The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-09-30
JOHN AINSWORTH'S MISTAKE.

JOHN AINSW0RTH'S MISTAKE.
John Ainsworth was the most
bashful man you ever saw; at thirty
years of age he was good looking
and capable, but as afraid OF women
as though he suspected them Of an
intention to eat him. He might
have had his pick of pretty girls, for
he had comfortable bank account
to back his attractive looks and steady
habits but girls were not for him;
he couldn't look one in the face
when he met her, and in company
his usual pleasant manner gave place
to any awkward difhdence that made
him appear like country bump
kin.
His companions gradually married
and settled into homes of their own
but John after the death Of his parents
remained quietly in the old family
mansion on the hill, his servants
were all men or boys except the
housekeeper woman who had lived
to such an advanced age among men
that it is doubtful whether she did
not look upon herself as an Old bache
lor in pettlcoats.
Many where the invitations shove,
red upon the handsome landowner
but he went his way as carefully and
cautiously through life as though he
were walking on thirty acre frozen
mill pond, surrounded by placards
marked "danaer"
People laughed at him; girls who
had once tried modestly 10 encourage
him with smiles grew into contented
placid ma.ronS, and their daughters
were duly inform ed Of the prOverbial
bashfulness of old John AinSWorth.
Yes it really came to that paSs-old
John Ainsworth. And yet at fifty
he was as finely preserved man as
ever lived; straight and tall, with
gray hair blue eyes and heavy white
moustache; he had not changed an
atom from the kind hearted John OF
other days, always helping the poor
in his own unostentatious manner.
! But though respected by ali he vas
loved by one.
Still John was happy enough in a
humdrum fashion till death, heving
a prior claim, stepped in and de.
prived him Of his housekeeper
Clarissa; for she had been a faithful
soul, and-a good cook.
Alter that sad event John began tc
fad a certain desolatlon in life, and
to realize vaguely that his comfort
able. we'll conducted home was
broken up ; first one farm hand and
then another tried the cooking til
that important branch ofthe establish
ment threatened total collapse.
One was without a rival wher
onion salad was concerned, another
could fry Sausages to the queen:
taste, third could poach eggs-bu
why enumerated John Ainswortl
ecu d not live exclusively on egg
salad and sausages; his digestive
organs, at his time Of life needel
pampering; besides, he could TO
endue the irregularity-breakias
one morning at seven the next a
half past ten, Some how the mali
spring being broken all the wells feI
into disorder and whereas the dali
routine of domestic duties was one
adjusted and kept smoothly runnin!
by competent hand it now some
times stopped running altogether.
John Ainsworth thought long an
deeply on the subject; he had
horror OF women, but he now felt h
must make a sacrifice, and see if h
could secure the services of som
spinster or widow to direct his hous
hold for a time at least. But thin
as hard as he could, he could nc
call to mind one suitable person.
Now it happened that he had
staunch friend in a former schoC
chum one Robert Wilkins, who ha
been married and settled thel
twenty years and had always keE
up sort Of one sided intimacy wit
his bashtul friend. Only a month ha
elapsed since Bob helped him
make a pui chase III horsetlesh whic
resulted in his profit; and in h
inability to help himself regardir
housekeeper he naturally thoug
s. of Mr.. Wilkins, and finally sat dow
and wrote him the following lette
Dear Bob have decided to a!
you to help me in the mCst serlo
business of my life
| am getting along in years, al
since the death OF my housekeep
everything in the house has go
wrong; the place needs a miStre
and | want her at once. | ha
always been so occupied with +
books that really know very lit
about women and should scarce
know how to conduct SO delics
an affair but if you will attend to
for me, think that you might sat,
promise in my name a COOL hol
kindness and her own way in ever
thing. Clarissa always had a he
of gold and now greatly depl(