Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-01-05
THE OLD MAID.

title! The gentleman laughs because the bare
mention of such being is abominable to him. The
young lady laughs because to her she is contempt
bic, and the mother laughs to frighten her daugh-
ters out Of cebacy
/ But let me tell you, my young readers, those
who cannot be called celibatares-Old Maids are
no bug-bears after all. Is lady neat in her attire
and is she particular lest her collar be wrong side
outwards ?-she will certainly be an old Maid. Has
she that modesty Of demeanor, so becoming to our
sex !--her fate is sure; is she precise, possessing
strong sense of propriety, and does she know lust
how children should be brought up?-most surely
she is " cut out for an Old Mad,"-for whose chill
dren are so well educated, or whose husbands so
well satisfied as AN OLD MAIDS
Now there is such mixture in the charac-
ter of most Old Mads--so many good qualities, and
so many bad, Sometimes,-that have often wonder
ed where they orginated--ifit was not in the MOON
The lunar inhabitants, from the last accounts have
wings, which leads me to think they are partly an
gelic; and this is like our single ladies-for who
ever heard of angels being married? Then the
inhabitants OF the moon live without water,-this
might make them dry and husly-perhaps little
tart in their nature.
Now they could not have had their origin in We
nus-for whoever knows her history, would at once
say that was absurd--although there are many &C.
centrclties about that planet,-such as the incna-
ton of her axis being seventy-ive degrees caus-
ing the sun to describe circles round her horizon
than our polar one. Neither could it have been in
Mars, or any of those gentleman planets, for they
OF old abhorcd Old Maids. So must 90 back to
my first conclusion-that they originated in the
moon; for had they been of earthly origin, their
name would never have suffered such opprobrum.
Old bachelor thou needest not SMILE for fable pla
ces thy origin in the river Styx!
Now, gentle reader, for our story. Here we are in
the city OFF,, Virginia Row"-let us this evening,
as 1t is some time past dinner ascend these steps
and ring at the door, A servant ushers us into the
drawlng-room What an air of comfort and ele-
| gance about the room that embroidered window
drapery sweeping the floor the damasl over-hang-
ing SO gracefully folded over thosebrilliant fixtures,
gives the room warm appearance this chilly eve
mng-while the mirrors, measuring the height of
the wall, seem to create a large and brilliant fami-
ly On that divan sits the master of the house
with his fair wife, watching the airy movements of
the little ones, as they dance a mnuet and iir to
the gay notes of the piano forte. On an ottoman
by the pierstable sits an Old Maid and beside her
gentle neice, the only daughter of her sister,
Dear, kind reader, for | really love YOU for YOUR
patience thus tar-dear reader, / say, what idea
have you of this Old Maid? How does she look,
and how does her gentle nece ? All, the former is
tall, of saow complexion, with cold grey eye, you
say but her companion is fair, blue-eyed maid
en-, with auburn ringles gracefully flowing upon her
snowy neck and with lofty brow. betrayinp no.
Rhythm this particulars but not in the other The
neice is but counterpart of the aunt except more
youthful, beng scarce twenty-one, and the other
turned of thirty.
They have been spending the winter in this ia
nous city, at her brothers. She had remained sin
gle from motives very satisfactory to her own mind
Her angel sister bequeathed her this daupbtcr at
the age of twelve, and she had remained single tho
better TO direct her education She had eivon bor
little protegee private tuition from her gentle
lips- until yestcen, when she accompanied ner
some years to large and much approved boarding
school; not so much to gain the fine accomplish
ments OF the day. as to give opportunity to mingle
with other minds, that she might be free from mar
row prejudices, and by comparison with others, to
judge Of her own abilities. Thus did she gain that
selt-knowledge so necessary to qualify us to act
well our part in the great drama of life. So
did this maiden aunt educate her charge as her
own judlcious mother had done by her-diffusing
her own pure principles into the nece's mind to a
mature age, and thus prevented the communicating
influence of those who are always found in such
large schools.
But look! who is. that tall, noble figure lust en-
tering the room with so much grace? II is the
Hon. Edgar Bolngbroke, gentleman of easy for
tune, and acknowledged talents; for already had
he been called to legisate for our great Republic
He could not have been quite forty but n'importe
he was not an old bachelor. He bows politely to
the master of the house and his lady" and really
to the aunt, "you are not going tomorrow we
cannot spare you. To me the city will be lonely
indeed when you and your estimable friend leave
us. Allow me to take you both to Concert Place,
in Chestnut Street; the famous Italian singers, |
forget their Italian Names are lust arrived. and Of
fer great attraction"
Aunt Amelia" said Isabel, after they returned
from the concert, and had retired to their rooms
|" What does MIR. b. mean by treating me with such
marked attention. while every word has some ref
erence to your taste 2"
Ills marked attention, sis, may mean to take
your hand some time"
81 would not wait nine years for him; wbv his
hair might per chance fall off before that time!
heard him say he would not marry a lady under
thirty"
"Why, Isabel! did you think him in his senses
when he said that? An Old Maid The Hon. e.
b., marry an Old Maid | should think him in
Shakspeare's last stages of love- Madness"
Gut aunt A., saw him look, as well as saw
pleasant things to YOU"
.Men's eyes made O look-then let them gaze,
Will not bulge for no mans peasuro"-
replied Miss Stafford
81 think" said Isabel, that with Cupd's arrow
you have DAMS wit, dearest" said she fnginp her
arms round the neck Of her friend and bursting in
to tears forgive me-" The truth was, Isabel had
lost her heart and she jealous of her aunt
Weeks passed by and Miss S. and Isabel were
again IN the country, comfortably settled in their
summer home. Isabel is seated at a bow-window
IN very pleasant, but not elegant room. 1t is a
bright morning in the month of May, when all ma
ture looks young and beautiful The forest is cloth
ed in fresh and verdant beauty--the rivuet suppli
ed by the vernal rains, seems sportiye as child
now gushing, and now leapng over channelled rock
and broken bush-now more smooth, the flowerets
on Its banks seem to kiss its bosom, while the mer
ry children sport their Hghtskiff, safely anchored
to stuck. The violet sends forth its sweetest odors
ana the honey-suckle, the snow-drop and the cow
Isabel was gazing upon such scene as Ills. her
sell lovelier flower, destined to fold her petals
Tor moment, only to expand them again in far
richer beauty.
miss IT," says servant "can you please tell
me where your aunt i" "She is out" replied Is
abel. " A letter, Miss, for her; lust brouobt.n