The Washington herald., 1915-02-09
DAILY SHORT STORY.
HER LAST MATCH.
By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY

Copyright, leI5.l
1t was said of Aunt Mary Baker. OF
WellsvilIe. shortly before she died at a
good old age. that she had made more
matrimonial matches than any five wom-
en- i'm the State combined.
She was only thirty-five years Of age
when her husband died. and instead Of
looking solemn for a year and then mar
rying again. which she could have done,
she said to herself:
NO no. There is work to be done and
my mission is to do it,
Did she mean she was going into the
cause OF temperance? That she was going
to smash show windows and set houses
afire in the cause OF woman's rights?
That she was going to work up a taste
for mutton instead of missionary in the
Cannibal Islands? That she was going to
furnish 4 hundred bucksaws and a like
number of sawbucks and coax the tramps
Of America TO take of their coats and
get up a sweat?
Nothing OF the sort. She wasn't even
going to give a turkey dinner to 100 poor
families and give half Of them a collie
from overeating
Aunt Mary's mission was to be the
bringing together of loving hearts and
stand by them until a minister had made
one heart out OF the two The hearts
wouldn't be loving hearts exactly until
brought face to face. as II were They
would first be lonely and discouraged
hearts.
She didn't propose TO meddle with the
males and females who stood a fair
chance with their natural attractions,
but to search out those on whom Nature
had vented her spite by giving them
homely faces. lop shoulders, portruding
teeth, bOwlegs and other handicaps. 1t
was not only a merciful mission, but a
glorious one
Aunt Mary was called home at the age
OF seventy-two, and the number OF
matches she had arranged since she took
up the business averaged two per year.
She lived with relatives. who found no
fault with her whim, and she drove about
the country with an old horse and buggy
looking for despairing hearts. Many
widow would have been glad of her as
sistance. but she would not give it. When
she had heard of a homely old maid,
living from five to twenty miles away,
Aunt Mary would drive to the address
and introduce herself.
Il have come to arrange a marriage
for you"
But am so homely that no man ever
even walked home from prayer meeting
with me-" might be the reply.
les, you are very. very hOmely, but
/ hope TO find a husband for you. He
will be as homely as you are, but you
must expect that. HomeIy men and
women make the best husbands and
wives. You lock to me to be a good
hearted woman"
They say I am"
Are you quick-tempered "
NO
'"Good at housework?''
Il am told So"
How about romance?@
I've got over expecting a prince to
come along"
And the age is about thirty-hve?"
About that. but this is making busI-
ness of getting married. isn't it?''
MY dear" replied Aunt Mary. 'If you
were only eighteen you would fall in
love with young man because he wore
a cute necktie A youth OF twenty would
fall in love with you because you sang
alto. To make sensible marriage you
must mingle business with II, at least
enough to know how the first months
rent Is to be paid"
but who Ii the man7'' would be asked.
II don't know yet. but I shall find one
for you"
And good Aunt Mary would 80 driving