Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-09-15
Ataoing
UsW AN OLD MAID WAS NiRRlED.

Il is generally the case that the moro baaut
fn and the richer young temale is. the more
difficult are both her parents and herself Ill the
choice of husband, and the more offers they
refuse. The one is too tall, the other too short
this not=wealthy, this mot, respectable. enough
Meanwhile, one spring passes alter another an
year after year carries away leaf alter leaf OF
! inc bloom OF youth md opportunity.
Miss Harriet Srllwood was the richest hclreSS
in her native town. but she had already compile
ted her twenty.seventh year, and beheld most all
her Young friends united to men whom she had
at one tine or other discarded. Harriet began
TO b. set down for an old mail. Her parents
became really uneasy and she herself lnmencsi
in private n position Th;c is not natural one,
and to SAic!; those to whom Nature and Fortune
hai heen nisgarily OF their gifts, are obliged to
submit: but Harriet, us we have said, was both
handsome and very rich. Q
Such WAS the state Of things when her uncle,
wealthy merchant in the North Of Eng land,
came on visit to her parents. lie was Jorl-
al. straightforward man, accustomed to atlnck
all difficulties boldly and rooly,
"You sec," said hcs father to him one day,
Harriet esniil.ues sing lie. The girl is han'l'
some; what she is to have for her fortune you
know even in this sc,,ndal.lovnG town, not a
creature can breathe the slightest imputaton
against her; and yet she is getting to be M old
maid
"True, replied the uncle; 81 but look you,
brother, the .rand point in every affair i'll this
world is to seize The .!ght moment; this YOU
have no. dome it is misfortune, hut let the
rirl 90 along with me, and before the end nl
three months will return her to You It's the vile
of II young man wealthy rs herself
Away went the niece with the uncle. On the
way home, he thus addressed her:
.You are no longer Miss ScIlwood, but Mrs.
Lumnry, my niece, ~ young, wealthy, chlldleSs
widow; You had the misfortune to lose your
husband, COL Lumlcy, after u happy union Of a
quarter of year by II fall from his horse while
hunting
"But, mclc-'
"Let me manage if you please, Mrs. Lum!cy.
Your father has invested me with full powers.
Here, look you, is the wedding ring given you
by YOUR late husband. Jewels and whatever
else YOU need, your aunt will supply YOU with
and accustom yourself to cast down your eyes.
The keen-witted uncl, introduced his niece
everywhere, and everywhere the young widow
excited q strong sensation: The young Geniio'
men throngcd around her, and she soon had the
choice out of twenty suitors. Her uncle advised
her to accept the one who was deepest In love
with her. and rare chance decreed thatlt should
be precisely the most ainiable and opulent The
match was soon concluded, and one day the un'
Gle desired to say L few words to his future
nephew, il private. ,
'My dear sir he began, "we have told you
an untruth." :.
MHow so2 .A,c Mrs. Ihlmley's affections
"Nothing of the kind my niece is sincerely
attached to YOU"
"Then her fortune, I suppose, is not equal to
what you told me?H
"On the contrary, it is larger"
"Well, what is the matter then p
"a joke, OIL innocent joke, which caa::e into
our heads one day when was in gOol humor
we could not recall it afterwards My niece
. is not q widow
@WhatL is Col. Lumley living?'
"No, no, she is Il splinter
The lover protested that lie was happior
fellow than he had ever conceived himself, and
the old maid was forthwith metamorphosed into
young wife.
Mr.. Smith you said that YOU once oiciated III
the pulpit-did you mean by that, that you
prcachcd?'
"No.sir, held the light - the man who dit
preach"
"Ah, the court understood you differently
They supposed that the discourse came from
you"
"No, sir, only throwcl ht'lc Light up
on it."