Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-09-23
FINDING HIS MATE
By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.

Caleb Andrews was a man OF fifty.
He was also a widower, and had de-
cided to marry again, although his
fourteen-year-old daughter was run
ming the house very well.
Caleb wasn't a rich man. but in de-
Gliding to marry again the question OF
property had no influence. He was
n widower in a hundred about that.
The widower had an appetite. He
was born with 1t. 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 a meal.
When Caleb got ready to look up a
wife 1t 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 squirt 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 a hard days work and a sup
per that would have made an OK groan
with contentment and said: 3
Mary, I'm a hearty eater"
Eyes, father"
Keeps you cooking most of the
time"
Eyes"
you orter have more schooling"
Il think So"
But my appetite keeps you home
and keeps you over the hot stove"
Yes, father"
Therefore, Mary-therefore-"
But you muskhav all you want to
eat" said the gil as he hesitated.
Seems that way, but I've been
thinking of late that if l could change
fodder | wouldn't eat so much. You
cook first rate, but it's allus the same
things over and over. Now if a new
hand vas to come in there'd be a
change in the dishes, eh?"
Il guess they would, but whom can
you hire?"
Nobody. Don't want to hire nobody
tall"
Then how"
Get married ag'in. Get a wife to
do the cooking. Get a wife who's got
a twist of the wrist about bilin' and
bakin' and gettin' up new dishes. What
ye think of it,"
Its for you to decide, father"
you children won't raise any row.
mo"
That's mighty nice Of you, and vol
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 wilder Bliss
first"
She's nice"
Eyes, but can she cook? She's go
to be nice and a mighty good cook be
sides. After I've eaten one meal IL
her house l can tell whether she'll fl
the bill or not"
The Widow Bliss lived in the village
three miles away. She was forty-ivt
years old, and was weary Of facing
the troubles of life alone-some rea
good man-some man that would ap
preciate her many good qualities
why, why
No n must blame her or sneer a
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 ant
wives on earth.
Caleb, the widower, loaded up fv,
bushels of potatoes and HE'D him dowI
to the Widow Bliss with them. The
were a gift to her, and she made l
plain that his generosity was duly ap
preciated. They became so interested
in each other, and he had timed tn,
hour SO accurately, that she invited
him to stay to supper.
That's it! Now I'll get a line Of
her cooking!" he said to himself afte
accepting the invitation. Mighty mic,
little woman, but can she cook? Cal
she serve up 'taters in a new way
Are her p%ie-crusts short and faky, o
heavy and soggy? Can she make a cu]
of tea to curl the hair, or is there
taste of dishwater about it?"
The widow won the gold medal witt
a bread pudding. 1t was baked in
dish half the size Of a milk pan. Ca
leb's wife used to make what sh,
called bread buildings, but they didn'
hold a candle to this one. A still
small voice whispered to the widoy
that her visitor would eat that pud
ding to a ~standstill II given a chance
and she made the chance. It touches
the spot. For the first time in year
he showed back from the table witt
his appetite perfectly satisfied. Whel
ready to go he said:
"Widder, you are a nice littl
woman!"