The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-30
FINDING HIS MATE
BY LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.

BY LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.
Caleb Andrews was a man of fifty.
He was also q widower, and had de- T,
cided to marry again, although his |
fourteen-year-old daughter was run
ming the house very well.
Caleb wasn't q 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. It 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 a. much AZ II
he had been all day without meal.
When Caleb got ready to look up .
wife 1t was almost . 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 q hard days work and q sup
per that would have made an OK groan
with contentment and said:
Mary, I'm hearty eater"
Eyes, father"
Keeps you cooking most of the
time"
"Yes."
"You orter have more schooling"
Il think So"
But my appetite keeps you home
and keeps you over the hot stove"
Eyes, 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 l 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 q
+ change in the dishes, eh?"
! Il guess they would, but whom can
/ you hire?"
. Nobody. Don't want to hire nobod,
t tall ..,..,s.,,..,,
i Get married ag'in. Get a wife !!
, do the cooking. Get a wife who's 60
!. a twist Of the wrist about bilin' ant
Q bakin' and gettin' up new dishes. Wha
a ye think OF III"
r . Its for you to decide, father"
"You children won't raise any row
{ mo-"
u That's mighty nice Of you, and 20
Z can count on getting some Santa Clau
in your Christmas stockings"
= "Have you picked her out?" wa
timidly asked.
only Just kinder picked her out.
. thought I'd tackle the wilder Blis
q hrst."
Z shes nice"
Yes, but can she cook? She's &
}. to be nice and q mighty good cook b.
sides. After I've eaten one meal
her house can tell whether she'll a
. the bill or not"
d The Widow Bliss lived in the villas
. three miles away. She was forty.fiy
o years old, and was weary Of facin
10 the troubles of life alone-some rel
II good man-some man that would o.
q preciate her many good qualities
why. why
J. No one must blame her or sneer ,
J. her. As we are told In Holy Wri
70 husbands shall not know their wivt
J. in heaven, and wives shall not kno
ID their husbands. Therefore, 1t Is be
ter to get plenty Of husbands Ar
u wives on earth.
y Caleb, the widower, loaded up d,
T. bushels of potatoes and hied him dow
70 to the Widow Bliss with them. The
- were q gift to her. and she made
y plain that his generosity was duly a
70 preciated. They became 30 interests
in each other and he had timed Il
y hour 80 accurately, that she invite
him to stay to supper.
r That's it! Now Ill get line {
{ her cooking!" he said to himself aft
accepting the invitation. Mighty MI
y little woman, but can she cook? ca
she serve up 'taters in a new wa!
Are her pie-crusts short and faky,
heavy and soggy? Can she make q CT
10 of tea to curl the hair, or is there
taste Of dishwater about it,"
% The widow won the gold medal wi
10 a bread pudding. 1t was baked in
dish half the size Of a milk pan. c
III leb's wife used to make what 81
D. called bread buildings, but they dior
hold a candle to this one. A sti
'r small voice whispered to the wido
p that her visitor would eat that pu
ding to a standstill If given a chano
10 and she made the chance. 1t touch'
81 the spot. For the first time in yea
C. he showed back from the table wi
N his appetite perfectly satisfied. VIII
N ready to go he said:
VI Wilder, you are a nice lit
u woman!"
I'm glad you think So" she repli
T. with laugh.
70 81 shall probably come around tn
= way again"
10 And / shall always be glad to s
you"