ADVERTISED FOR A WIFE,

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1759, 18 June 1886, Page 6

ADVERTISED FOR A WIFE,

A BOSTON METHOD OF OBTAINING A SPOUSE. In one of the Boston daily papers appeared this advertisement: — " Wanted. — A lady, cultured, refined, and educated, and of a genial disposition. Such <a person will find good wages and a pleasant home, Address Tremont Street, 2 o'clock, Saturday p m." This was no doubt read by a large number of women who were looking for some occupation, and a Traveller reporter happened to meet with one of those who answered tbe advertisement in person. Calling at the time appointed, the door was opened by a grey-haired man, who asked at once, " You want to see tbe minister?" "Well," replied the woman, " I don't know any thing about the minister, but I came in answer to the notice in the paoer." " All right," was the answer, given in a demure, sanctified tone of voice. "I'm not the man ; I'm a doorkeeper in the house of our Lord ; walk in." " What have I got into now ? " was the inward thought as the woman entered ; but as the door was opened into a parlour and disclosed a large number of others on the same errand, she gained courage and took her seat at the end of the line interested to see the affair out. There were old, grey-haired, and young women, teachers, nurse-girls, and chambermaids. Seeing an empty chair beside a good motherly-looking woman, the applicant went up to her and asked — "Do you know what this is ? ' " Well, no, I don't. I've no idea and I presume its nothing I want, but I thought they might be looking for a nurse in a family ; or perhaps some one to travel with an invalid. Now, I've travelled everywhere with different people, and so thought I'd come oyer." All around was a dead silence except for the repeated answer in the hall, which could be heard to every newcomer — " I'm not the man ; I'm a doorkeeper in the house of our Lord — walk in." At last as the clock in the room struck the hour, the door opened and in walked a tall elderly man, dressed in black and with a couple of books under his arm. Walking to a table be seated himself, coughed, cleared his throat, and gave out a hymn to be sung, then quietly placed his spectacles on the top of his forehead and looked the women over, while they did their best to sing, according to programme. After thiß a passage in the Bible was read, and the minister arose aud offered a prayer, seemingly addressed to the the women present. And now the business of the afternoon was to begin. The minister again arose and all was attention. He stated he was descended from a Quaker parentage, and the letters which he would read to them about himself would show that he was known as a man, kind, sympathetic, and good-hearted ; that he gave large sums of money to the poor ; that he | was a great reader and possessed a large library, and having a farm in the | South be wanted to take back with him a wife, and he had taken this way to assemble all these beautiful women together, and he was glad so many had replied. He would now dismiss them after they had sung another of Moody's tunes, but he wished every one who was not already married to remain, and he would tell them more about himself; the others could pass out. The woman he chose is not known, but it is understood that the inducements he offered tempted one of the female applicants.