The Van Buren press., 1874-01-27
TIE SPINSTER'S CHANCE.
Turn Widow, and the Husband will be
Forthcoming

FortnccmlnS'
II 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 III. more offers they refuse. The
one is too tall, the other too short, this
not wealthy, that not respectable enough.
Meanwhile, one spring passes after
another; and year after year carries away
leaf after leaf Of the bloom OF youth, and
opportunity after opportunity. Miss
Harriet Selwood was the richest helress
in her native town, but she had already
completed her 9th year, and beheld al
most all her young friends united TO men
whom shv had at one time or otav. dis
carded. Harriet began to be SET uown
for an old maid. Her parents became
really uneasy, and she herself lamcnted
in private a position which is not natu-
raj one, aud to which those to whom ma
ture and fortune 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 Oh visit 10 her pa
rents. He was jovial, lively, straight
forward man. accustomed 10 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 tor her
fortune you know; even in this scandal
loving town not creature can breathe
an imputation against her. +"
I" True, replied the uncle " but look
you, brother, the grand point in every
affair in this world is to seize the right
moment; this you have not done. IL is
a misfortune, but let the girl go With me,
and before the end of three 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 Selweod, but Mrs,
Lumley, my niece, a young, wealthy,
ehildess widow you had the misfortune
to lose your husband, Col. Lumley, after
a happy union of a quarter of a year, by
fall from his horse, while hunting
but, uncle"
"1et me manage, if you please, Mrs
Lumley. Your father has invested me
with full powers. Here, look you, is the
wcdding.ring given you yyour late hus-
band jewels, aHa Whatever else you
need. your aunt will supply you with, and
accustom yourself 10 cast down your
eyes. "
The keen. witted uncle introduced his
niece everywhere, and every whero tho
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 accept
the one that was the deepest in love with
her, and rare chance decreed that this
should be precisely the most amable and
opuleAt. The match was soon concluded
and one day the uncle desired to say a
few words to his future nephew in pri.
vate.
My dear sir, he began, ave have
told you an untryth.
"How so1 Are Mrs. Luinley's affec
tons"
Nothing of the kind my niece is sin
ccrely attached to you. "
Then her fortune, | suppose, is not
equal to what you told me p
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 l was
in a good humor; we could not we'll re-
call it afterwards. My niece is not a
widow
What! Col Lumley living"
No, no she is spinster.
The lover protested that he was a hap
pier fellow than he had ever coneei,e ed
himself, and the old maid was forthwith
metamorphosed into young wife.