The Colorado statesman., 1915-09-25
FINDING HIS MATE
BY LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.


cided to marry again, although his
fourteen-year-old daughter was run
ming the house very we'll
Caleb wasn't rich man, but in de-
Gliding to marry again the question of
property had no influence. He was
one widower in hundred about that.
The widower had an appetite. He
was born with it. 1t was an appetite
that would have done credit to one of
his work horses. He shoveled down
the boiled dinners-the pork and
beans-the fried pork and potatoes
the bread puddings, and two hours
later he could eat just as much as if
he had been all day without meal.
When Caleb got ready to look up a
wife it was almost a question of
Can she cook?" There might not be
much love to start on, but as she
cooked and cooked the love would
grow and bloom and blossom until he
would finally have to squint twice to
make out whether she had wings or
arms.
Caleb didn't put up any surprise
party on his three children when he
had come to the conclusion to marry
again. He sat down with his pipe
after hard days work and a sup
per that would have made an OK groan
with contentment and said:
Mary, I'm a hearty eater"
yes, father"
Keeps you cooking most of tho
time"
Yes"
You orter have more schooling"
81 think So"
But my appetite keeps you home
and keeps you over the hot stove"
Yes, father"
Therefore, Mary-therefore-"
But you must have all you want to
eat" said the girl as he hesitated.
Seems that way. but I've been
thinking of late that if could change
fodder l wouldn't eat so much You
cook first rate, but it's allus the same
things over and over Now if new
hand was to come in there'd be
change in the dishes. eh?"
I guess they would, but whom can
you hire?"
Nobody Don't want to hire nobody
tall
Then how"
Get married ag'in. Get wife to
do the cooking. Get wife who's got
a twist of the wrist about bilin' and
bakin' and gettin' up new dishes. What
ye think of it?"
IT'S for you to decide, father"
You children won't raise any row?"
NO"
That's mighty nice Of you, and you
can count on getting some Santa Claus
in your Christmas stockings"
Have you picked her out?" was
timidly asked.
"Only just kinder picked her out.
thought I'd tackle the widder Bliss
first"
She's nice"
Yes, but can she cook? She's got
to be nice and mighty good cook be-
sides. After I've eaten one meal in
her house can tell whether she'll fill
the bill or not"
The Widow Bliss lived in the village
three miles away. She was forty-fve
years old, and was weary of facing
good man-some man that would ap-
preciate her many good qualities
why, why
No one must blame her or sneer at
her. AS we are told in Holy Writ,
husbands shall not know their wives
in heaven, and wives shall not know
their husbands. Therefore, it is bet
ter to get plenty of husbands and
wives on earth.
Caleb, the widower, loaded up five
bushels of potatoes and hied him down
to the Widow Bliss with them. They
were a gift to her, and she made it
plain that his generosity was duly ap-
preciated. They became so interested
in each other, and he had timed the
hour so accurately, that she invited
him to stay to supper.
That's 1t! Now I'll get line on
her cooking!" he said to himself after
accepting the invitation. Mighty nice
little woman, but can she cook? Can
she serve up 'taters in a new way?
Are her pie-crusts short and flaky, or
heavy and soggy? Can she make cup
of tea to curl the hair, or is there
taste of dishwater about it,"
The widow won the gold medal with
bread pudding. 1t was baked in a
dish half the size CT milk pan. Ca
leb's wife used to make what she
called bread puddings. but they didn't
hold a candle to this one. A still.
small voice whispered to the widow
that her visitor would eat that pud-
ding to a standstill if given a chance,
and she made the chance. 1t touched
the spot. For the first time in years
he showed back from the table with
his appetite perfectly satisfied. When
ready to go he said
womani"
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