1856.] The Wife for Me, 583 



would take Sarah's place in the kitchen a little while, that I might 

 find out some of their housekeeping qualities, and that I might have 

 a little more chat with her." 



* But he waited for such a change in vain, though he found some op- 

 portunities of converse, and discovered all he wished to know just 

 then ahout her mental qualifications and acquirements ; and at the 

 close of the fourth day, just before he got into bed, he slapped the 

 white counterpane emphatically, and said to it — as there was nobody 

 in the room, I suppose he must have spoken to the counterpane or 

 the bedpost — ' She's the wife for me.' 



The next day was the outer limit of his visit ; and as he stood at 

 the window after breakfast he saw Sarah, with that witching white 

 apron, trip out into the orchard, to shake down some apples, for it 

 was baking day, and pies were to be made. Horace strolled out af- 

 ter her, and shook the tree, and helped to pick up the apples, and 

 carried the basket as they returned slowly to the house. What it was 

 he whispered in her ear she never told, but she seemed not displeased, 

 though evidently surprised, and a little frightened. 



A year after, Horace was at the house of his old friend again, and 

 this time Sarah was not so much in the kitchen. There were great 

 preparations for a wedding going forward, and in a few days Sarah 

 became Mrs. Horace Hastings ; and now, in a splendid Boston 

 mansion, she fully justifies the wisdom of her dear husband's choice, 

 by being to him a most excellent wife, and a superlative housekeeper. 



A Physician, passing by a stone-mason's shop, bawled out, 

 " Good morning Mr. D. Hard at work, I see. You finish your 

 grave-stones as far as ' In memory of,' and then wait, I suppose, to 

 see who wants a monument next?'' 



" Tes, yes," replied the old man; "unless somebody's sick, and 

 you are doctoring him — then I keep right on." 



Practical Science. — Grandmamma — ' Well Charley, and what 

 have you been learning to-day?' 



Charley — ' Pneumatics, gran'ma ! — and I can tell you such a dodge ! 

 If I was to put you under a glass receiver, and exhaust the air, all 

 your wrinkles would come out as smooth as grandpa's head.' 



