Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-12
The Leisure Hour.
.VL' prRDPEsET.

"Slay to tea; do" said Aunt Desire, with
that ridiculous hospitality of hers that
would ian share her salt with every crea-
ture that comes to the house. It's Sadi's
birthday, and we ought to celebrate it in
some way
"Do you still count birthdays, Sadi ?"
said Mrs. Ohenrcser.
"Certainly. This is the twenty-sixth.
"IIush, my dear, speak low. You look
very young still; you need not own to
more than twenty-five for some years."
"Why should hide it?"
"One would think you desired nothing
better than being an old maid, staying at
home all the time, rocking your mothers
babies, and tying yourself down as if you
were already married woman, or never
meant TO be one"
"Perhaps | don't"
"That aint natural. OF course you want
TO get married, but you never will unless
you go half way. I've been married twice,
and nothing to boast of in the way of looks.
| did not run after the men but if they
wanted to find me, did not wear out their
patience looking for me. If a girl is an
old maid, it's her own fault; that's my
doctrine"
81 have never seen any one in the place
that like better than my brothers and sis
ters."
"Malse visits, then. Go out of this place"
"But if have no invitations"
"Wel, at least you could go huckleber
rying into the next town."
L DO q lot
ly. Aunt Desire had knit into the middle
of her seam-needle by this time, and now
laid down the stocking. She then took of
her glasses, wiped them, and smoothed
down her apron. As she never did but one
thing at time these were well known
signs that she was about to give "us piece
of her mind"
"Pm an old maid, rs everybody knows,
and perhaps my doctrine would not have
so much weight as a woman's that had
been married twice; but seventy years
will gather some wisdom, if only by rub
bing against people so long. My doctrine
is that it is no use running round after a
beau. You may get one that way, but he
won't stick or won't be good for anything
for her anywhere 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. They
like TO surprise girl with a duster in her
hand or a baby brother in her lap. 1t has
more effect on them than huttering fan
and making eyes at them all day"
"Men were more sensible in your young
days" said Mrs. Obenrciser.
mot a bit. They are always sensible
enough if woman don't spoil them"
"Do you think every woman can marry
| if she chooses, Aunt Desire?"
"ro he sure; | should have married
years ago if had had time; but ! was al
ways so deep in other folks troubles that
could not give my mind to it,"
"rell us about it," said Mrs. Obenreiser.
"What?" said Aunt Desire, with touch
of that complacencc which every woman
shows when she counts her scalps.
"Thc last offer"
| E"Oh, that was this winter when went 10
| New Bedford. (Susans children had the
measles, and she sent for me.) Her hus-
bands father lived with them, a fine old
| gentleman, smart rs cricket (only Susan
| says he docs have the rheumatism awful
| ly); and maybe he liked the way tended
| the children, for he asked me all Of Il sud-
| den one day to marry him. | confess that
| thought for just minute how nice my
| tombstone would look with Mrs. Desire
| So-and-So, beloved wife of So-and-So,' on
it but then l thought Of that worthy wo-
man who lived with him so many years
| here, and perhaps is waiting for him now
| in the other world"
| "What did you tell him, aunt?"
| 81 told him | would have had him in a
minute, if he had only thought of it SOON
er."
"But you didn't know him so long ago
did your"
"Oh yes, | did; | had no thought OF tomb
stones them" A rosy flush spread oven
| Aunt Desires sunken checks, and took nj
least twenty years from her age for one in
| Stant