Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-03-13
Selected selisfellaup.
To Make Young Wife ofan Old Maid.

The following true story might perhaps
furnish matter for little comedy, if
comedies were still written:
1t is generally the case that the more
beautiful and the richer young female
is, the more difficult are both her parents
aud herself in the choice Of a husband,
and the more offers they refuse. The
one is too tall, the other too short, this
one not wealthy. that one not respecta-
bic enough. Meanwhile one spring
passes after another, and year after year
carries away leaf after leaf Of the bloom
Of youth, and opportunity after opportn-
nifty
Miss Harriet Selwood was the richest
heiress in her native town: but she had
already completed her twenty-seventh
year, and beheld almost all her young
friends united to men whom she had, at
one time or other, discarded Harriet
began to be set down as an old maid ~
Her parents became really uneasy, and
she herself lamented in private position
which those to whom Nature and For
tune had been niggard Of their gifts are
obliged to submit to; 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 to visit her parents. -
He was jovial. straightforward old man,
accustomed to attack all difficulties bold
ly 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"
*rTrue" 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
It is misfortune. But let the girl 70
along 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 Selwood, but Mrs.
Lumley, my niece, young, wealthy,
childlcss widow. You had the misfor-
tune to lose your husband, Colonel Lum-
ley, after happy union of quarter of a
year, by fall from his horse while hunt
ing"
''But, uncle"
..Let me manage, if you please Mrs
Lumley = Your father has invested mo
with full powers. Here, look you, is
the wedding ring given you by your late
husband. Jewels, and whatever else
you need. your aunt will supply you
with /; and accustom yourself to cast down
your eyes"
The kecn-witted uncle introduced bis
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 rare chance decreed that
this should be precisely the most amiable
and opulcnt. The match was soon con-
cluded, and one day the uncle desired to
say a few words to his future nephew in
private.
"My dear sir" he began, eve have
told you an untruth p
"How SO ?" Are Mrs. Lumley's affec-
tons"
"Notbing Of the kind My niece is
sincerely attached to you"
1Thcn her fortune. | suppose, is not
equal to what you told me? 2"
"On the contrary. it is larger"
"Well, what is the matter then p
ga joke--an innocent joke-which
came into my head one day when | was
in good bumor. We could not we'll
recall it aherward My niece is not a
widow p
What Is Colonel Lumlcy living p
"Nol no i-she is spinster p
The lover protested that he was hap
pier fellow than he had ever conceived
himself. and the old maid was forthwith
mctamorphosed into young wife.