The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-05-25
M isftIlaneons
From Neil,s SATURDAY, Gar!
The Ola Bachelor.
BY MARY !. REEp.


Howard Ellington was an old Bachelor
Now don't ! pray you, gentle reader; begin
to think over the list of your acquaintance
bearing the same appreciation. for rest assured
/ have no reference whatever to any Of them.
claim exclusiveness as it regards my old
bachelor. Before proceeding further, must
give you an insight into his expectations, APP
pearance character, and-age, 4 was about
to say; but asI do not know exactly how old
lie WIS n5sslG Of course / cannot satisfy
you on that point As il regards expectations
fourished as~the most eminent lawyer in the
town. had been to Congress, and possessed
quite large amount of cash. His appear
ance was gentleman.y IN the extreme; but if
ever you have the happiness of meeting with
him, do nots pray you, sit too near, or you
may see few silver threads shining through
the raven blackness of his hair; premature per-
haps they may be. but still they might spoil
the golden tissue that has been woven around
him. 70 be sure, have heard some ladies
say that although they did not admire white
hair in general they considered those partic-
.ular ones quite a decoration, as they served to
show off to advantage the glossy blackness Of
the rest But had almost forgotten that this
was story, not dissertation I'm gray hair
He was considered quite good match by all
the elderly ladies who had marriageable
daughters at their disposal and by most of the
young ladies themselves; but there was some
thing about him that forbade intrigue, so he
by the most desperate maneuvrers.
His sleigh was always out in sleighing time,
but never has lady's hand pressed the heavy
L ILL Al.
pened the lady must have driven herself, for
the sleigh held but one / think / see you
raise your hands in horror at such perver-
sion of sleighing, but do not blame me. for
do not mean to excuse him myself He was
thought woman hateF by some b ut know
that to be a libel. for he had 10 objection to
women, provided they did not interfere with
him. He was very polite to those who visited
his aunt. If it was quite dark when they rose
to go, he would see them safely down the gar
den walk TO the gate, and then take leave of
them with n bow that would have graeed a
Chesterfield. How he managed to resist the
combined attractions of the ladies of North
town, and those. who sported at Washington,
while he was on duty there, know not; but
Howard Erlingtdn remained with his aunt
Mrs. Durell, having apparently no desire for
other female companionship.
School misses in their teens, whispered to
each other of some fair young girl, now dead,
to whom he had devoted his heart. and to
whom he was still faithful Young ladies, in
whose minds few more years had served to
lessen the belief in undying attachment, spoke
of some faithless fair one, who had forsaken
him for more wealthy sutor, and whose
frailty caused him to lose all reliance upon the
rest Of her sex 4 do{not know which class
was right or whether both were equally wrong
as neither the gentleman himself nor his aunt
seemed disposed to CRAFTY the curiosity of in
quiers; and as Mr. .Erlington was born in an
other State, and came to N orthtownthe same
decided bachelor he was when my story COM
mences their elders could not ease thei,
minds upon the subject Not that ever as
ked any thing about him Oh, MOI I never
take any interest in such things: but severa
of my acquaintance did so without success
To prove that those who applied themselves
diligently to search and find out the secret
/ mystery, were capable of doing so if the thing
was practicable, / will give an instance of Mis-
Chatterton's attempt
There was portrait Of a young lady with
sweet. interesting countenance, in, Mrs Du
Irell's parlor, which had been but lately pla
lced there, and which served very well as
commencement for the attack.
'@My dear Mrs. .Durell, that d beautiful
face" began Miss Chatterton, glanciDg to
wards the portTait