Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-08-02

Eager and hot grew the controversy,
and | lost not a word, while Ophelia lay
flat on her back, her stiff kid arms sticking
out, and her Group quite forgotten. Then
first did | take notice of that terrible COM
bination OF monosyllables, s,-"Old Maid"
In how many different tones Of contempt,
dread, and depreciation, did | hear it utter
ed by those juvenile voices What anec-
dotes came forth about cross old maids, and
fidgetty old maids, and ugly, and dressy,
and learned, and pious, and flirting, and
notwithstanding, old maids. Never did
bevy of regular finy-year-old spnsers ut
was poured forth by these blooming young
creatures. Two or three friends of my
mother whom | had always cherished in
my innocent affections, because they talk
ed SO pleasantly and We're so kind to me,
now appeared like new personages. "Miss
Il. was SO ugly, she never could have had
an offer 90 "Alss Y. dressed so shabby,
and wore green spectacles, to look itera-
ry." And "Nliss X. was for ever talking
about Sundayschool and society meetings."
and so on.
You may be sure that the next time these
ladies came to our house, / scanned very
closely the face of Miss Y, a face that !
had always loved before; but now | saw
that it was exceedingly plain. | looked
hard at Miss Y.'s drab-coored bonnet and
shawl, perceived that they were old FASH
ioned and ordinary, and that her green
spectacles looked pedantic. Then Miss
Y, beside whom | had always squeezed in
upon the sofa, encouraged by her kindly
smile and delighted with her conservation
-hoW uninteresting she had become -
They were all old majdS
1t must be observed that my sisters
right good, sensible, domestic girls they
were-had no part in this bewlderment of
my young ideas. They We're in the min
ority, so | took it for granted they were in
the wrong. Besides, what children are
ever as much Influenced by what is utter
ed in the familiar voices oEtheir own tami-
lv, as by words of COR parative strangers?
Take care of what you say at a friends
house, with the Young folks catching up
every random sentiment you drop. Many
iudicious mothers morning eXortation has
mark from dinner guest, who did not, al-
ter all, mean to give his real opinion, or
whose opinion was not worth having.
And now, assure you my education
went on rapidly. 1t is perfectly marvel
Gus, in how many ways, and by what DIFF
terent sorts of people, young girl is taught
that it is a terrible thing to be an old maid.
Fools never show their FOLLY more than in
their hackneyed iests upon this topic but
what shall we say Of the wise folks who
sin almost as often in the same way What
| shall we say OF the refinement of him who
is gentlemany in thought and expression
on all subjects but this !--oi the humanity
and chivalry of him who asSailS the de-
fenceess of the justice Of him who tan
es a class with the faults Of individuals, and
wounds with that meaneSt of WeaponS,--a
sneer ?-or Of the Christianity Of him who
indirectly censures and rIdicules one OF the
arrangements of Providence
learned my lesson thoroughly, for it
came to me in some shape every week. l
read it in every novel and newspaper, and
heard it from every lip. The very men
who spoke truth and sense on the subject,
sometimes neutraliSed it by an idle Jest in
some moment Of levity, and the Jest drove
out the truth from my young heart. AT
eighteen, | lived only for the ignoble pur-
poSe-I cannot bear to say-of getting
married but what could have been the
ruling wish of one who had been taught
by society to dread celibacy worse than
death! | dare say | betrayed it in the
ballroom, in the street, everywhere.
dare say was duly laughed at.
At last, quaking on the verge Of six anC
twenty, had an offer "a most abSurc
one. | was six years older than my lover
had ten times as much sense probably eX'
cept on one point. | knew that as he wa
''rather Wild" as the gentle phrase goes il
short, neither loved nor respected him
but | was willing to marry him, because
then l would be Mrs. Somebody, an,
should not be an old maid.
My parents said "No,' positively. o
course | thought them unreasonable AM
cruel, and made myself very miserable
Still it was something to have had san OF
ier'' of any kind, and my lips were no
hermetically sealed. | had several conf
= dantes, who took care that all my acquain
! tances should know the comfortable fac
/ that | had reius, MIR. s.
went on with increasing uneasiness
few years longer, not seeking how to b
. useful, or trying to find out for what goo
I, purpose was made. Neither was look
1 ing for companion who could svmpathis
. with my better aspirations and elevate IN
whole character, for had no right view
< of marriage. | was simply gazing about i
Y anxious suspense upon every unmarrie
man Of my acquaintance, for one wh
n would lift me out of that dismal Valley ,
f Humiliation into which | felt myself d,
scending. Had | met Apollyon himse
d there with THE question on his lips, l b,
. lieve / should have said eyes"
It At thirty-six wore more pink ribant
than ever, was seen everywhere that r.
l. spectacle woman could go, wondered wh
!, girls went into company so young, found
!. was growing sharp-iaced, and sharp-sp
!" ken, and was becoming old maidish in II
of I