Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-07-10
HOW TO MAKE A YOUNG WIFE
OF AN OLD MAID.

furnish matter for a little comedy, if COM
edies were still written in England:
1t is generally the case that the more
beautiful and the richer young female is,
the more difficult are both her parents and
herself in the choice of her husband, and
the more offers they refuse. The one is
too tall. the other too short this is not
wealthy, the other is not respectable e.
nough. Meanwhile one spring passes
another. and year after year, carries away
leaf after leaf, of the bloom of youth and
opportunity. Miss Harriet Selwood was
the richest heiress in her native town, but
she had already completed her twenty
seventh year, and behed her friends uni
ted to men whom she had at one time or
other discarded. Harriet began to be set
down for an old maid. Her parents be-
came uneasy, and she herself, lamented in
private, position which is not natural
one, and which those to whom nature and
fortune have been nigard Of their gifts, are
obliged to submit, but Harriet, as ~e have
said, was both handsome and rich.
Such was the state of things, when her
uncle, wealthy merchant in the north OF
England, came on a visit to her parents.
He was a jovial, lively, straightforward
man, accustomed to attack all difficulties
closely and boldly. You see,' said her
father to him one day, Harriet continues
single. The girl is handsome: and then
she is to have fortune; even in this
scandal loving town, not 2 creature can
breathe the slightest imputation against
her-and yet she is getting to be an old
maid -
'True,' replied her uncle +; but look
you, brother, the grand point in every at,
fair in this world is to seize the proper
moment; that you have done it is mis-
fortune but let the girl 60 along with me,
and before the end of two months [ will
certainly return her to you as the wife o.
a citizen as young and wealthy as herself.
Away went the niece with the uncle
On the way home, he thus addressed her
/ Mind what am going to say. You are
no longer Miss Selwood, but Mrs. Lum
Hey, my niece, young, wealthy, child
less, widow you had the misfortune te
lose your husband, Col. Lumiey, after /:
I happy union Of a year and quarter, by /;
< fall from his horse while hunting.'
g But uncle
e Let me manage if you please, Mrs
n Iumley. Your father hiss invested m,
e with full powers. Here look you is tn
J. wedding ring, given you by your late bus
e Iband. Jewels and whatever else you
d need, your aunt will supply you with
and accustom yourself to cast your eye
e down. e...
e The keen witted uncle introduced hi
t niece everywhere, and everywhere tn
p young widow created great sensation
k The gentlemen thronged about her and sh
IF soon had her choice out of twenty suitors
Her uncle advised her 10 accept the on
a who was deepest in love with her. and
e rare chance decreed that this should b
precisely the most amiable and opuen
The match was concluded, and one da
the uncle desired to say few words
er his future nephew in private.
of My dear sir he began, we have tol
you an untruth.' sj #.t nj as.
,r How SO! are Mrs. Lumley's-!'
ID Nothing of the kind ; my niece is sill
II cerely attached TO YOU
Then her fortune, suppose, is not
great as you told me- .aI .en
r. On the contrary, it is larger.
il well, what is the matter then !! 7
b "A joke, an innocent joke. which cam
h into my head one day when was 10
good humor; we could not recall II afte
q. wards. My niece is not widow
lie What! is Col. Lumley living9'
a. mo, no, she is spinster.'
il The lover protested tina. he was haE
&c pier man than he ever conceived himsel