The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-01-20

is often used as an expression or con-
tempt; and for that reason, is become
not. entirely agreeable TO the ears of
those who have lived to a Certain age, "
that is. come to an age that is very M
certain. But it is .class which COM
prises the two extremes of our sex.
Those of the best understandings and
purest hearts, who have sufficient in
dependence and forcthought coiuhiari-
IN to enlist under the much-Iidiculed
banners Of celbacy, rather than Join
the standard of Hymen with some
brainless graceless animal, misnamed
man-endure a thousand hardships,
and finally come off with disgrace MI
for the name Of getting married; and
those who, as Burns says, "aiblians
nae temptation the remains of by
gone DAYS, who after the society with
whom they grew had been sifted, are
left, the very bran of the age, fit for
no purpose, and whose maleyolent
hearts and weak minds have caused
the name of "old maids to become
what it now is Between these two ex-
tremes, we seldom find mediocrity. 1t
is either those who Ipud not, or those
who coaid not Patty Hersey was an
instance Shewas in her youth, quite
handsome is not i'll looking even now
is on the.whole quite good naturcd
has an afcctionate heart, for her
peculiar fayorites; is neither affectedly
shy of, nor fondly forward to the other
sex; can often speak in praise of n
married woman of her own age, or Of
handsome young girl; and does not
atroys doubt the virtue of those whose
experience berays into imprudence;
all which characteristics remove her
many degrees from those who might
be rightly denominated mothers of
scandal But on the other hand, she
is not a person Of superior understand
I ING, though she has a certain knowing
way and a little share of wit; and her
observations on passing men and man
ners, coming in now and then, SO TN
expected and apropos, make her alto
gether a very agreeable, clever sort Of
woman. She is a perfect oracle IN
love matters to the younger part of
the community and is MS fond of tell
ing them her youthful conquests over
hearts. MS a superannuated soldier Of
"fghting his battles Ger again She
is nurse for the sick, and compan-
ion for poor, lone bodies" who are
well; and / will venture to assert, has
taken part in. three-fourths Of the
births, weddings and funerals that
have happened in the last twenty
years, in Tipelnio. But
True it is She has one falling,
Hal woman ever less =
For she is not little vain. But
this-yes, much as 1 60 contend for
superiority, or at least, equality of our
sex with the "1ords Of creation is "A
very common failing with us all; it
is the .sin that doth most easily besct
us" Miss Patty never tells her age
further than ooh, somewhere between
twenty five and fifty is often known
to take off her silyor-bowed speeta-
cles, and deposit them in her pocket
at the approaching step Of some old
bachelor, or new widower, and per
chance her voice is softer and her
smiles more frequent ON such occa-
sions. But what's this? Nothing.
Patty Hersey is not the only one,
whose vanity and expectations have
outliy9d their personal attractions.
With all these qualities, good and bad,
I have often relished conyersation
with her far better than with those
'Iligh exalted, yirtuous dnmcs,
Tied up in godly laces.'
who reflect at every word, and lose
the Thought IN hunting for an ex-
preston to dress it in. For as zone
hates an author that's all author SO
do !, dislike one who is all sense and
propriety, and whose greatest pretence
to wisdom is gravity. Give me a
warn heart and a ready tongue, and
the owl is welcome to his croaking
wisdom.
1t was a matter of wonder to me,
why Miss Patty, who appeared to
have no particular aversion to the
, married state, and would have made
an excellent wife, should have been
left lone woman. She had often
told me of her minor conquests, but
never the final campaign that decided
her fate; and it was with 10 little
curiosity that l seated myself beside
her in the afternoon, prepared to
guard against the sin of laughing and
; quoting poetry One smile at pa
4 A