Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-04-27
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Nv Prophet.

stay % tea; DO said Aunt Desire,
with that ridiculous hospitality Of hers that
would lain share her salt with every crea-
ture that comes 20 the house. IT'S Sadi'>
birthday, and We ought 10 celebrate it n
some way
DO you still count birthdays, Sadi :"
said Mrs. Obenreiser.
Certainly. This Is the twentysiXth.
Hush. my dear, speak low. You look
very Young still ; you need not own 70 more
than twenty-ywo for some years
why should hide it:''
One would think you desired nothing
better than to be AZ old maid. staying At
home all the time, rocking your mothers
babies. and tying yourself down As II YOU
we're already 4 married woman. or never
meant 20 be one.
Perhaps | don't"
That al ut natural. OF course you want
70 get married. bat you never will unless
you so halfway. I've been married twice.
and nothing 10 boast of IN the way OF looks.
didn't run after the men; but II they
wanted 20 lind me. did not wear out their
patience looking FOR NE. II a girl is an oid
maid. It's her own fault; that's my doc
tTlue.
Il nave never seen any one IN this place
that ike better than my brothers and SIS
ters."
Make visits then. 60 out OF this place.
But II | nave no Invitations
ell. al least. you could 90 huckleoer-
rying INTO The next town..
laughed and yielded that point willing
". Aunt Desire had knit into The middle
Of her seam needle by this time. and now
laid down the stocking. She then TOOK on
her glasses. wiped them. and smoothed
down ner apron As she never did out one
thing At a time. these were well-known
signs that she was about 10 give Us piece
OF her mind
I'm an old maid. as everybody knows.
and perhaps my doctrine would not have
so much weight as woman's that had
been married twice; but seventy years
will gather some wisdom. II only by
rubbing against people so long. Ny doc
t-ine is that il is no use running round aft
er beau. You uaay get one that way, but
he won't stick, or won't be good for any
thing il he does. II a girl mas a husband
waiting for her anywhere in the world.
he'll probably fndther sooner or later. The
men who are best worth having don't look
for their wives in public places. when they
have on their best blbs ana fuckers. They
like 70 surprise 4 girl with a duster in her
hand. or a baby brother in her lap. 1t has
more effect on them than iurtering fan
and making eyes at them all day"
Men were mole sensible In your young
days. said Mrs. 0benrefser.
Not bit. They are always tsensible
enough If women don't spoil them"
DO you think every woman can marry
If she chooses. Aunt Desireg'
TO De sure; l should have married
years ago If l had time; but was always
so deep in other folks troubles that could
not give my mind TO it,"
Tell US about it, said Mrs. Obenreis-
er.
.WhatY'' said Aunt Desire. with a touch
OF rhar complacence which every woman
shows when she counts her scalps.
The last offer.
'-Oh. that was that winter when | wen
70 New Bedford. Susan's children had
the measles. aud she sent for ne.) Her
husbands father lived jwith them- nne
old gentleman. smart as a cricket. (oniy
Susan says he does have the rheumatism
( awfully;) and maybe he liked the way
tendea the children. for he asked me all OF
| 4 sudden one day to marry him. | confess
/ that | thought Tor just a minute how nice
/ my tombstone would look with Mrs. De-
/ sire So-aad-So. beloved wife OF So and-So,
on il; but then thought OF that worthy
woman who lived with him so many years
here, and perhaps is waiting for him In The
/ other world
"What did you tell him, auntg'
/ Il told him / would have had him IN 4
/ minute. If he had only thought Of it nifty
years sooner"
But you didn't know him SO lons
ago. did your
..Oh yes / did. and l had no thought o
4 tombstones them A rosy flush spreat
| over Aunt Desires sunken cheeks, anC
| took at least twenty years from her age
| for one instant.
Nov tell us about the first offer" sait
Mrs. Obenreiser.