Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-08
Widow or Spinster.

II is generally the case that the NOR
beautiful and richer young female il, lie
more difficult are both her parents and ht.
self 10 the choice Of husband, aud de
more offers they refuse. The one is DO
tall, the other too short, this not wealth
that not respectable enough. Meanwhb
one spring passes after another, and YER
after year carries away leaf after leaf Of be
bloom Of youth, and opportunity after opr'r.
tunity.
Miss Harriet Selwood was the richest bcit
ess in her native town, but she had alreat,
completed her tweniy.seventh year, and b.
held almost all her young friends united {,
men whom she had, at one time or another
discarded. Harriet began to be set dowi
for an old maid. Her parents bccom,
really uneasy, and she herself ameuted il
private position which is not a natura
one and to which those TO whom natur,
and fortune have been niggard Of then
gifts are obliged to submit but Harriet
as we have said, was handsome and very
rich.
Such was the state Of things when her
uncle, a wealthy merchant in the North Of
England, came on visit TO her parents.
He was a joyial, Lively, straight forward
man, accustomed to attack all difficulties
boldly and coolly.
" You see" said her father to him one
day, " Harriet continues single The girl
is handsome what she is to have for her
fortune, you know even in this scandal
loving town not creature can breathe an
imputation against her"
True replied the uncle but look
you, brother the grand point in every ai-
fair in this world is to seize the right mo.
ment this you have not done. It's q mis-
fortune, but tlet the girl go along with me, and
before the end Of three months ! will return
ber to you as the wife Of man as young
and wealthy as herself
Away went the niece with her uncle.
On the way he thus addressed her;
Mind what | am going to say. Yor
are 20 longer Miss SelwOod, but Mrs Lum.
ley, my niece, young, wealthy, childles,
widow; you had the misfortune to lose
your husband, Col. Lumley, after happy
union Of a quarter Of year, by fall from
his horse while hunting
A" But Uncle-n
"Let me manage, if you please, Mrs
Lumley. Your father has invested me
with full powers. Here, look you, is the
wcdding.ring given you by your late hus.
baud Jewels and whatever else you need
your aunt will supply you with and accu~
tom yourself to cast down your eyes"
The kccn-wit,ed uncle introduced his
niece everywhere, and everywhere the
young widow excited a great sensation.
The gentlemen tbronged about her, and she
soon had her choice out Of twenty suitors.
Her uncle advised her to accept the Que
deepest in love with her, and a rare chance
decreed that this should be precisely the
most amiable aud opuIent. The match was
soon concluded, aud one day the uncle de.
sired to say few words to his future nephew
in private.
MY dear sir we have told you an
untruth.n
How so? Are Mrs Lumley's afiec-
tions-"
Nothing of the kind my niece Is sin-
cerely attached to you"
Then her fortune, | suppose, is not equal
to what you told me-"
"On the contrary, it is larger"
Well, what is the matter, then2'
"a joke-an innocent joke, which came
into my hOad one day, when was in good
humor; we could not we'll recall IL after
wards. My niece is not a widow
"What Is Col Lumley liying2'
No. no ; she is a spinster.' -
The lover protested that be was hap
pier fellow than he had ever conceived him
self; and the old maid was forthwith meta
morphosed into a young wife.