New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-01
and stared bewildcrcd at thcir feeble Jokes or

and stared bewldcrcd at their feeble jokes or
compliments; who preached occasionally pom
dcrons topics which sho had heard her father
dscnss-thc condition Of English politics or the
status OF tho Popo in Europo-and pronounced
small patitudes thereon with wcighty sOlem-
nifty. Young women did not like her. for she
ignored fashion and beaus she had neither
small friendships, small wit, nor small malice.
She was left alone, to grow into a miide-aged
woman heavy and dull, with but one or two
clear, genuine silver talents given her BY the
Master with which she could go ont 10 noble
traffic with the world, and bring Him back
His own with usury. Ono of these was an cx-
ceptional executive ability, that peculiar quiet
faculty By which some men and women can
control masses of others, and enforce order
and system; the other WAS passionate love
of children Babies held ont their arms in
stnctively at the first sound of her steady,
tranauilzing voice, and fell asleep on her
bosom to them alone she showed tenderness
and tact even q keen sense in fun and
humor, which she utterly lacked with grown
people. Ann Pussy has never married.
1t is not probable the man exists who would
so fit into her hard angles and inexorablo
habits as to gain her love- and she is too
honest to marry without it. Anybody with
ordinary perception can see the niche in tho
world for which she was born. Nature I'M
doubtedly meant her for the practical homely
Office of matron Of an asylum or hospital for
children. There her skill in management, her
habits of order, her tenderness, her devout
piety would find ample room and employment.
There are dozen such institutions, full OF
t...I- IL. IL -.
women like herself women Of culture and re-
finement, are put under incapable cOntr0l-at
times ignorant and cruel control. Miss Pussy.
meantime, lives with married sister; sort
Of weighty social incubus in the house and n
q petty village society, a butt for the young
people of the family. Her very virtues, for
lack of room to expand. are hardening into
narrow, obstinate peculiarities Her religion is
becoming fixed system Of trivial rules and
morbid self-repressiOn, her excess of neatncss
is a nuisance, her executive ability finds no
other outlet than Interference with house,
hold not her own. In short, her broad sweet
nature grows narrower and bitter with every
year.
Scores of Ann Puscys will read these words.
They are not wives or mothers; they stand
with empty hands, their powers falling through
disuse. while places which they could fill
wait for them. 1t is a real tragedy, but its
cause is commonplace enough. Like her, they
live in village or narrow town-clique that
would regard tho work they crave, whatever
it be- as "ungenteol." There il tho sole rca-
son and apology which they can offer when
Death comes for their talents hidden in
napkin and their wasted lives.
If we should examine the rose-tree down on
tho street yonder, with its hard wood and
meagcr leaves, we should find the roots had
absorbed every atom of nourishing earth about
them, and now lie matted and absolutely with
out food, walled in by the hard cheap pot
Alas, poor roses.