Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-16
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THE WIDOW MAGENTA.

BY GEORGE MARTIAL.

BY GEORGE MARTIAL.
It is to yon, ladies, that tell the story of
the Widow Magenta-and to You that | con-
fidentialy remark, by way fpyeface, that it
is quite bad enough to marry. man old
enough be your father, and spetd the sum-
mer of your life in fading away in darkencd
sick room. having, for all amusement the
making Of gruels. and the composition of
soothing lies of all sorts to keep the invalid
in tolerably decent humor but, to be left,
after some halfdoZen years this spent,.a
widow, with no fortune but black eyes, rosy
cheeks, and large supply of mother-wit, is
worse-yes 1t is too aggravating even to
think bout and that was just what little
widow Magenta said when the lawyers told
her that old Magenta had left her nothing
but the privilege of paying his debts.
1 think they are very sensible people in
India or Turkey, or whatever the name of
the place is, where the widows burn them
selves on their husbands funeral piles de-
cared Mrs, Magenta, ripping away energeti-
caly a. seam she had sewed wrong-side out,
in her vexation; to think of making re-
marks about my vail, as if ones affliction
was to be measured by the depth of hem.
Mrs. Jones may be widow herself one of
these days
Aunt Keziah looked doubtful, but having
nothing definite to urge against probability,
held her peace, and went on stitching.
Country places are little the meanest in
the gossiping way went on the widow. Il
! suppose if should wear seolloped skirt,
it would have to be talked in the sewing cir
| Gle. There, how does that look, aunty ?
! Aunty held up both hands in admiration.
! 'Well, | declare Susie, if yon amt the
/ hoo ofo oil hot hay
set all the maids crazy You'll be we'll pull
/ ed to pieces after you're seen.out in that ere
dress, | can tell you
The widow laughed little billy chuckle
as she looked in the glass, for it showed a
round, rosy face-rogush eyes that said no.
thing about the long nights of watching and
weeping by the bedside of old Magenta
a smooth, low forehead-superb black hair,
and a trim little figure, wonderfully set off
by grandmother Martins old dress, remodel
ed, and looking so bright and new that aunt
Keziah almost doubted the evidence of her
senses.
Let them talk, said the widow, compla.
: Gently, smoothing down her skirt. 1 shan't
tell them that you and fshed it out of that
musty old chest in the attic, and that you
turned, and sponged, and ironed it, and
made it myself, and had to put on founces
to hide where the skirt is pieced And now
aunt, where is your bachelor 2
My old bachelor =
Certainly yours, since you first discov
cred, him by the law of nations. mean tha
r fossil that lives on hill, somewhere near
and has gone through sixty years of his lift
with halfa million, and no wife to help hin
spend it. Mr.. Pettifogger, or Petit
! oh! Mr.. Pettibones Why, Susie, wha
: ails you +? what are you going to do to him !
j Marry him, if you will tell me where t
: find him.
Mercy, child Why, your head is turned
He can scarcely be civil to woman and
g widow, he says, is worse than all the Egyp
s tians put together
J. Civil, that | shall have to teach hir
). manners. And now, for the last time, wher
e does he live 2
e On. the hill, just at the end of Darcy
l. lane but yon amt goin' there in earnest
e Yes, | am; I'll bring him home to tea
;. Susan Ma
But the widow was out of the gate, laugh
y ing saucily, and swinging her garden-hat,
;e she went, in a way that made the birds sto
: singing to peer out at her.
IS Look away said she merrily. You al
e. terrible gossips, but don't care what an
IN one says of me in Dutch. and your languae
s. is not much better'-and just then saying
y vine, trailing over huge rock, she bega
it clanmering up it, to getia wreath for h
J. garden-hat.'
e. Better let that alone, young woman sa
o, gruff voice behind her. That 'ere's ii
le poison ivy
r. Widow Magenta turned quickly aroun
and confronted tall, strongly bliit ma
sh dark, and not ugly in the face, but with
m irrascible pucker about the mouth and CT
he tain twitching Of the eyelids, that said to I
m sharp, little woman, as plainly as they co ]
ne speak, 'Pettibones.'
s. Thank you, sir, she answered prompt
ss I am glad | didn't touch it, though there
q kind of ivy that | fear far more tn
is this"
he What's that ? asked the gruff man, e
it, IDENTIFY curious.
as. The ivy of selfishness 1t springs out
of wounds in some natures; and if fostert
so grows till it wraps them around, and mat
70 of them only crumbling ruins. There's
sh example, I'm told, living on the hill, just
an yond One Mr.. Petti-Petti-well | do
of know what, only it can't be petticoat,
his cause he hates them as you and | do t
es- poison ivy
he oh um grunted the stranger. Do )
Lue hio" tnis, Iui-ah, Ho"-'hio 0o'
US thing
Mercy! hope not responded the "
un- ow, vivaciously; but am on my way to
re- him. always make it a point, at ev
rn- place where visit, to see all the natural
un- Tiosities'
zed oh /! uni You do, eh ? But If it's
wo man / think it is, you can't see him.
in women are allowed to enter his gates.
nan i shan't ask his permission, but v
re. straight in.'
dge You would. !"
Yes; why notg
seat There's large dog