The Somerset reporter., 1899-07-27
The Sixth
Mrs, Washane,
She Subdued the Crankiest
Man In PottsviIle.
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People generally in Pottsville pitied
the new Mrs. Washane that was to
be Not that Pottsville people were ac-
quainted with her and allowed their
sympathies. Not so. They knew Of
her by henrsay only, as widow
Widow Douglas, they believed, of
Green Meadows.
But they did know John Washane
that was enough to know-John
Washale, who had placed less than
year ago the plain yet touchingly in
scribed stone to the fifth Mrs. Wash
ane. The first Mrs. Washanes stone
testified that none knew her but to
love herr" the second, Her price was
above rubies." Mrs. Washane, third.
was lamented as one who had done
what she could the fourth, as zone
whom the heart of her husband could
safely trust ill.," while No SIS epitaph
was, "She always made home happy"
And now No. was about to be of
fered at the connubial altar-so said
Pottsvillians.
1t was talked over at the various
sewing circles. and suggestions were
offered. motions made and carried as
to the best way i'll when to apprise
the new Mrs Washane to be of her
unenviable prospect, and one day, as it
happened only a week prior to the
marriage. an anonymous epistle found
hn Of
Green Meadows. 1t ran thus:
Dear Friend-Though strangers to you, we feel
it incumbent upon to write you you take
upon yourself the VOWS Of connubial obedience to
one John Washane Of Pottsyille. He is a good
man. lie is an honest man. He is generous
man. But truth compels US to state that in
spite OF many virtues he has worried his
former wives into untimely graves by nagging
and bossing. That this may not be your fate is
the wish and prayer of Your WELL WlsuERs
The Widow Douglas read the letter,
a curious little frown, which was half
a smile, showing itself as she perused
the anonymous missive.
The wedding ceremony was over.
Mrs. Wnshane, SIXTH was an accom-
plshed fact and the twain now one,
having driven in their own hired hack
all the way from Green Meadows to
Pottsyille, were about to enter the
house which Sally Lancaster had with
indignant vehemence got in readiness
to receive the bride.
"And now. John. as soon as we can
get our clothes changed | think that
you had better hang that gate while |
am getting supper | noticed it says"
"Lu-Lucia whatY John Wash
ane was plainly astonshed Mt the ad
monitory tone of his new made help
mate. Mrs. Washanes answer was
trihe disturbed in tone, though
sweet
Il hope, John, that you're not going
to annoy me by causing me to repeat
my words. My dear departed husband
always paid close attention when
spoke. 1 said, You'd better hang that
gate as soon as you get your everyday
clothes on, as it Says so "
Thus was the beginning Of John
Washane' s sixth marital venture. When
he came into the house, he was urged
TO take off his boots at the thresh
old and reminded, Never did | thus
have to address my first husband
Constantly was the statement made:
what would my dear partner Douglas
have thought had | been obliged TO ask
him to bring up coal? Dear George
would never have failed to procure
the best of meats and butter" Until
at last John Washane became accus-
toned to the oft repeated assertions
and actually felt that, compared with
the late George Douglas, he, John
Washane, was an outcast and a viii
lain. No longer did he refer to Susan,
Matilda, Jennie, Carrie and Mary as