Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-05-11
WHY AUNT SOPHIA DID NOT
MARRY WHEN YOUNG.
BY JESSIE SETTINGS.


why she had not married sooner; so ask
ed her one day il she did not have any
offers Of marriage till Obadiah Granger
proposed.
"Never a one she answered, smiling.
ly, "You know that ! was born Of poor
hard-working parents. We lived in a
neighborhood nicknamed Hardscrabble.
All the young men went away to seek
their fortunes as soon as they were old
enough to learn a trade, clerking or pro-
fession. Some of them used to come
occasionally for short visit to their old
homes. | observed that they were fash
ionably dressed, and outshown their boy
ish friends who stayed at home on the
farms. l was a strong, romping, care
less, freckled girl till | was out of my
teens. A cousin of mine gave me, as a
Christmas present, years subscription
for Godey's Ladys Book. The Fashion
plates were revelation to me. used
to turn the pictures every way to get all
their attractions clearly into my mind.
One day coaxed my mother to let me
have my fall delaine fashionably made up,
Just as the fashion plate for November
showed it was done for city girls. She
laughed at me and said, why, Sophy,
who will see you-you don't go to church
twice year, or to town much oftener.
But, mamma pleaded. 4 so want to
see how will look fashionably dressed
Then showed her fashion plate, where
the dress was a twelve-cent delaine.
Then she consented, only charging me
not to let my father know anything about
it. saw must get rid of freckles and
learn to walk gracefully and not with
stride, or should soon spoil pull back.
But the freckles were so ingrained that
it was many months before could look in
my six-by-eight glass with any patience.
How my mother and l did scrimp and
save to get the necessary trimmings, shoes
and gloves, and to pay the dressmaker.
I so envied that dressmaker her skill and
opportunities of handling handsome and
costly goods that begun to tease my
father to let me learn the dress-ma aking
trade. We lived three miles from town
and by my promising to live at home and
help mother nights and mornings, he con-
sented. There is one thing that have
been extremely thankful for, and that is
the robust health grew up with in my
racing, girlish days, out among the hills,
bushes and stones Of dear, old Hard
scrabble; so ! was able to walk six miles
daily for year and work eight hours in
town and four hours at home without
being worn out. Many time | have
walked over the three miles in halt
an hour, when / had been kept late in the
shop. When graduated, a competent
and and rapid working dressmaker, had
as much work offered me as and two
apprentices could do. Then hired good
widowed soul to help mother, who bless
ed me for giving her home every time
came in my fashionable dresses, laces and
jewelry. Now, as was not attractive
when careless, wild-looking girl, who
had never read romance or heard tell ol
love before marriage, so when / became
richly dressed lady the young men acted
as though they were afraid Of me, anc
most of the papas and mammas said
was too extravagant for mechanics wife
and too low-born for helpmeet for
lawyer, merchant or manufacturer, so the!
did not see but l must be an old maid
They were all glad of my professional
skill, and treated me with great consid
Grafton. As | would not tolerate TIT
smell of strong drink or tobacco, and
vehemently expressed my disgust at
mans smoking a cigar when riding o
walking with lady, it was rare thin'
for gentleman to walk home with mi
from church or prayer-meetings and from
social gatherings.
cannot say Irepined because the mel
paid me no attention, for | was so wrap
up in the sicnce Of female apparel an'
adornment that l did not know l wa
neglected. I only knew that l was con
sidered the most extrsvagant woman II
town, and was labored with by my min
lister and church sisters many an hour
Not one of them could ever prove tina
nv fine clothes and jewels were unbe
coming in and of themselves, or ungrace
| fully worn, or Haunted at unseasonabl
times, or that owed for them, or that
, did not have money in the bank besides
or that l did not contribute for mission
aries to the Fejee Islands and the poor a
home, more than most of my brethre
and sisters in the church. fused to pos
some of them by consenting that the