Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-02-28
Marrying a Widow.
Thirty years old to-day.

thirty years ola to-day.
Could it be possible that |, Mark Marks, had
jumped from my teens so suddenly on to the
threshold of thirty summers? ? asked my
mother
She counted her fingers, naming John, Joe,
Charley and Henry, Maria and Susan, Betsy
and Eliza, ,Ierusha and Hannah, Ellen and Sal
/ lic Annie and Julia, Marion and Minnie, and
the rest of her small family; finally she said I
was thirty years old. This settled the ques-
ticn.
was unmarried. I had resisted for ten
years all matrimonial temptations; but now,
feeling the iufrmities of age creeping on, | con-
cluded it would not be an unhealthy thing for
me to secure a wife How to bring this de-
termination to a successful conclusion, demand
ed my consideration. pondered and coutia-
ued to ponder.
Possessing a modest disposition, the idea Of
going about in the society Of manageable girls
on a hunting expedition, didn't suit me. Fl
nally made mp my mind to dodge this diff
Guilty by advertising. Therefore the Columns
of the PodricE Daily Eagie, one fine morning
in June, contained the following -
MATRGMoYGAL-Th advertiser, a young
man twenty-five years old, progressing in APP
pearance, intelligent, Of good habits, etc, de-
view Of forming a matrimonial alliance. Ad-
dress, and send carte dc visite to Anxious
Seat Podwick ?. o"
Three days after the publication Of this had
received seven hundred and fifty replies.
was encouraged Such generosity assured me
that wasn't the OILY person in the vicinity Of
Podwick who had hankering after conjugal
felicity.
opened the letters and devoted two whole
days to their perusal The ono that suited me
best was enclosed in an envelope surrounded
with black lines, an indication that the writer
had recently attended funeral, which, con-
slering the nature Of the correspondence, was
evidence enough that she didn't allow grief to
interfere with anything which promised conso-
lation. Her note was as follows:
" Hr. Anrious Seat Il notice that you de-
sire to correspond with young lady but
perhaps You may not wish TO hear from one
who, though young is widow. lam twenty
three years Of age have au amiablg disposition,
| believe, and as for personal appearance
leave YOU to Judge from the enclosed carte de
viste. Should you desire to know me further
please address Julia, East Iladdam."
Her viste was beauty. She struck my
fancy exactly. But she was a widow. Here
was an objection; yet considered the matter
thoroughly, and instead of allowing ny preju-
dices to run loose, took what / conceived to be
a sensible view Of it. reasoned thus
She's a widow. Being thus, her application
is an argument in support Of my resolution
to marry. Why? Because she has been mar
red, and liked it so well she's willing to marry
again. 2Iatrimouy, therefore, must te the true
state of happiness.
wrote her letter, and in due time received
a reply. Other epstles followed, and finally,
one pleasant afternoon, found myself in East
Haddam, in the presence of Mrs. Julia Wilson
burg.
1t is sufficient to say that the interview vas
mutually agreeable. The young lady was at
tired in mourning, which was so becoming to
her complexion that never once though. Of
Wilsonburg deceased.
Her politeuess was charming. Her conver-
sational powers were superior.
"Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle and low; an excellent thing in woman
her figure natural, not being made TO order, by
supplies of whalebone and, altogether, your