Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-02-23
TOOK WIDOW WITH WELL.
when the water Came HIS way Mr..
Easyro Cooley PROPOSED
Marriage.


The Widow McSpoonigan's well was
situated on the South side hill, under
n 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. AL the people in the
neighborhood patronized that well.
and morning and evening there was
always crowd of children with
pitchers and buckets and pals, for
the Widow MoSpoonigan 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 McSpoonigsn'splace. He
wore comic paper farmers chin whis-
kers; chewed fine cut; was never
known to say an unnecessary word;
was never known to get ratified. Three
times day, at seven n M, at noon
and st six p. m, he filed his pail at
the well, and three times q 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
takingi" said Easygo.
Nothing less than an earthquake
will ever make him propose" sighed
the Widow McSpoonigan.
One morning when Easygo arrived
at the well the widow was not in
sight. He sighed little a. he leaned
over the well. Az he sighed he fell
In, for the plank on which he had
kneeled had been insecurity placed.
The widow was not far away. As
she approached she saw him fall and
heard him splash. Breathless she
stood, with her heart In her mouth,
but presently smiled relievedly. From
the mouth of the well there issued
one word. Its initial was d."
Maybe that was lucky tumble"
said the widow TO herself. Hell 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 proposed"
Then she went to the side Of the
well and in agonized accents called:
oh, where are you, Mr.. Cooley?
What shall dor What shall do?"
and she wrung her hands and wept
bitterly.
And then from the bottom Of the
well. in cool, composed accents came
the answers to her two questionIi an
the bucket Hoisti"
"Drat the mani" muttered Mira
McSpconigan, but she hoisted.
When he reached dry land again
he declined all offers Of assistance and
went home, leaving the widow slmosa
in tears.
It was not exactly an earthquake
that brought at last these two low
ing hearts together, but something
very near IT. The Widow McSpoonigan
awoke one morning 70 discover that
her well had disappeared. The bottom
had fallen out of It. Then some one
remembered that there was q disused
coal mine somewhere below. One man
descended the well and saw the tun-
mel.
And now mark the working Of fate,
The water ran down q blind entry.
filled deep hole at the end and
leaped through the side Of the hill,
finding egress on the land OF Easygs
Cooley. Easygo discovered the fact
within "a hours. Being q Just man,
he Immediately called upon the widow
and explained matters. Having taken
your well, guess I'd better take you,"
he said. "What do you say?"
And what the widow said was emf
nently satisfactory TO both parties.