Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-08-07
MISC Ell L A N Y.
FROM CHAMBERS EDINBURGH JOURNAL.
THE OLD MAID.

When first knew her. she between thirty and for
,y Her features were pain yet she was far from ugly
there was naneless charm in her expression which made
her almost beautiful Hers was face that you would have
stood to look at as at picture recoect seeing her some
times at our house. long te ago, when was very 1T
tie fellow There was something very quiet and gentle
about her, and that very camness seemed torePe all nru
SION used to wish to love her, but darea aot sometimes
would steal up to her nselessy she sat at work, and
she would stoop down and kiss my forehead and then push
me gently away and sometimes thought felt tear TALL
on nv cheek, but it may have been only fancy.
Years passed on be to youthful fancy they wrought no
h,ooe in her, she was sthesame gentle beeg before She
rented pretty little cottage but could not be sand TO i've
there for she was always wandering from place to place a
Eaong her acquainances, doing them little services Did
Mrs Tompkins want assistance in making dress f-the
old maid did the pea,est needle imaginable Was Mrs.
jerks busy preparing for her Christmas party s--he ns'
preliminary was write TO the old maid to come and make
some of the mince pies ths uch praised last year.
And when an ndviual in her circle Of acquaintance was
laid ON bed Of Sickness who ready to smooth with
lie hand the pillow Of pain and calm the unqueit wander
nq mind as the old maid? Who. like her, would tend
with unweaeed care the restless hours sickness and raise
the veong night with other companion than book and
her quiet thonghtSf
She seemed strangely alone in the world for excepting
widowed sister, she had relatives. Sometimes won
dered that she did got married, but how the thought
cana into nv head have no idea For sometimes can
not tell why the notion seemed quite absurd in connection
with her. What could we have done without herr She get
married It was of the question.
She lived on small annuity in her little cottage near the
suburbs of the town. There was little patch fruit gar
den about three yards square,with little round bed the
middle and few stuned evergreens round hes sde one
had one maid servant little demure creature as pTm and
quiet as herself The little front parlor was rather scan'l-
" furnished and cold oosng, bat very neat You always
saw some elegant bit of industry in progress on the table,
but there was nothing Of the kind to be seen round the
room Some of her numerous friends constantly ask
nq her to make them one of those nice soandsos, like the
one she did for Mrs Brgg and she was always happy 10
oboe hem There was no armchair or sofa in the room;
on the square pianoorte an old one OF you
might sometimes observe plain black bonnet and pair o
cotton gloves Thele scent bottle on the man'ePece
bnt it had been long while empty. There were ie"
hooks IN shelf hung against the wall little poetry and
some good old solid prose- strange aPano"s side oy sdo
Gr it contained an odd umbe of things and od You
miobt have seen "Rasselas,' Hervey's "Meditatlons
Moore's "Zeluco,' Youngs might Thoughts" Scotrs
"Rokeby - "Guy Mannering," Walton's "Angler" and
paradise Lost" A Shakespear there was of course-aF
old edition. in many volumes and, what use to please me
most, large old Bible with pictures in it.
Years passed by We had lost sight Of the old maid FOL
several weeks when day she appeared at our house
per than ever and in deep mourning, leading in her hanc
bow of about eight years old. Her sister was dead and
had left this boy 10 the care of his only relative In the
world had grown big fellow now; and when the ole
maid al intervals came TO see us, used to paonSe he
little nephew and would initiate him into the science OF
'peg in the ring" or cndeavor to make him an adept
"6yes"
The old maid selum visited now, for shedevoed al he
time to the education of her nephew and by such courseo
training he grew up gentle and quiet like herself Asyear
passed away. we could see little change In her Tranquil
course OF life but there was much to be noticed in her pro
tege. He had early given tokens of intellectual power oi
high oder and she procured the best masters TOR him an
when she could no longer supenlend his studiesshe "ou
sit By him. and encourage him by gentle words and kisses
! In course OF time he went to Cambridge. We knew no
by what means his aunt was thus enable to prepare hu
for fame and honor, till we noticed that though the coag
looked as neat IS before, the prm maid servant was ION
ger TO be seen.
Some years afterwards the old maid called our hous
TO bid MS bye Her nephew, after becoming NJ.
had been received into the church; and while continuin
his studies had been anxiousy looking for curacy bu
without success He had been offered situation to 'rave
as tutor with noblemau's son; but the poor old woma
could not bear TO part with him. At last, through SOM
titled friend he had procured curacy of hundred yea
in country village. long way off, and she was going
him there She looked thinner and older than of yore b
she very cheerful and merry at the thought that hi
| Harry was at last provided for, however poorly.
Time passed, aud the nephew, from the cuacy, succeed
ed to the living. Hetook few private pupils, and his il
come was increased After little time he married b.