Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-09
THE SPINSTER'S CHANCE.
Turn Widow, and the Husband Will be
Forthcoming.

w IuOhs anu the khuSDahltt VIII W
Forthcoming.
It 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 husband,
and the more offers they refuse. The
one is too tall, the other too short, this
notwealthy, thatnotrespectable enough.
Meanwhile, one spring passes after an
other; and year after year carries away
leaf after leaf of the bloom of
youth, and opportunity after op-
portunity. Miss Harriet Selwood was
the richest heiress in her native town,
but she had already completed her
twenty-seventh yelr, and beheld almost
all her young friends united to men
whom she had at one time or other dis
carded. Harriet began to be set down
for an old maid. Her parents became
really uneasy, and she herself lamented
in private a position which is not a
natural one, and to which those to
whom nature AMI fortune have been
niggard of their gifts are obliged to
submit, but Harriet, as we have said,
was handsome ami very rich.
Such was the state of things when
her uncle, a wealthy merchant in the
north of England, came ON a visit to
her parents. EIe was jovial, lively,
straightforward 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 allowing town not a creature
can breathe an i'm putation against her. "
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. 1t is
a misfortune, but let the girl go along
with me, and before the end of three
months / will return her to you as the
wife of man as young AMI wealthy as
herself"
Away went the neice with her uncle.
On the way home he thus addressed
her:
mind whatI am going to say. You
are no longer Miss Selwood, but Mrs
Lumley, my neice, young, wealthy,
childless widow you had the misfOr-
tune to lose your husband, Col. Lum-
ley, after happy union of a quarter of
year, by fall from his horse, while
hunting"
But, uncle"
Let me manage, if you please, Mrs.
Lumley. 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, your aunt viii supply you
with, and accustom yourself to cast
down your eyes,"
The keen-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 deepest IN love
with her, and IL rare chance decreed
that this should be precisely the most
amiable and opulent. The match was
soon concluded, and one day the uncle
desired to say 4 few words TO his future
nephew in private.
My dear sir, ;" he began, ''we have
told you an untruth-"
How SO? Are Mrs. Lumley's af-
fections-'
Nothing OF the kind; my niece is
sincerely attached to you"
Then her fortune, 1 suppose, is not
equal 10 what you told me:"
lon the contrary, it is larger"
well, what is the matter, then?"
"a joke-an innocent joke, which
came into my head one day when I was
IN a good hlImor; We could not well
recall 1t afterwards. My niece is not a
widow"
What! Col. Lundley livingl"
No, no; she is a 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.