The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-13
BY IRVING Il. MGILyRAy.



widower with three children that
needed a mothers care. He had for
a year past kinder admitted to him
SELF that he would marry again IL
he found the right woman, but he
hadn't found her the day the tin ped
dier came along and sold him three
pans and a wash dish and jocularly
said:
IF / was 3 widower, Id get mar
RED again"
You might not be able TO find
her. Elijah replied.
TT wouldn't take me over an hour.
She lives back here about four miles.
I stopped at her house when I came
along"
who is she -
Wilder Jones. with two children.
She's a right up-and-down woman.
She says to her hired man or children
do this or do that and they do II. ]
told her she ought TO marry again.
And what did she say"
Said a. husband wasn't so darned
easy to find
Il guess tits go on both sides "
sighed Elijah. What gets me in the
matter is the time lost In falling in
love. counting and then waiting for
the wedding. When q fellows got
work enough for three men and only
one pair OF hands TO do 1t with how 5
he going to fool away six months'
time"
He can't do It," replied the ped
der HE Smay do 1t the fret time.
but not the second. He sees that the
game amt worth the candle"
But women expect to be courted y
Sc mostly: but Widders don't tx
pect so much as gals. This Wilder
Jones would tell you In an hour
whether she'd marry you or not. Yes,
In half that time. You could tell jest
as quick IL you wanted her. I'm first
cousin to Cupid myself, and l believe
in moonlight nights turtle doves,
shady deits and whippoorwiiis, but you
see ] aint a widower cooking my
own meals. and / amt pressed for
time Drive over there and have q
talk with Mrs. Jones. II this world
we don't want TO skip many good
things"
She gets around lively, does sire
asked the farmer though trying not
to betray too much interest.
Jest as II she had springs under
her
Think she's good cook?
Her children are fat and healthy"
'.She may be extravaganza,
she don't look It Everything plain
but neat"
Well. I'll see about it. Much
obleeged."
II the peddler hadn't given the
farmer matter for serious thought he
had at least aroused his curiosity,
In three or four days IT got the bet
ter Of him and one day he put on his
best clothes, had the children wash
up and don Sunday attire, and all
piled into the wagon and drove Off.
The widow Jones was killing the
bugs on her garden potatoes when
Elijah drove up. He hadn't got out
OF the wagon yet when the woman
came to the gate and asked
Amt you making mistake.
stranger"
You are the wilder Jones I take
IT."
The Same"
Then I'm right so far Can ] I'M
load the children"
why, yes This is no orphan asy-
lum. but they are welcome"
II wanted You to get close view
OF them and hear 'em talk None OF
them stutter or are tongue tied. Your
right
stranger Let's see? Did you cay
your name was ScherTnerhorn?
| Lord. no, It's Baker. live four
miles up the road"
"And you are widower9"
Jest SO"
1--WE heard OF you Reckon you've
come TO ask me to marry your
II may before I'm done. You see.
have no time to court.
Same here. Sit down on the door
step and let me get pencel and paper.
Now, then, what sorter farm you
got2'
"A hundred and twenty acres, and
all good sile, House ana barn as
tight as drums Horses. cattle, sheep.
hogs and poultry, Three children. az
you see, and they are as healthy as
rabbits. Don't have TO lick one once
a week
That's purity good. replied the
her tongue. I've got hundred
acres here. and you can see what
shape everythings in. All going
right and s2o0 In the bank"
Elijah stood up TO look about him.
and he felt his heart warming
toward the widow AS he sat down
again.
And your age" asked Mrs, Jones,
Forty eight. I"
'@Mine is farty-sepen. and neither
OF US use hafr-dye, 10 you swear
nnd chaw tobacco ,"
II do"
GLAD to hear It, A man who is
too good can pass me by. ] had Just
az lief you'd swear once In awhile.
say darn IT. whe nthtngs 60 wrong,
Let's see? You want good cooking %
Purity fair
DO you snore In your sleep?
''Nobody's ever complained
Same here. Do you get mad easy ?
Not unless step on the blade OF
hoe and the handle flies up and
gives me q whack. Then I take II
out on q hog or q cow"
About the same as me. Do you
build the kitchen fire winter morn
ings7'
Every morning the year round. -
That's decent in a husband Think
you could get along with my chill
dren. / reckon I could with yours "
Lands. yes.'
III you should come In ana ana
mo spanking one OF them
I'D take 1t that they needed It.
I've been q widower most three years.
and can't get the knaek Of spank
inS "A young 'un yet, 1T Ia knack,
afnt?"
For sure No man has ever got
It yet. Come here. Mary. I'm going
TO spank YOU
But ain't done nothing" whim-
psred the child.
mo. but it's just to show Mr., Baker