The Press., 1915-09-29
MAKING A MATCH
For a Time It Was Consid- cred a Thankless Job
By F. A. MITCHELL


 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 he?"
 "He says there ain't no one to marry"
 There's lots O wimmin would like to get John. He's passed out O Onsartn youth into shore middle age. He's got a good farm, and it's well stocked, and he hain't got no bad habits fixed on to him. could name half a dozen gals about we're 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 courtin' for? Courtin's for younkers. Johns too old for that, and if he marries a woman of suitable age-sOme'rS about thirty reckon she won't set store by <. the. conrtin' part of it neither" <.
 "How can a man get married without dOin' any courtin'T' <.9,
 "He kin jist 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 bas- ket of stockings, began to darn them. Her husband turned to the Farmers 8 Helper and began to read.
 I'm thinkin'," said the wife, whose mind had got set on the matrimonial question, that Mandy Sellers would be about what John wants. She's first rate cook and keeps the house lookin' neat and clean all the time. She's all ways workin' at somethin'."
 Reckon her father and mother need her."
 '"There's the younger sister, Susan. She could take Mandy's place. Besides, gal has got to look out for home of her own"
 How dye know Mandy would have John?" ..
 "Humph! She'd jump at the chance" "
 E4uG ldIAucI u u1o popcIs AAc was more interested in an article on the feeding of hogs than in providing 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. Holts head, and she couldn't get 1t out.
 Miss Sellers occupied the adjoining Fo fn ho nd ing her husband immersed in the hog feeding problem the good woman slip 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 dane later when Man dy asked if John had got wife yet Mrs. Holt suggested that Mandy would be about the kind of wife he should have. Mandy simpered and said he wouldn't look at her.
 One day John was at work at the cider press when he heard Mrs. Holt call him from the road. He went to her, and she spent half an 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, MT. Corey, have you seen Mandy Sellers lately?'
 No, Mrs. Holt, hain't seen none O the Sellers family in some time."
 "Fine gal, Mandy"
 Think so?''
 Good cook: knows all about a farm and specially good at dairy work"
 II want to knowy'
 "I wonder why some of the unmar- ried 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 wantin' wife you couldn't do better than marry Mandy"
 ''La' sakes, Mrs. Holt! Mandy Sel- lers wouldn't marry me. Besides, she's wanted at the Sellers farm. She almost runs it."
 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 sowed the seed both in the breast of Miss Sellers and MT. Corey and was dis posed to give it time to germinate. By skillfui manipulation of the par ties she finally got them together. John proposed, was accepted, and in due time the pair were married
 Now, John Corey was not a pliable man even in youth, and, having come to middle age, his will was hardening like his bones and cartilage As for Mandy, she was methodical person who preferred to do such work as a woman is expected to do in her own way. Thus when he saw her doing things in different way from what he had been used to doing them he de murred. Mandy nad kept the paren- tai abode spick and span. Her father had been accustomed on coming into the. house after his days work was John tramped in his muddy boots all over the house. Her father did not smoke; John did and knocked the ashes out of his pipe on anything that came handy. usually the floor.
 One day Farmer Holt and John Corey met at the crossroads.
 "Howdy, John?'' said Holt. How do you like matrimony so far as ye got?'
 "Waal, l ain't as independent as | was. My wife seems inclined to run things"
 ;. Farmer Holt changed the subject. Later Mrs. Holt dropped in on Mrs. Corey and asked her a similar ques- tion.
 "Waal Mrs. Holt, it would be we'll enough if John had any respect for the looks O the house. He's lived alone so long that his home isn't any more to him than his barn." :. When Mr. and Mrs. Holt compared notes it became apparent to them that if the COYGv family continued as they