Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-02-14
MISCELLANY.
HOW TO MAKE A YOUNG WIFE OF AN
OLD MAID.


The following true story might furnish matter
for n little comedy, if comedies were still written
in England:
1t is generally the case that the more beautiful
and the richer young female is, the more diff
cult are both her parents and herself in the choice
of q husband, aud the more offers they refuse.
That one is too tall, the other too short, this not
wealthy enough. Meanwhile one spring passes
after another, and year after year carries away
leaf after leaf of the bloom Of youth, and oppor-
tunity after opportunity.
Miss Harriet Sewood was the richest heiress
of her native town; hut she had already compile
ted her twenty seventh year, and beheld almost all
her young friends united to men whom she had
at one time or other discarded. Harriet began to
be set down for all old maid. Her parents be-
came really uneasy, aud she herself lamented in
private position which is not a natural one, and
to which those to whom Nature md Fortune have
been niggardy of their gifts are Obliged to sub
nit but Harriet as we have said was both hand
some and very rich.
Such was the state of things when her uncle n
wealthy man in the north Of England, came on n
visit to her parents. lie was jovia, lively,
straight forward man, accustomed 10 attack all
difficulties boldly and cooly.
"You Sec" said her father to him one day,
"Harret continues single. The girl is handsome;
what she is to have for her fortune, you know
and even in this scandal-loving town not n crea-
ture can breathe the slightest imputation against
her, and she is getting TO be old maid"
'"True," replied the UNCLE "but look you broth
er, the grand point on every affair in tins world is
to seize the right moment; this you have not done:
it is misfortune, but let the girl go along with me.
and before the end Of three months | will return
her to you as the wife of man as young and
wealthy as herself"
Away went the neice with her uncle On the
yay home, he thus addressed her: hind what
am going to say You are longer Miss Sell
wood, but Mrs. Lumloy, my niece young,
wealthy, chldless widow: you had the misfortune
to lose your husband, Col. Lumley, after happy
union of quarter of year, by fall from his
horse while hunting"
"Let me manage if you please, Mrs Lumey.
Your father has invested me with full powers.
Here, look you, is the wedding ring given you by
your late husband. Jewels, and whatever else
you need, your aunt will supply you with, and nc.
custom yourself 10 cast down your eyes"
The keen wted uncle introduced his neice
every where, md every where the young widow
excited great sensation. The gentlemen throng-
ed about, and she soon had the choice of twenty
suitors. Her uncle advised her to accept the one
that was the deepest in love with her, and n rare
chance decreed that lie should be precisely the
most amiable and opulent.--The match was soon
concluded, and one day the uncle desired to say
few words to his future nephew in private.
SHY dear sir" he began, "we have told you an
untrulh."
"How so? Are Mrs Iumley's affections"
"Nolhing of The kind F.; my neico is sincerely
attached 10 you"
"Then her fortune, suppose, is not equal &c
what you told me-"
"On the contrary, it is larger"
"WelI, what is the matter then ?"
"a joke, an innocent joke, which came into my
head one day when was in good humor W.
would not recall it afterwards. My niece is not
widow"
"What is Col. Lumley living ?"
"No no, she is a spinster."
The lover protested that he was happier fe
low than he had ever considered himself; and th,
old maid was forthwith metamorphosed into
young widow wife.