Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-10-12
The Naughty Little Girl.
Misrrllamroms.
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PROM UArper'- Bazaar
Nv Prophet

stay TO tea do, said Aunt Desire,
with that ridiculous hospitality OF hers
that would fain share her salt with
| every creature that comes TO the house.
Its Sadi's birthday, and we ought to
celebrate il in some way.
DO you still count birthdays. Sadi 2
said Mrs. Obcnreiser.
Certainly. This is the twenty-sixth.'
Hush. my dear, speak low. You
look very young still you need not
own to more than twenty-five for some
years.
Why should | hide il:
| One would think you desired moth
| ing better than TO lie an old maid.
staying at home all the time, rock ing
your mothers babies, and tying your
self down as if you we're already a
married woman, or never meant 10 be
\ one
Perhaps don't.
That amt natural or course YOU
want 10 get married, bu, you never
will unless YOU 20 halfway I've been
married twice. and nothing 10 boast Of
'n the way of looks. diiu't run after
/ the men but If they wanted 10 find me.
| aid not wear out their patience 10 *
| ing tor me. Ii u girl i, an Old tnari.
| its her own fault: that's my doctrue :
i have never seen ANY one ia tA>
place ,hs, like better than my broth
rrs and sisters
Make visits. then 90 out oi TN,
/ place
But if ave no inv .tatIons-
Well. AT least lpu could 20 huckle-
bcrr, in. inio the next town
| laughed. aud Welded that point
wlrinsiN Aunt D,slre bad knit into
| the middle of her seam needle by this
time, AMI now III down the stocking.
She then took "h her glasses, wiped
them. aud slno ,thed down her apron.
| As size never did but oLe thing at a
time. these were we'll known signs that
she was about 10 give US a piece Of
her mind
I'm an old maid, as every body
knows. and perhaps my doctrine would
not have SO much weight as woman's
that had been married twice but
seventy wears will gather some wisdom,
if only by rubbing against people SO
long. Ny doctrine is tnat it is no use
running round after q beau. You NAV
get one that way, but he won't stick,
or won't be good for any thing if he
does. If a girl has q husband waiting
for her any where In the world, he'll
most likely find her sooner or later.
The men who are best worth having
don't look for their wives in public
places, when they have on their best
bibs and fuckers. Tney like to sur
prise girl with duster in her hand
or a baby brother in her lap. 1t has
more effect on them than duttering q
fan and making eyes at them all day.
Men were more sensible in your
young DAYS. said Mrs. Obenreiser.
Not bit. They are always sensible
enough if women don't spoil them
DO you think every woman can
marry if she chooses. Aunt Desire.
To be sure, / should have married
wears ago if had had time but ! was
always SO deep in other folks troubles
that | could not give my mind to it,
Tell us about it, said Mrs. Obenrci-
ser.
What? said Aunt Desire, with a
touch of that complacence which every
woman shows when she counts her
scalps.
| The last Offer
-Oh, that was this winter, when l
went to New Bedford. (Susan's chill
dren had the measles, and she sent for
me.) Her husbands father lived with
,hem, fine old gentleman, smart as
cricket (only Susan SAYS he does have
the rheumatism awfullyD and maybe
I've liked the way tended the children,
for he asked Inc all of sudden one
day 10 marry him. confess that
thought for just one minute how nice
nv tombstone would look with Mrs.
Desire so-and-So. beloved wife Of So
and-So' on it; but then | thought OF
that worthy woman who lived with him
So many years here, and perhaps Is
waiting lor him now in the other
world
What did you tell him, aunt?
Il told him | would have had him in
a minute, if he had only thought VI II
fifty wears sooner.
But you didn't know him SO long
ago, did your
Oh yes, did, and had no thought
of ,ombstones then A rosy flush
spread over Aunt Desires sunken
cheeks, and took At least twenty years
from her age for one instant.
Nov tell US about the first offer,
said Mrs. Obenreiser.
That was the first-and last, said
Aunt Deaire, laughing at Mrs. Oben-
reiser's expectant face till tears ran
down her cheeks.
You have proved my doctrine. that
. girl does wrong TO herself down
through al her best yesrs.