Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-10-11

Miss Penelope Penrose sat in her comfortable
sitting room, with her feet upon the fender.
Everythi about her locked neat and cheerful.
In one Garner .of Che -conl stced = piano, but i
was shut, and had been all day--Penelope had
no disposition to play. Why should she there
was no one to play to. If she now had hus-
band--@
It wa. upon this very point that Miss Pene-
lope was meditating.
The fact was, Penelope Penrose wanted but
six months Of being thirty, and no one had yet
made her proposal. 1t was rather singular
that it should be so. Penelope was good look
ing, had received good education, she was also
skilled in music, had u good temper, and YER
rily believe would make husband happy But
such things can't be accounted for She had
seen the most unpromising of her companions,
even to the ugly little Miss Henderson, with not
an accomplishment in the world, and, moreover
with face pitted with the small pox, married
off in quick succession and yet there she sat
on that cloudy morning in December, a devo.
tee to single blessedness, and likely to remain
so
Was there ever woman who did not consider
married life preferable to single one, provided
she could secure the right companione be.
lieve not.
To revert to Miss Penelope. In addition To
her other specified attractions, she owned the
!. neat cottage which she occupied, and sufficient
sum in funds to live upon with comfort and Ell:
egance. Sarely all the beaux must have been
blind.
Something must be done, and that quickly,
said Miss Penelope. as the thought of her ap.
preaching thirtieth birth day came with startling
force to her mind yes, something must be
done. But what That is the question. Such
is the state of society that woman is hemmed
on all sides. She had not even the privilege Of
choosing her companion for life, but must wait
meekly till some one comes along, and take him
or nobody. Ir's wrong, decldedly wrong. ''' =
Miss Penelope was in suitable frame of
mind, at that moment, to become an advocate Of
woman's rights.
Meanwhile it was growing dark, and Miss
Penelope rang the bell.
Sally said she to her handmaiden, you
may bring in lights and the evening paper
+ The handmaiden vanished, and presently the
articles desired made their appearance.
That will do, sally-you may 60, she said.
a Penelope looked first at the marriages--it
was no more than natural-then at the deaths.
J. Finding that none of her acquaintance had
r committed either one or the other, she turned
4 to the advertisements.
;. One in particular arrested her attention, and
! we will look over her shoulder as she reads:
To Housekeepers. The undersigned is de-
If sirous of securing the services of competent
y housekeeper, to take charge of an establishment
/. As be keeps two servants her chief duty will be
d to superintend and preside at the table. Early
= application is desirable.
u GREGORY McKM"
e. Gregory McKim, soliloquized Miss Penelope
,e l remember to have heard of him as bachelo,
inheriting large fortune from his father.
suppose he must be about thirty-Gve by thi
of time. l wonder whether, supposing were tt
e. apply, just for the joke of the thing, he woult
r give me the situation
'g 1t was new idea, and the novelty of i
ea struck Penelope 80 favorably, especially as sh
D. had become heartily tired of her present mod
" of life, that after little consideration, she de
I'D termined to carry out her plan, and if success
il full in her application, to retain the situation
er month or two
ae The next morning, very early Miss Penelor
;" summoned her obedien, handmaiden.
Sally said she, l am thinking of goiu
out of town for month or two, and during IL
time shall close up the house. If you ha
If friends you sqould like to VISIT you are at libe
- ty to do SO. Your wages, however, are to
= continued as usual, and you will let me kno
ct wherever you 60, in order that may call up'
4 you if l should return unexpectedly
H. The proposal suited very well with Sallys i
n clnations, as will readily be believed, and th
al she was at loss to conceive what had all at on
ch sent such home body as her mistress on q ira
Dir eling expedition, she was well disposed to ia
d. advantage of it,
ul Eleven o'clock found Miss Penelope in t
ur cars flying with all speed to her destination.
ys, CHAPTER II.
IN. Mr.. Gregory McIlim was bachelor of tn
lst ty FIVE, as our readers have already been nfor
lily ed Inheritng large fortune from his faith,
Is. it was matter of no little wonderment to
Ice numerous friends, that he called no one to
'er side to share it, But Gregory was one of tn
Of easy men who never took the trouble to 20
Ids ter anything. If it was within his reach, W
The and good !; otherwise the exertion was too gr
SO and he voted it bore. He seemed content
the live on, as he had ever lived, in single bless
IN mesquite Ignoring the greater blessings
Die matrimony.
ese It was after dinner, and, as was his wont,
are was leaning back in his rocking chair, plung
U.S. into the peculiar dresminess saperinducsd By