by no means in
disposed to second marriage, and, ON hear
ing that Hiram was man of property, she
concluded to ''set her cap for him."
you must appear to be very industrious
and economical" said Mrs. FELTON,. He laid
particular stress ON that"
"Dont fear for me-" said her cousin. "It
| takes a widow to manage the men,.
When Hiram made his second CALL the
Widow Jones was arrayed in very plain cali
co. which, at the utmost, could not have cost
more than ninepence per yard.
"You must excuse the plainness of my dress,
Mr.. Appleton" said she, 'but don't approve
of rich dresses. A calico is just as warm as a
silk, or at any rate there isn't much difference,
and there is great deal OF difference IN the
price"
Hiram was delighted.
''You're sensible woman, Mrs. Jones, "
said he, You've got soul above the majority
of your SEX"
''Thank you, Mr.. Appleton, said the widow
| demurely. 81 don't take no credit to myself
for it. It's natural to me. 1t makes me sick
| to see how fond most women are OF tiummery,
and putting all they yd can earn on thsF b6t ms,
the effect it has on me. Now, Mrs. Jones, "
this he said in confidential tone, chow long
do you think / have made this coat do for
best"
Mrs. Jones couldn't possibly tell.
| Tod fa,,x col
longing pride. "Ten years. and it's good
$50 it is" said the widow, "and commend
your prudence, Mr. Appleton. How long do
you think it is since bought this dress?"
Hiram ventured to guess five years."
s'You're wrong" said the widow, shaking
her head. 81 had it just twelve years ago,
come spring."
Mrs. Jones did not think it necessary to
mention that, although it had been bought
at that time, it had been cast aside some ~
wears since, and had only been resuscitated for
! the sake of producing an impression ON Mr..
Twelve years !'' exclaimed Hiram in glow
| of admiration. you're a perfect treasure,
Mrs. Jones'"
ia, p peTi you don't mean it," said the wild
'Yes, do, and you're the woman I've been
seeking for years for wife, So lovely and SO
economical? Dear widow Jones, may hope
that you will favor me with your hand-that
you will become Mrs. Appleton"
''This is so unexpected" murmured the
widow "and yet feel that man of your just
sentiments and prudent habits is not to be
slighted. will accept your offer in the same
spirit in which it is made
"There is one other thing" said Hiram,
after a short pause that | should like to
mention am straightforward man, and
want everything to be understood. Would
you have any objection to taking few board
| ers after we are marrled?
mot the slightest" said the widow. Indeed
| | intended to mention something of the sort to
ibid you though, really? ?'' inquired Hiram
| with delight.
Eyes, the fact is, Mr.. Appleton, am social
by temperament, and it is rather agreeable
than otherwise to have a large family about
| me-"
Hiram began to think that the widow was
| an admirable woman, and he could not have
made better match if he had sought the
world over.
II shouldn't wonder if it proved thousands OF
dollars in my pocket. If l could only have
met with such a woman 20 years ago. How
ever, better late than never"
Preparations were hastened for the we'd
ding. Hiram feared that something would
turn up to prevent the marriage, on which he
| had set his heart. As for the widow, she made
no serious objections. And accordingly, one
morning they rode over to the minister's and
were united without any display. Hiram
wore the same blue coat with brass buttons
which had served him so long and faithfully.
'It looks well enough he said, land there
isn't any use going to any foolish expense"
The widow was dressed in plain de laine,
| with no ornaments.
''How much shall give your" asked Hiram
of the clergyman who had united them.
"Whatever you please" said the clergyman,
politely.
'How much does the law allow !' persisted
| Hiram.
Zone dollar and quarter"
'Then," said Hiram, "here's two and
you can give me back rs cents in change"
The clergyman made change with as sober
face as he could, and the happy pair departed
for home.
| The next dau Hiram hroached the snhiect of