Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-14
TIE BACHELORS ARD.
EY CAROLINE NORRIS.

So my sarctum is to be invaded, my
bookcase rihed, my slippers displaced,
my authority as lord and master of this
hitherto quiet mansion disputed, by
school girl-a miss, not yet out Of her
teens-a perfect mass, no doubt, of ring
lets, muslin, silk, and sighs, mingled
with romances, poetry, love songs, and
beaux. Oh dear. my doom is sealed
Farewell to newspapers, cigars, and maps.
| Why, in the name Of all that ridiculous,
did my friend choose to leave this terres-
trial globe without this charming daugh-
ter, Or why did he not bequoath the dear
creature to some other mortal than my
seIf?"
Edward Wilson, or as he was familiarly
known among his bachelor friends, Ned
Wilson, scowed savagcly at an unoflending
letter that lay On the talle, and seating
himself, began to write reply. It was
from the physician Of an old chum Of
his who had died recently and contained
his dying wish that he would protect his
only child. He wrote, though rather un-
graciously, and stated that she should be
welcome, and heaying tremendous sigh,
growled out
To think that, after enjoying thirty
five years Of unrestrained freedom, am
to be burdened with a woman. one Of that
sex | have so carefully Stunned, as |
would any sort of trouble-for they are
good for nothing excepting to teach men
patience-and doubtless my private let
terS and accounts will serve for curl papers
for her ladyship, and she will torment NE
with novels and lap dogs-and dress ma
kers, milliners, and dry goods clerks will
besicge the house from morning till night,
and shall be talked lloaf about fashions
and jewelry.''
Ned sroaned inwardly at the dismal
prospect before him, and his round good
natured face grew long, and assumed such
a torlorn and dolcful expression, that when
the old lady who acted as housekeeper,
came in with tea and toast, she stopped
short, and hastily setting down her load,
with very synpathizing and affcctionate
air, exclaimed
~I.a sir. what is the matter? Has
anything gone wrong, cranybody dead -
lie shook his head, and in a very mel
ancholy and lugubrious tone, said
Every thing and every body my good
woman"
Not exactly pretending this very
laconic and lucid speech, the housckeepcI
felt that some great calamity had or was
about to take place, and that it was her
duty to symrathize with it, whatever it
was, and accordingly she put her apron
to her eyes, and appeared much affected.
Encouraged by this, Ned, with an appar-
entity cruel design to harrow up her feel
ings, continued
Yes, Martha, it is too true: some
thing has happened very dreadful, and
you see before you the most miserable and
detected specimen Of an old bachelor the
universe contains"
! Martha thought it was time, so she ven
tured to give little sob, and simpered-
" Deed, sir, [ am very sorry, and it's
a great shame. whatever it be"
Thank YOU for your kindness, but it
is ofno avail ; my peace is destroyed, or
soon will be, and you too must suffer with
me, for the blow will fall upon Us both"
At this, one round blue eye peeped GU
riously out, and glistened, but not with
tears and as he proceeded, the apron
fell, and that eye. and its mate, grew
rOunder with astonishment and lndigna-
ton.
"Yes, we arc to have our happiness
cast aside, our feelings disturbed by a
young, pert, flirting girl, who has always
lived in the country, and has, without
doubt, fiery red hair, coarse hands, and
sings like a screetch owl: she will be
mistress here, and vou-''
He was Indignantly interrupted by
Martha, who felt her dignity and position
outraged by the idea of being ruled by
such a creature, and she burst out with
Then, master Edwerd, the house will
not be large enough to hold us both and
to think that after all my long years OF
faithful and hard service, that should
be turned out of doors by a good for
nothing little upstart of baby! 1t al
most breaks my heart to think Of it >
and she flung herself ont ofthe room.
The door soon opened again, and she
appeared at the head of the kitchen forces,
who had been reused to rebellion by her
exaggerated representations in that de-
partmcnt, and they all advanced, with