The daily Alaskan., 1915-10-18
MAKING A
 MATCH
For a Time It Was Consid-4
 cred a Thankless Job
By 2. A. MITCHELL

F "Martha," said Farmer Holt one evening to his wife when she was washing the dishes, John Corey was talkin' to me this afternoon. He says he wants to git married"
 Well, why don't hep
 "ue says there ain't no one to marry"
 There's lots O wlmmin would like to get John. He's passed out O onsariG youth Into shore middle age. He's got good farm, and It's well stocked, and he haln't got no bad habits fixed on to him. I could name half a dozen gals about yere that would be glad to get him"
 He says he couldn't make up his mind to do the courtin'."
 "What's he want to do any Courun for7 Courtln's for younkers. Johns too old for that, and if he marries a woman of suitable age-sOme'rs about thirty-I reckon she won't set store by the courtn' part of it neither"
 How can a man get married without doin' any COurtlnT
 "He kin jlst ask the woman he wants to marry, and if she says yes they kin be married
 But John says he don't know any particular woman he wants to marry" Mrs. Holt finished doing her dishes, put them away and, taking up a bas- ket of stockings, began to darn them Her husband turned to the Farmers Helper and began to read
 I'm thlnkin'," said the wife, whose mind had got set on the matrimonial ouestIon. that Mandy Sellers would be about what John wants. She's first rate cook and keeps the house lookdn neat and clean all the time, She's al- ways workin' at sOmethin'."
 Reckon her father and mother need her"
 There's the younger sister, Susan. She could take Mandy's place. Besides, a gal has got to look out for a home of her own"
 How dye know Mandy would have JohnT
 "Humph! She'd jump at the chance"
 The farmer turned to his paper. He was more interested in an article on the feeding of hogs than in providing l John Corey with a wife. But the idea of making the poor man comfortable and obtaining at the same time home ] for Mandy Sellers had got into Mrs. | Holt's head, and she couldn't get 1t out
 Miss Sellers occupied the adjoining | farm to the Holts, and presently leaY- ing her husband immersed In the hog feeding problem the good woman slip 1 ped out and interviewed Mandy, tell ing her that John Corey wanted a wife. She did not ask Mandy if she would like the position; she simply stated the fact. But few days later when Man dy asked if John had got a wife yet Mrs. Holt suggested that Mandy would be about the kind of wife be should have. Mandy simpered and said he wouldn't look at her."
 One day John was at work at the elder press when he heard Mrs. Holt call him from the road. He went to her, and she spent half on hour ques- tioning him about the treatment of COWS and chickens and other matters pertaining to the farm. Just as she was about to depart she said:
 By the bye, Mir Corey, have you seen Mandy Sellers latelyT
 "No. Mrs. Holt I hain't seen none O the Sellers family in some time"
 Fine gal, Mandy"
 "Think sO?"
 Good cook; knows all about farm and specially good at dairy work"
 "I want to knOwW
 "I wonder why some of the unmar- rled men about yere hasn't picked Man dy up She's gettin' on past the age for the young fellers, and there's not many middle aged men in these parts that haven't wives"
 Reckon I'm about the only one O that kind"
 "If you're wOntin' a wife you couldn't do better than marry Mandy"
 "La' sakcs. Mrs. Holtl Mandy Sel. Iers wouldn't marry me. Besides, she's wanted at the Sellers farm. She almost runs 1t"
 Don't you believe that. Mandy would like a home as well as any gal I know"
 Mrs. Holt, being a diplomat went no further at the time. She had BOwet the seed both in the breast of Miss Sellers and MT. Corey and was dis posed to give 1t time to germinate By a skillful manipulation of the par ties she finally got them together. Johr proposed, was accepted, and in dut time the pair were married Now, John Corey WAS not a pliabl' man even in youth, and, having com' ! to middle age, his will vas hardeninl