In a Western village a charming, well-preserved widow had been courted and
won by a physician. She had children. The wedding-day was approaching,
and it was time the children should know they were to have a new father.
Calling one of them to her, she said: "Georgie, I am going to do something
before long that I would like to talk about with you."

"Well, ma, what is it!"

"I am intending to marry Dr. Jones in a few days, and--"

"Bully for you, ma! _Does Dr. Jones know it?_"

Ma caught her breath, but failed to articulate a response.


69. TOO KIND

[Where can we find a more touching manifestation of mutual benevolence than
the following.]

In New Jersey reside two gentlemen, near neighbors and bosom friends, one a
clergyman, Dr. B----, the other a "gentleman of means" named Wilson. Both
were passionately fond of music, and the latter devoted many of his leisure
hours to the study of the violin. One fine afternoon our clerical friend
was in his study, deeply engaged in writing, when there came along one of
those good-for-nothing little Italian players, who planted himself under
his study window, and, much to his annoyance, commenced scraping away on a
squeaky fiddle. After trying in vain for about fifteen minutes to collect
his scattered thoughts, the Doctor descended to the piazza in front of the