Middletown transcript., 1875-05-08

story. "a large bay-window was beau
tiful garden in the winter, and spacious
enough for piazza in summer. with
its sashes reaching to the floor, where
the southern brsszes had full play in a
summer evening. The furniture was
inexpensive indeed. and to the decora-
tions Of the room, Nature was continu-
ally laid under heavy tribute; graceful
MOSES and grasses. shells. and autumn
leaves, bouquets Of flowers from the
tiny garden, and from the wildwood,
always fresh. and arranged with loving
care books were scattered about. all
over the house. and one side Of the very
minute nook which Miss Mary called
her dining-room, was occupied by .
book ease inserted in the wall she
found room also in her parlor for >
small boudoir piano. which rolled easily
about, and which had cost her some
management to attain and l suspect
that this beautiful instrument was Sc
cured at last by the sacrifice of all
handsome upholstery. and other expen-
sive articles; be that as it may, il gave
back sweet harmonies to the rich yet
pathetic tones of Miss Mary's fisc voice.
and was almost alive with companion
ship to her and her friends. She was
always refreshing" her house, as she
called it, with new picture Or book or
graceful ornament, and her life was so
systematized, without seeming to be 20.
that she read all her own books, and
those which were constantly sent to
her. by her numerous friends. She
kept herself up also in the newspaper
reading Of the day, and was as familiar
with the politics and religious move
ments, and business, and news Of her
own and other lands, as if she had not
been an old maid, or in other words,
woman but the charm Of all this was,
that she was woman, and the men
whom she knew, enjoyed conversation
with her, on her own ground, because
her intelligence and originality were
SO sweetly tempered with womanly
modesty.
could write all day about Miss
Mary, her dress, her manners. her oc-
cupations. her hospitalities, her benev-
olence, but all her charms paled before
that light Of her life that so shone, that,
others seeing, glori6ed her Father in
Heaven. There was nothing odd or
assetic about Miss Mary she was fns-s
looking, she was charming, nay, lovely
and lovable in her manners, her dress
was the perfection Of taste, her counte-
nance full Of cbeerfulness ; but none
came within her influence who was not
stimulated to highest aspirations and
efforts, not enly intellectual, but relig-
ious. Such came from her communion,
hungering for. that bread which came
down frem Heaven. and for more ac-
tive life Of blessing to their fellow -crea-
lures. 1t was marvellous to notice the
manner in which all around her, even
the envious, were provoked to love and
good works. She was helper in the
church, but almost ubiquitous, where
the ignorant, the degraded. and the
sorrowing crowded in .wretched homes,
and lanes, and alleys. l can almost
see her bright face now, as she entered
these poor habitations, so full of cheer.
and hope. and love- How many she
has rescued from idleness and sin. how
many families rise up and call her
blessed, God only knows.
But l must check my pen. One
word more: she could not of course
live alone, neither would she; instead
of keeping one bodied person to
perform the labor in her house, she
always had young girl growing up
under her shadow, who was being
trained for usefulness in every domestic
employment. When this maid was
eighteen, there were scores of appli-
cants for "Miss Mary's maid )" On ac-
complished seamstress. cook, house,
maid, house-keeper. ETC.. etc. There
was always in her cottage child also,
who was recommended to her by its
misfortunes, who was treadipg in the
steps of the older maid. and could take
her place when she left for the great
world outside Miss Mary's cottage /; 30
every few years graduate went forth
carefully taught concerning her duties
to God and man. None such was ever
known to leave who was not Chris.
tian, for that must have been heart of
adamant, indeed, which could have
been unmelted or unmoved in that at
mesphere Of love and bright example. |
So here I must say adieu to my
Model Old Maid. Have patience while
sum up the points. She was an &C.
tive Christian she was always busy,
and her end was the glory Of God; she
was Independent, her resources were in
herself. and she had enough and to
spare, intellectually, spiritually, and
materially for those around her; she