Year: 1864

The Professor Marrying a Cook.


Some wears since when I was IN college,
We had amongst our faculty a curious
! parsonage, whom every one regarded with
considerable respect, and yet as eharae-
ter SUI oeneris. BE bad lived many years
without a wife, and expected to live 50
always. Indeed, as be was the professor
Of mathematics, the abstraction Of his
science forbade his indulging in the idea
of getting married. To the female sex,
therefore, be showed no other regard than
common politeness required. His char
aoter in this particular, was purely mega
tive. Of course he vas not popular with
the ladies, and they kept themselves at
distance from him. But Circumstances
that often bring about mach in other
cases, placed him in . pecuisr dilemma.
It seemed 7him that q necessity was
laid upon him to get married. He was
ons of the faculty of the COllege-an the
other professors we're married and oblig-
ed to entertain the distinguished visitors
Of the institution. He had always board
ed. OF course It wasn't expected Of him
that be should ever give party or din
ner. But it began to be regarded as
rather mean in him to shirk of this mat
ter from year to year, andWell of as he was
pecuniarily, to throw upon the other mem
bers Of the faculty the cost and trouble Of
entertaining the special friends and
patrons of the College. The question
vas therefore frequently asked:


Why doesn't the old miser entertain
some Of the distinguished Visiters that
visiR Us p s e


Now our professor wasn't miser at all
and it often troubled him to think he was
80 situated that be couldn't besr his part
of the burden. And yet what could be
do2 Must be get married? ? Aud If so
to whom2 he bad no special regard for
any one in the vicinity Of the college,
and no one had any special regard for him.
In his younger days he had. seen at
school, a. young lady in the city of New
York, in whom he had felt peculiar in
.erest. But of her he hadn't heard for
years. Doubtless before this time she
was married, or in her grave. Posi-
bly,, however, she was still living and
waiting for him2 Glorious thought |
He was q te relieved at it, though, in
deed, there might be no foundations for
his relief. Nevertheless he would make
due inquiry. Nor could be long delay,
for Commencement day was at hand only
few weeks off. It was his turn, or rath-
er it would be if he was married, to give
the great dinner to the distinguished per-
sonages who would be present on the occa-
sion. There would be the Governor Of
the State and his lady-the trus;e ;ees Of
the Institution and their friends, and
others of equal repute. But who should
be master of ceremonies ? And who should
grace the table2 He could square the cir
Gle, perhaps, butsuch circle as this, what
could be do with 1T If he we're only
married what q helPmate would his wife
be at such 3 time. And yet, his wife
must be good looking, accomplished, and
an intelligent lady; otherwise the blank
would be blot


Nov there was a young lady IN the
neighborhood that the professor thought
might answer. He had seen her at his
boarding house and spoke to her once or
twice.


But, she may say no, and if she did,
where in creation thought hs, could l
hide my head And then what would
become Of the diningT The Governor
must have dinner, and he must have a
wife. And hence he lay awake about it
all night. At last as the morning broke
be cried out to himself, Contempt She
viii say no, will she What then p
Other men have lived through it, and I
shall. If not, I shall have clear con-
science about the dinner, and clear con-
science is the main thing after all /
will write note to Miss A, any way.
It may be she will regard it favOrably.
So the professor sat down and wrote a
note to Miss A. Stay q minute, said
be to bimsslf, what will tie Governor
think Of the lady 2 She is handsome and
polite, but can she converse ? Can she
entertain oompany2 Doubtful, said he
to himself, very doubtful;' ana so be
tore up the note. Alasl for man on
the verge Of matrimonyl In an hour or
two, however, the Professor called on the
President and said


4 should like to be absent few daysl


tAhI' said the President, just at this
timer -r.a


fYes, sir;I have my classes in readi-
ness for the examination, and wish to
60 to New York


HAS any death occurred in the family2'
said the President.


'No, sir said the Professor, 'but I
have little matter Of business that re-
quires my immediate attention, I thought
it best 70 60


you have my best wishes, said the
President, and may you return safely
and not alone


The Professor almost smiled, but blush-
ed rather than smiled, and left the Presi-
dent, and fastened to New York.


His first inquiry on his arrival there,
was for Miss Adeline g., the young lady
whom be had seen some years before, at
school, as We have mentioned.


why, said the respondent, 'the family
has been reduced. and she is q cook.
Perhaps you don't know it sir?'


"A cookP said he, shat is just what I
want


'ObP said the lady, we thought you
wanted something else possibly


mo, have been balfstarved to death
since I left New York, and I want some
one that can cook doeently.'


well, she can do that, for she scarce
! ly has her equal 10 that line in the city.
Why, sir, she is a cook, par ercelleacs.


'And how does she look 2


She is the handsOmest cook 10 the
city, too


,iEot quite that, I presume said the
Professor, butis she intelligent2 I speak
cOnfdsntially.'


Intelligent She is, indeOd-she con-
I