Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-06-21
NIay 10, 1865.
JACOB THOMPSON

Am old Maid lael;es Iouns Widow.
lis generally the case that the richer and
more beautiful a young female is, the more
difficult are both her parents and herself in
the choice of husband, and the NOR, offers
they refuse. The one is too tail, and the
other too short-this not wealthy, that not
respectable enough. Meanwhile Que spring
passes after another, and year alter year ear.
res away leaf after leaf Of Sfc bloom CT youth.
and opportunity after opportunity. Harriet
Selweod was the ricae,t heiress in her native
town; bu. she had already completed her
lwenty-sevcnth year aud behed almost all
her Young friends unitcd 10 racn whom she
had. at one time or other, discarded. i'ar-
rct began to be set down for an old maid. Her
parents became really uneasy, and she her
self lamen;ed in private Il position which is
not natural cne, and to which those to
wAor, Nature and Fortune have been, mig,
gard Of their gifts are obliged to submit; but
Harriet, rs We have said, was both handsome
ans! very rich.
Such was the state os things when her un.
cc 81 wealthy merchant in the north Of Eng
lan,', came en- a visit to her r~-"nts. lie .s
ioyial, lively, s;raig igh:iorwAru -.cus-
ltin@rl 10 attack all difficulties boldly and
coUlr
.lou see" said her father 10 bin one day,
"iIa,rici continues single. The girl is band
some: what she is to have for her lultane you
!,row; even in this scandal loving town not
creature can breathe an imputation against
her; and yet sheN is getting to be an old
mad
True" replied the uucic; "butlcok you,
brother, the great point in every aa-ir in
this world is TO seize the right moment; this
you have not doac. 1t is a misfortune, but
let tic girl gp along with me, beiure The end
of three months will return her to you as
the wife OF a man as young and wealthy as
herself
Ava went tha niece with Der uncle. On
the way home, he lhus addressed her:
Mind what ain going 10 say. Ycr are
no longer Miss Selwo,Nl. but hlrs. Lum'ey,
my niece, a y.ung, wealthy, childIcss widow;
YOU had The misfortune to lose your husband,
Col. Lumlcy, after q happy union Of Il
Quarter OF Il year, by fall from horse while
lN.nting.'
:. F." Bul, uncla-r
"Let ne manage, you please, Mrs Lum
ley. Your fathcr 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 sup
ply you with; and accusLom yourself to cast
down your eyes"
The keen Wit ted UNCLE introduced his niece
everywhere, and everywhere the young widow
excited great sensation. The gentlemen
thronged around her, and she soon had her
choice oul Of twenty suitors Her uncle adj
vised her to accept the one who was deepest
|. in love with her, and rare chance decreed
that this should be precisely the most ainia-
bic and opulent. The match was soon con-
clpded, and one day the uncle desired to say
y few words to his nephew in private.
"My dear sir he began. I'VE have told
| you an uDtruth.'
How so? Are Mrs I.amley's aTsc-
tioms-"
'NotLing Of the kind; my niece is sincere
ly attached to you
''' Then her fortune l suppose, is not equal
to what you told me-"
"On the contrary, it is larger"
Well, what is tue matter, thcn?'
ga oke-an innocent joke, which came
into my head one day, when | was in good
humor: we could not recall it afterwards.
Ny niece is not widow"
"What, IS Col. Lumley living?"
"No no, she is spnster."
The lover protested that he was happier
then he had ever conceived himself aud the
old maid was forthwith metamorrhosea into
yourg wife,