Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-22
TOOK WIDOW WITH WELL.
yvhen the Water Came His Way Mfr. Easygo Cooley Proposed
 Marriage.

The Widow McSpoonigan's we'll was situated on the South side hill, under a spreading chestnut tree, and not ten feet from the public road. Better Wa ter than that which came from the well aforesaid could not be found for miles around. All the people in the neighborhood patronized that well. and morning and evening there was always crowd o& children with pitchers and buckets and pails, for the Widow McSpoonigan was gener- ous-hearted and made no objection to their tramping over her place, says the Pittsburgh Dispatch.
 Easygo Cooley. elderly bachelor, had his carpenter shop three minutes walk farther down the hill, almost be- low the Widow McSpoonigan s place. He wore g comic paper farm CTS chin whls- kers; chewed fine cut; was never known to say an unnecessary word; was never known to get rattled. Three times day, at seven a. 1n, at noon and at six D. m.. he filed his pail at the well. and three times a day the Widow McSpoonigan was there to pass the time of day with him. For years they had looked with favor upon each other. But
 "Getting married is no light under taking." said Easygo.
 "NOthing less than an earthquake will ever make him propose" sighed the Widow McSpoonigan.
 One morning when Easygo arrived at the we'll the widow was not in sight. He sighed little as he leaned over the we'll. As lie sighed he fell in, for the plank on which he had kneeled had been insecurely placed.
 The widow was not far away. As she approached she saw him fall and heard him splash. Breathless stood, with her heart in her mouth, i but presently smiled relievedly. From the mouth of the we'll there issued one word. Its initial was D.
 Maybe that was a lucky tumble" :" said the widow to herself. He'll be wet through, I'll take him into the house, give him some of McSpoon- igan's clothes, mix him a drink Of something hot, and, who knows? He may propose.'
 Then she went to the side of the we'll and in agonized accents called: "Oh, where are you, MT. Cooley? What shall I do? What shall I do?'' and she wrung her hands and wept i bitterly.
 And then from the bottom of the well. in cool, composed accents came the answers to her two questions: Tn the bucket. Hoist!"
 "Drat the man!' muttered Mrs. i McSpoonigan, but she hoisted.
 When he reached dry land again he declined all offers of assistance and went home, leaving the widow almost in tears.
 It was not exactly an earthquake that brought at last these two lov- ing hearts together, but something g very near it. The Widow McSpoonigan awoke one morning to discover that her we'll had disappeared. The bottom had fallen out of it. Then some one remembered that there was disused coal mine somewhere below. One man descended the well and saw the tun- nel.
 And now mark the working of fate: The water ran down a blind entry filled a deep hole at the end and leaped through the side of the hill finding egress on the land of Easygc Cooley. Easygo discovered the fact within 24 hours. Being a just man he immediately called upon the widow and explained matters. Having taker your well I guess I'd better take you, he said. What do you say?"
 And what the widow said was emf nently satisfactory to both parties.