The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-26
An Old lfatd,s Viescs.


maid takes a very cheerful and satlsfac-
tory view of her social situation, In the
Troy Times. Her views will be Of interest
to many:
Railways astonlshes me when take q
realizing sense of the fact that ! am m old
maid! Why, you'll scarcely believe 1t
when confess that once had lovers by
the legion, offers were rs numerous rs tlirta.
tions are nowadays. was always In
love. / don't remember the time when l
had not some Willie or Frank to dream
about. and write love letters to and rs !
donned my long dresses, some handsome
Charles Augustus was sure to keep my
thoughts employed until another with
greater fascinatlons superseded him.
You need not imagine regret them now.
No, indeed! My life Is pleasant ONE
No one annoys me. No husband flirts
with other mems wives or young girls,
breaking my heart. No husband calls me
"my love" In company and ''old brute"
at home! He docs not growl at millners'
bills or cxtrayagant wardrobes. He never
Sits looking ut me, wishing were rs hand.
some rs Mrs. B or Miss j. He
does not wish my eyes were rs divinely
blue and my hair rs charmingily golden
as Katie's over the way. He never casts
sly glances ut pretty girls, throwing them
kisses when my back is turned. He does
MT marvel how he ever came to marry me
when there were so many handsome wO-
men In the world. II | am III, he Is not
wondering how weeds would become him,
and il he should be Obliged to have an ex-
pensive funeral. He isn't thinking what
jolly widowcr he'd make, and how eager
pretty Jennie r would be to marry
him, or how gladly Flora J---would
lit up her bewitching brown eyes and
promise to be his. He does not complac-
emily fondlc his elegant mustachc before
the mirror, and think how every one must
pity him, and regret (girls especially that
so handsome man should be bound to so
plain looking woman. He isn't watching
me continually to see II fulfill all my
duties as wife; to criticise my every
movement, to be annoyed at the weakness
oCthe tcp, the toughncss Of the steak, or
the latencss Of the breakfast. Thank the
gods-nO; am free woman. do as l
please. go where I please, think, breathe,
sncczc, wink cough, sleep and cat rs
please. Old Mother Hubbard had herdog
Dame Crump had her pig. but have my
cat ! An intellectual animal, too, one that
has more natural intelligence than many
children. Tabby and enjoy ourselves
In q rational manner. She never speaks q
cross word; neither do !. We sit and
think hours ut time, by the open CRATE,
and draw great morals from the fire within.
Tabby has quiet temperament, and we
never quarrel. Ioftcn hear people cxclaim
that old maids are gossips. Not so.
don't care II Mary Jane has stolen another
girls beau. l never feel interested In the
cost of Susan's new bonnet, or Jcnnic's
silk dresses. do not wonder that Mrs.
C-should be extravagant, or Miss
C--should flirt so much. What do
care? Tabby and l occasionally remark
upon the folly and stupidity Of certain
pcfsons, but we do not mention II out OF
our own family. My cat Is not communi-
cativc; neither am /.
Yesterday met one Of my old lovers.
Once he praised my eyes, my lips, the
beauty Of my hair, the freshness Of my
manners. He profcssed to love me, but
he met a prcttier girl and gayer young
man, and so we parted. He Is married
now, has cross, faded wife and seven
children. He looks old and weary. i felt
sorry for him, but smiled at my folly In
ever wasting one thought upon him.
Would I give up my jolly life Of an old
maid? Never! My hair Is growing gray.
but don't use "IIalI's Hair restorative"
My face. has some wrinkles In It. but 1
don't use "I.aird's Bloom Of youth" My
fingers are not white and son and dlmplcd
butI do not bathe them with "cold cream" !"
and wear old kids. ldon't tear out my
hairwith crimpcrs. Inevcr wear long trails
that sweep the ground for half u mile. l
do not wear humps on my back and double
up with the fashionable "Grcclan bend"
don't have to wear Eyeglasses aud pre-
tend am near-sighted. l am not obliged
to wear buttcrfiy's wing on my head In
FEBRUARY. freezing my ears I'LL they arc
purple. Idon't have to go shlvcring In
low-ncck dresses, nor howl opera music
till my throat Is sore, nor twist my tongue
out cndeavoring to learn German, nor fall
In love with my dancing master. l am
not under the painful necessity OF squccz-
ing my hands In No. O gloves when seven
Is my number, nor do pinch my feet In
little shoes until existence seems burden.
/ do not have to sing Italian ditties In q
languishing manner to some sentimental
youth In tight pants and waxed moustachc.
! am far more independent In my plain
mcrino, with my hair In q little knot, than
Miss Flora McFlimscy In her elegant silks
and sparkling diamonds. can look Mt q
gay young man, and he does not flatter
himself that am dying for love Of him.
] can go to church and listen to the ser.
mon, not caring for the stylish hats aud
handsome dresses Of my neighbors. fen-
Joy my friends successes and riches, feel.
Ing no envy. ! can see lovers kiss their
sweethcarts good night without a pans.
PIT rn.rsDs.-rhc following convcr-