Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-12

Ebenezer Schermerhorn was twen-
ty-eight years old when he went to
work for Jonas White in the latter's
sawmill, and in a couple of weeks he
had his boss Dragging about his
smartness.. Mr.. Whites business was
to make lumber Of sawlogs, and he
didn't look for mental smartness In
his hired help. 1t was how much
work a man could do In ten hours
that counted with him. His wife
Judged men about the same way, bu.
their daughter Sarah was bit diff
ferent. She had as fair an education
as village school could give her, and
while she realized that man who
could lift barrel of salt was smart
chap. one who could not only lift the
barrel but name the capitals of all tho
states and give the length Of the Mis-
sissippi river in addition was good
deal smarter.
Sarah Jane heard much talk OF
Eben before she saw him, and she
had time to wonder and speculate.
Her father and mother were dropping
hints that it was time she stepped
off," as they used to call it in other
days. She wasn't looking to marry 4
millionaire nor a senator. A smart
man was the best she could hope for.
She couldn't be girl and not have
some romantic notions about her, but
they never made her forget that she
had bread in the oven or stockings to
darn
Why was Eben Schermerhorn a
bachelor? .a
Had he loved and lost?
Had he made vow never to
marry?
Had he never found the woman to
stir up a heart interest under his left
shoulder? . .
Very likely he could read. write
and cipher. but was he fond o!
poetry? Could he appreciate gor.
geous sunsets?
Could he sing? Did he play the
fiddle or the accordion, or stop short
at the mouth organ?
With her father Dragging at the
dinner table every day Of what a
smart man Eben was, and with her
mother looking at her In queer way
it was no wonder that Sarah Jane had
thoughts. Eben was to be invited to
dinner to make the acquaintance Of
the family. After two or three weeks
the event came off. Eben ate with
his fork. He did not drink from his
saucer He politely refused second
helping. His was a quiet, pleasant
laugh instead of a deep bass ha. ha.
He discussed politics with Mr.. White
woman's rights with Mrs. White and
the new fashion in hats with Sarah
Jane. s.#
Yes, he could sing bit, and he be
lieved he had played the cottage or
gan He had seen sunsets that were
positively grand, and he had read
Dickens while laid up with broken
leg. When laughed at by Mr.. White
as an old bachelor, he blushed and
said he had always been too busy
Eben Schermerhorn made a good I'M
preston on the family. Mr.. and Mrs.
White said 50 right out as soon as he
had departed, and Sarah went Up to
her room to think 50.
Look here ma" said the husband
when they were left alone, "that
Eben is a smart chap"
Seems like it, was the reply. !.
"You ought to see him hump a
saw-log around.'
"Yes?" a5
"And you heard how smart he
talked at the table"
"He certainly did" ". .
Bound to marry some day."
81 think So"
SOS our Sarah
Eyes
whats the matter Of of Eben
and Sarah getting spliced? Can't we
help the matter along somehow"
mo, Jonas White, we can't We
amt going to say one blessed word tc
help aor hinder. If they like each
other and fall in love and war. te
marry that's all right. If they dom
then It's nothing to us. They ars