The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-02-08
What Might Have Been.

Aunt Alice 10 an old maid. over eiph.
ty years Of age. There was no need Of
her being one-rn fact. think / never
saw an old maid from necessity. They
have all refused good offers. Aunt
Alice might have married one of the
richest men in this part Of the world
bat that is getting before my story.
Aunt Alice lives 10 pretty house up
town. where she bad pretty little par
lor, and knits at her old-fasbioned
Knitting work. feeds her birds and gold
fishes, plays old tunes on IN old piano,
which harmonizes with her thin little
voice when she sings the dear old songs
which were all the rage when ladies
wore shoulder straps.
Now and then / spend . quiet even
ing with good Aunt Alice. SIZE gives
me cake and wine--both her own max.
ing; snd If there is no com pany we play
. game Of whist with two dummies. II
is not . very exciting game played in
this way; but we talk, or she talks and
listen-which answers the same pur-
pose.
Sometimes we talk Of the old times
Where did you live, Aunt Alice.' /
asked. the other night. when you were
girl?'
think there was faint little flush
on her smooth cheek, and faint little
sigh came from her gentle bosom before
she answered. But her words were
cheerful, as they always are.
We lived pretty well up town. said
she and in very pleasant part Of it.
1t was too far out to be fashionable, but
we had the pleasant country air, and
the green fields and romantic bank, Of
the river were close at hand
Yes. Aunt Alice. but that is not tell
ing where
No. We lived in Barclay street,
about half way between Broadway aud
tue river. The fashionable people lived
around the Battery and Bowling Green,
and III Greenwich street. It was do
lightful then, to walk on the Battery.
Every pleasant day it was full Of ladies'
and gentleman. and nice children"
But the green fields. Aunt ALICE
'They we're all about. You could
scarcely 60 amiss Of them above the
City Hall. That was quite out in the
country. Some thought it ought to
have been built in Wall street, but more
sanguine people were Of the. opinion
that in a few generations it would come
to be quite central. However, as the
rear looked out On the country, they
thought brown stone would dc well
enough for that, while the front toward
the city WAS Of white MARBLE
But those romantic river banks,
where were they?
The ones spoke Of were those ot
the North River, from Barclay street
all the way to where Canal street is now,
and so up mile or two. It was very
pretty. There were rocks and little
coves, groves of trees. and grapevines;
one Of the prettiost shores to ramble on,
or sail along in boat, yoa ever saw.
This was our favorite stroll in Summer.
But there was Broadway. aunt!'
'Ah, yes, of course there was Broad.
way, and very fine We thought it, from
the Park to the Battery. There was
st. Paurs, and the old Trinity. and
Grace Church on the next corner Then
cause the City Hotel. where we had ell
our great balls. and ell the noble. great
houses round the Bowling Green
But up Broadwsy-how was that
Pleasant enough. There was not q
great many houses. but the road was
planted with shade trees. and as for the
opening Of Pearl street. it was quite .
thoroughfare. ! remember We used to
60 to the hospital to buy cakes and
candies Of an old woman who waited
there for custom. But it was quite in
the country Once We went away up
town to circus. It WAS good way
out Of the city. Of course. sHd long
walk to get to il. Il was close By
Broadway, about a. high 40 Canal
street.
New York was high old place in
those days. Aunt Alice; bat was that all
there was OF it!
oh, no. You forgot the east side.
There was Franklin square, which WAS
also an aristocrstic centre. Beekman
street was full of nice residences. and
was then about what Twenty third
street Is now; but the lower parts Of
Broadway snd Greenwich street were
our Fifth avenue in those days A tour
of the city was to 60 down to the Bat
terry. round through Pearl street. and
down TO Greenwich. and 90 down
to Battery again. That was New York.
There was better society than there has
been SINGS. and great deal more en-
joyment Now there is no society at
all. Gully great mob Of people thst
nobody knows or wants to know. for
that matter
Aud when were the suburbss What
Of Brooklyn. Jersey City, Staten Island
and Hobokens Did you 60 over there
to eat ice creamsr
There WAS very little Brooklyn then.
A few nice country houses along the
heishts jersey City was not thought
at. Staten Island, before We had steam.
vas . long voyage, and Hoboken q
pretty island with few cottages We
lived there once.'
thought l detected the little flush
again on Aunt Alice's cheek. l am sure
there was Sigh. bat it was 20 gentle
~ scarcely to be- noted. And hereby.
said to myself. hangs . tale. So
pushed my inquiries about Hobnken.
Captain Stevens was the principal
proprietor over there. said sue. but the
Jersey people used to laugh at his
q Il