The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-01-22
THE sPINSTER'S CHANCE.
Turn Widow, aud tho Husband will b,
Forthcoming.

Turn Widow, aud tho Husband will be
Forthcoming.
1t is generally the case that the more
beautiful and richer young female is
the more difficult are both her parents
and herself in the choice of a husband,
and the more offers they refuse. The
one is too tall, the other too short, thi
not wealthy, that not respectable
enough. Meanwhile, one spring passes
after another and year after year car
ries away leaf after leaf of the bloom
of youth, and opportunity after oppor.
tunity. Miss Harriet Selwood was the
richest heiress in her native town, but
she had already completed her 27th
year, and beheld almost all her young
friends united to men whom she had Mt
one time or other discarded. Harriet
began to be set down for an old maid
Her parents became really uneasy, and
she herself lamented in private posi-
ton which is not natural one, and to
which those to whom nature and for
tune have been niggard of their 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, wealthy merchant in the
north of England, came on a visit to
her parents. He was jovial, lively,
straightforward man, accustomed to at
tadk 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 sdandai-loving town not crea-
ture can breathe an imputation against
her."
sTrue," replied the uncle; "but
look you, brother, the grand point in
every atfan in this world is to ]eize the
right moment this you have not done.
1t is q misfortune, bnt let the girl go
with me, and before the end of hree
months will return her to you as the
wife of man as young and wealthy as
herself"
Away went the niece with her uncle.
On the way home he thus addressed
her.
"Mind what am going to say. You
are no longer Miss Selwood, but Mrs.
my niece, a young, wealthy,
childless widow; you had the misfor-
tune to lose your husband, Col. Lum-
ley, after happy union of q quarter
of year, by a fall from his horse,
while hunting"
"But, uncle"
"Let me manage, il You please, Mrs.
Your father has invested me
with full powers. Here, look you, is
the wedding-ring given you by your
late husband. Jewels, and whatever
else you need, youraunt will supply you
with, and accustom yourself to cast
down your eyes.
The koon-witted uncle introduced his
niece everywhere, and everywhere the
young widow excited great sensation.
The gentlemen thronged about her, and
she soon had her choice out of twenty
suitors. Her uncle advised her to ac-
cept the one that was the deepest in
love with her, and rare chance de-
creed that this should be precisely the
most amiable and opulent. The InaUcn
was soon concluded, and one day the
uncle desired to say few words to his
future nephew in private.
"My dear sir" he began, 1--WE have
told you an untruth."
"How so? Are Mrs. Lumley's affec-
lions"
Nothing of the kind my niece is
attached to you"
"Then her fortune, I suppose, is not |
equal to what you told me ?"
"On the contrary, it is larger"
"Well, what is the matter, then?"
"a joke-an innocent joke, which
came into my head one day when | was
in good humor we could not vel re-
call it afterwards. My niece is not
widow"
"What! Col. Lumley living"
"No, no she is spinster."
The lover protested that he was a
happier fellow than he had ever con-
ceived himself, and the old maid was
forthwith metamorphosed into a young
wife.