Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-04-13
SIXTEEN OLD MAIDS.

Bosworh was a nice little village q
some I've hundred inhabitants, an,
hoastcd ef,hrec churches, Congreg
ational, Baptist and Methodist, Will
handful Of Advcn,is.s went to the mex
village, I've miles distant, 10 worship
The three first mentioned sociclie
were az distinct as black is from white
Not only were they not on visiting
terms with each other, but three store
showed that they did not trado to
gether. The oldest inhabitant coulC
not remember when II was not so, bu
the time had come for a revolution
and with this our story has TO do.
Miss Betsey Bailey, M elderly mai
den lady, was sitting alone in her quie
home when all ut once she broke on
with
Well, co declare Here are
living alone in this heathenish wa.
year alter year, and we consider our
selves Christians. Its a shame tha
FIVE hundred people cant live to
gether IN harmony, when so many Of II
are church members.
The cat whiA, was sleeping quiet.
in Betsey's lap, jumped down and raj
10 the further end of the room, 70
Miss Betsey mad gesticulated in tha
direction in such manner as to in
Aict quite n rap upon the sleeping tab
by.
Well, | declare, said Miss Betsey
if didn't get so eloquent that / scarce
the cat. think | must have bee
born for Il female orator.
After this she sat back in her chail
apparently asleep, but she was not
her mind was busy over a plan ~hlc'
she meant to put in immediate ope
alton. 1t was very late that nigh
when she came to a final decision, an
of course she must wait until mornin
before she could begin. So excite
had she become over the matter tha
1t was long past midnight befor
she retired, and then it was not t
sleep.
Early next morning che called o
her most intimate neighbor and &C
ouaintance, Miss Sarah jenkins.
Sarah I've got n notion, and it is s
seldom that am ever troubled wit
such a thing that had to como rig|1
over and tell you before ] lost it.
Do You feel able this morning t
grasp one of the grandest, noblest an
brightest ideas the world ever ponder
ed on
Why, Betsey tor lands sake don
scare body to death. You are no
going to set the river fire are you
Not quite 50 bad as that hope bu
if we don't turn this town upside dow
ia three months, my name isn't Bel
sey.
We! Ihope you don't intend t
include me in this grand scheme.
But l do, you are the very one
want for my right hand man.
The idea that an old maid like m
lending aid to the grandest and mob
lest
Hold Sarah don't repeat that sen
,ence please the very walls hav
ears, and would not have a word Q
this get out for the world. All youv
uot to do is to listen to me, and whe
you've heard my story you will agre
with me to the letter if you don't
won't ask you to help me bit. Ham
me your knitting and III knit andtalE
| was in such hurry to get here thl
morning that forgot my work.
can't talk unless I'm doing something
Betsey then proceeded to lay tn
scheme before her friend, who whe
she concluded, not only agreed t
help her, but offered some very valu
able suggestions which we're graspe'
by Betsey. So eager were they wit
their plans that the noon hour sl'ppe'
BY, and three o'clock came befor
either of them thought ct dinner.