The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-03-26
From the St. James Magazine
NOTES
FROM AN OLD MAIDS DIARY.
I'm Two Parts.


l. ART i.
The vicissitudes of life occasionally
bring us into contact with strange char
acters. While wealth and prosperity
surround us, and aslopg as we are shcl.
tered in the charmed circle of we'll
regulated aud well-appointed home, we
know little of the outer world. Those
whom we chose for our friends, and
admit as our acquaintances, form our
ideas of mankind in general; it is left
to the worlds wanderers to discover
other and more startling phases of the
human family. 1t is those whom cir
cumstances have deprived ola home,
and who are Obliged to seek shelter at
the firesides of others, that gain an in
sight into the peculiarities of that large
mass of beings whose varied habits,
feelings, and ideas make up the sum of
the worlds history. l, alas. am one of
earth's homeless ones; deprived of my
father in middle age, whose income
died with him, had no relations to Of
fer me a home, mo friends who claim
ed me. After paying several visits to
former acquaintances, | determined to
enter some family as resident board
er, and thereby secure society and in
dependence with home comforts The
only means of accomplishing my wish
es appeared to be that of an advertise
ment, and, after some deliberation as to
the wording of my wants, | drew up
the following lines, which | sent to the
Times
''WANrED-By single lady, board and resi-
dence with some family of responsibility, where
she would meet ith lie g II forts Of a refined
home and cheerful society. The highest refer
ences glvcn and required. Address, Beta Post
office, st. John S Wood"
In nervous anxiety | awaited the re-
suit of this very independent step, hop
ing that among the numerous London
residents, one or two might notice and
favor my appeal, and take compassion
on my lonely lot Two days after the
insertion Of the above, | left my Cousins
house in town, where was for the
time staying. Sallying forth alone, !
timidly made the inquiry at the post
office whether there were any letters
waiting for ''Beta!" The official re-
piled in the affirmative, and instead of
presenting me with one or t,co, threw
down perfect shOal of misSives, all un-
mistakably addressed to "Beta, Post
office, ST. Johns wood" Could they
be meant for me? l was utterly con
founded at being the object of 80 much
public interest, and became confused
lest the official should recognize me as
the identical "Beta" Not trusting
myself to speak, mechanically opened
my reticule, which he soon as rapidly
filled, and fastened to retrace my steps,
and did not pause until / had locked
myself in my own room. Then, in no
small state of excitement, began to
examine my load There were no less
than nlnety-seyen replies to my adver-
tisement, and, as | opened them one by
one, began to feel myself q person of
some Importance, so earnestly did all
the writers assure me show delighted
they should be, if they could persuade
me to become member eftheir circle"
So many and various, also, were the
advantages held out in each reply, that
at once saw how difficult would be
my selection. Many of the writers
named the terms, while Lady B.,
and the Honorable Mrs. c., whose
daughters had lately married, and who
desired society more than pecuniary
advantage, would be satisfied, they
said, with the nominal sum of f2OO
per annum. A. L., writing from her
suburban villa, where an only daughter
was an invalid and desired companion
ship, assured "Beta" OF refined home
for fl2O a year. Many letters / open
ed were but the stereotyped copies of
one another. AT last / broke the seal
of one which had a somewhat more
bulky form than the rest, and to my
astonishment drew out a small green
book, whilst judge of my indignation
when | saw inscribed on the title-page,