Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-02-02
SIXTEEN OLD MAIDS.

some five hundred inhabitants, and boast.
ed OF three churches, Congregational,
Baptist and Methodist, while a handful
OF Unitarians gathered occasionally at
the town hail, and few Adventists went
to the next village, five miles distant, to
worship. The three first mentioned So
cieties we're as distinct from each other
rs black is from white. Not only were
they not on visiting terms with each other.
but the three stores showed that they
dld not even trade together. The oldest
inhabitant could not remember when
this was not so, but the time had come
for revolution, and with this our story
has to do.
Miss Betsey Bailey, an elderly maiden
lady, was sitting alone in her quiet home
when all at once she broke out with:
"Well, I do declare! Here we be a
living along in this heathenish way year
after year. and we consider ourselves
Christians. It's shame that five hun
dred people can't live together in har-
mony, when so many of us are church
members!''
The cat, which was sleeping quietly in
Betsey's lap, jumped down and ran to
the further end OF the room, for Miss
Betsey had gesticulated in that direction
IN such manner as to infiict quite rap
upon the sleeping tabby.
"Wen l declare" said Miss Betsey,
II didt get so eloquent that scared
the cat. L think must have been born
for female orator."
After this she sat back in her chair.
apparently asleep, but she was not; her
mind was busy over a plan which she
meant to put into immediate operation.
1t was very late that night when she came
to final decision, and of course she
must wait till morning before she could
begin. So excited had she become over
the matter that it was long past midnight
before she retired, and then it was not to
sleep.
Earl y next morning she called on her
most intimate acquaintance and neigh
Dor, Miss Sarah jenkins.
"Sarah, I've got notion, and it is so
seldom that I am ever troubled with
such thing that I had to come right
over and tell you before I lost it. Do
you feel able this morning to grasp
one of the grandest, noblest and bright
est ideas the world has ever pondered
on?"
''Why, Betsey! for lands sake, don't
scare body to death. You are not going
to set the river afre, are you?''
'Not quite so bad as that, hope,
but if we don't turn this town upside
down in three months, my name isn't
Betsey."
"We? 1 hope you don't mean to in
clude me in this grand scheme"
IS Rnt I do Vo,, oro <bo ,-o.., o,,, r
want for my right hand man."
"The idea of an old maid like me lend
ing aid to the grandest, noblest-''
"Ho1d on, Sarah, don't repeat that
sentence, please; the very walls have
ears, and l would not have word of
this get out for the world. All you've
got to do is to listen to me, and when
you've heard my story you'll agree with
me to the letter; if you don't won't
ask you to help me bit. Just hand me
your knitting, and I'll knit and talk: I
was in such hurry to get here this
morning that forgot my work. can't
talk, though, unless l am doing some
thing"
Betsey then proceeded to Law the
scheme before her friend, who. when she
had concluded, not only agreed to help
her, but offered some very valuable s,1g
gestions which were earnestly Crashed
by Betsey. So eager were they with
their plans that the noon hour Slipped
by, and 3 o'clock came before either of
them thought of dinner.
Next morning, Betsey and Sarah were
again together, this time prepared for a
walk. Both these ladies were Congre-
gationalists, and many of their neiehbors
were surprised to see them stop at the
house of Eliza Simmons, one of the
staunchest sisters of the Methodist per-
suasion. It couldn't have been over an
hour before the town was alive with the
news.
The Orthodox were shocked. the
Methodlsts opened their eyes in wonder,
while the Baptists stood a1oof in digni.
he'd silence. For one whole day the peo-
pie talked of nothing but this breach of
sectarlan etiquette. The next dav thew
had something else to talk about.
These three ladies, in COMPANY with
Margaret Styles, another Methodist sis
ter, called upon the West sisters. Mary
and Martha, two Of the leading ladies Of
the Baptist society. They not only
called but they stayed all the forenoon
and took dinner. - 1De1
This was on Saturday. On Sunday
those SIX ladies occupied Miss Baileys
pew IN the Congregational church. The
little flock were so astonished that thew
PAID but little attention to the sermon,
and the minister went home with The
feeung that not dozen in the whole l.,