Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-04-03
OLD MAID MAKES A YOUN
=. - ----- HUInnXK ~ III = 1

1t is generally the case that the NOR
beautiful and rich young female is
the more difficult are both her parent
and herself in the choice of husband
and the more offers they refuse. Th
one is too tall, the other too short-thi
not wealthy, that notrespectable enough
Meanwhile one spring passes after an
other, and year after year carries away lea
after leaf ofthe bloom of youth, and oppor
tunity after opportunity. Miss Harrie
Selwood was the richest heiress in he
native town; but she had already com
pleted her twenty seventh year, and be
held almost all her young friends united
to men whom she had, at one time OF
other discarded. Harriet began to b.
set down for an old maid. Her parents
became really uneasy, and she herselt
lamented in private, position which is
not a natural one, and to which those te
whom Nature and Fortune have beer
niggard of their gifts are obliged to sub
NIT, but Harriet as we have said, was
both handsome and very rich. -,
Such was the state of things when hel
uncle, wealthy merchant in the North
of England, came on a, visit to hel
parents. Hewas ajovial, lively straight.
forward man, accustomed to attack al
difficulties boldly and coolly. = lis
s.:You see, said her father to him one
day, Harriet continues single. The
girl is handsome; what she is to have
for her fortune, you know; even in this
scandal loving town not creature can
breath an imputation against her; and
yet she is getting to. be an old maid"
"True," replied the uncle, sbtt look
you, brother, the grand Point il every
affair in this world is to seize Che right
moment; this you have not done. 1t is
a misfortune, but let the girl go along
with me, and before the end of three
months 1 will return her to you as the
wife Of man as young and wealthy as
herself" a-ie .7'4s'a+a1 ..sf." ss7@.'
ae Away went the niece with her uncle.
On the way home, he thus addressed
her: -g.---
"Mind what I am gowing to say. You
are no longer Miss Selwood, but Mrs
Lumley, my niece, young, wealthy,
childless widow; you had the misfortune
to lose your husband, Col. Lumley, after
a happy union of quarter ofa year, by
fall from a horse while hunting. y Z
"But; uncle an ef--4- f,tf-..-...,.
'Let me manage, if you please, Mrs.
Lumley. 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" '''s' -. = 9'1i = 80 g E'.
The keen-Mitte uncle introduces his
niece everywhere, and everywhere the
young widow excited great sensation.
The gentlemen thronged about her, and
she soon had her choice out of. twenty
suitors Her uncle advised her to ac-
cept the one who was deepest iii love
with her, and rare chance decreed that
this should be precisely the most amia-
BILE and opulent. The match was soon
concluded, and one day the uncle desired
to say few words to his future nephew
in private. ~ atta 3ata ia +
''My dear sir, he began, "we have
told you an untruth.''
How so? Are Mrs. Lumleys affec-
tons 5s- '.i" 1850 lis
3 "Nothing of the kind; my niece is sin
cerely attached to you, vus aturoq
q "Then her fortune, I suppose, is not
equal to what you told me. J" ...... +
"On the contrary, it is much larger"
"Well, what is the matter, then?"
aAs'A joke-at innocent joke, which
came into my head one day, when 1 was
in good humor; we could not recall it
afterwards. Ny niece is not widow. >
sWhat! Is Col. 1umley living?"
ssNo, no, she is aspinster.' - -.7
4 The lover protested thathe was a hap
pier fellow than he had ever conceived
himself, and the old maid was forthwith
metamorphosed into young wife.