Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-06-15
AM. PUSEYS.

Inc NEW OTh w OFlu compares
a certain class Of our female popu-
lation to those roses that are cramps
ed into tiny crooks that hold net
more than one or two gillS. The
article IS a model Of pen drawing,
here it is.
Now nobody could look at that
bush and not see in it a miserable
photograph of Ann PLsey-or OF some
Of her class and order; for Ann
Puseys, in our American social state,
grow as thick as useless green black
berries in q wet August. Ann was
born grown up. When she was a
school girl Of zen she was square,
built, solid, honest. and painfully
neat. She grew squarcr, heavier as
to flesh aud virtue, and with 2 habit
Of forcing her minor moralities into
view that made their weight opprcs-
siyc to ordinary mortals. OfcO Iuetry
there was not u spark in her nature
young meu stood in ave OF this home
ly, carefuIiy-dressed young lady,
who had not word Of small talk.
aud stared bewiIdered at their ;heir
feeble jn&es or COMPLIMENTS who
broached occasionally ponderous
topics which she had heard her father
discuss-lhe condition of English
politics or tie status of the Pope in
Europe and pronounced small pIati-
tudeS thereon with wcighty solemnity.
Young women did not like her. for
she ignored fashion and beads; she
had neither small friendships, small
wit, nor small malice. She was left
alone, to grow into a middle-agcd
woman heavy and dull with but one
or two clear, genuine silver talents
given her by the Master with which
she could 60 out to noble traffic with
the world, and bring Him back His
own with usury. One of these was
an exceptional executive ability, that
peculiar quiet faculty BY which some
men and women can control masses
of others, and enforce order and sys
tenn; the other was passionate love
of children, Babies held out their
arms instrictively at the first sound
of her steady, tranqmlizing voice, and
fell asleep on her bosom; to them
alone she showed tenderness and tact,
even keen sense.in fun and humor,
which she utterly lacked with grown
people. Ann PuSey has never married.
It is not probable tie man exists who
would so fit into her hard angles and
inexorable habits as to gain her love
and she is too honest to marry without
it, Anybody with ordinary perception
can see the niche in the world for
which she was born. Nature un-
doubtedIy meant her for the practical
homely Office of matron Of an asylum
or hospital for children, There heI
skill in management, her habits oI
order, her tenderness, her devOut
piety would find ample room and
employment, There are a dozen such
institutions, full of fricndlesS little
children, that for the lack Of wCmer
like herself, women of culture and
refinement, are put under incapable
cOnt-Ol-at times ignorant and crue
control, Miss Pusey, meantime,
lives with a married sister; sort o.
weighty social incubCs in the house anC
in pretty village society, butt fol
the young people of the family. Hel
very virtues, for lack Of room tC
expand, are hardening into narrow,
obstinate peculiari.ies. Her religion
is becoming fixed system of trivial
rules and morbid self-represSion, her
excess of neatness is nuisance, hel
executive ability finds no other
outlet than interference with house
mold not her own. In short, heI
broad sweet nature grows narrower
and bitter with every year.
Scores of Ann Puseys will read
these words. They are not wives OIL
mothers; they stand with empty
hands, their powers failing through
disuse, while places which they could
fill wait for them. 1t is a real TRACE
iy, but its cause is commonplace
enough. Like her, they live in {
villa "a or narrow town-cIique thar
would regard the work they crave
%atever it be, as "unsenteel.'