Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-08-18

proven 50 nIgnly duSduIdSeouS W tue
housekeeper Biebe. what would not be the
effect of a handsome distaff of hazel, ex-
quisitely carved by the best workmen Of
the village. decked with the finest white
wool instead of coarse fax, and entwined
with red ribbons instead Of packthread?
The young girl fits herself out; she buys
the choicest spinning apparatus in the
country, covers it with wool as white as
snow, adorns it with ribbons, artistically
arranged in bows, and never shows her.
self outside her door, in the street, or in
the village, without this elegant imple-
meet of all good and Industrious maidens.
One point only had been forgotten, and
that was to twirl the spindle. The mo-
tionless distaff at her belt always displayed
the same flock of wool.
Now, what happened? Clairette's ele-
CANT instrument proved to be less efica-
cious than the rude willow stick of the in
dustrious Biebe. The year passed away.
Clairette, at every festivity found dancers
eager enough to clasp her waist and to
press her hand, but never beau disposed
to talk of marriage. She was now twen-
ty, and she saw her cousin Francoise, her
friend Lixandrine-
"Lixandrine, the most ungainly crea-
ture in the whole village, a girl that
limps!'' reported those clarivoyant people
who are called backbiters. Eyes, indeed,
Lixandriue, that red headed black face
with wry lips What witch did she 60 to
to get charm for. that miserable Jean
Pierron? What secret did she turn up
in her grandmo.her's work bag?"
Clairette patiently sought solution of
these difficulties. She thought. finally,
that she had found one in the presence of
a little white lambkin which constantly
followed the shepherdess' footsteps.
After making this important discovery
it may be imagined whether Clairette was
prompt in procuring lamb as closely re-
sembling as possible that one of the dark
eemplexieaed ELiixassdat Ne: From that
day forth she was never seen without this
pretty little creature bleating and skip
ping around her, and always coming to
her to eat bread out of her hand.
Did a suitor follow in the footsteps Of
the lamb! No more than he came at the
signal of the red petticoat, or at that of
the cross ribbon distaff Day followed
day, Month followed month-poor Clair
cite looked in vain.
To regrets and modification succeeded
despair. Old Aunt Migueline. wise in
the ways of the world, overheard her
means and administered consolation. -
Where is the young girl who has not some
good old fairy at hand to give her coun-
sci if she will only take pains enough to
listen to it!
"You are weeping, Clairette," said
Aunt Migueline, addressing her.
II am crying over my twenty-one years
gone without, without-stqpped," she re-
sponded.
Without fetching you husband, you
mean to say"
lone need not be witch to guess that
Migueline."
Your red petticoat and gay distaff are
worn out in useless service; your lamb
kin bleating and frisking around you has
proved equally useless"
why do you throw these things up to
me, Migueline p
Il say what I think, Clairette. Do
you suppose that my eyes, half closed by
age. do not see clearly into the tolls and
snares set by you and those like you on
the path to matrimony? Every young
girl is an initiating bird of the parrot or
magpie order, who. since the world began,
is ever ezclaiming: Husband! husband !
and it is not necessary to teach her any,
thing in this direction, my dear niece
Clairette"
'''Tis true. Migueline. But I thought
l might be as fortunate as my friends,
and in initiating their mode of display
make"
.''And you are obliged to confess that
you have had all your trouble for nothing!
Poor children, always relying upon colcr
instead of form. and never finding out the
true state Of things! Yes, the habit Of
your companions of appearing in public
associated with certain suitable and use
full objects, has contributed not little to-
wards getting them husbands. But do
you know the reason? It is because the
red petticoat was woven and made up by
the persevering young girl who wore it;