Litchfield enquirer., 1881-03-03
SIXTEEN OLD MAIDS.

O4AxGGN O4U MA3U0.
 Bosworth was nice little village of some 5O0 inhabitants, and boasted of three churches Congregational, Baptist and Methodist, while . handful of Unitarians gathered occasionally at the town hall, and few Adventists went to the next village, five miles distant, to wnr- ship. The three first mentioned societies were as distinct from each other as black is from white Not only were they not on vis- itlng terms with each other, but the three stores showed that they did not even trade to- gether. The oldest inhsbitant could not re. member when this was not so; but the time had come for . revolution, and with this our story has to do
 Miss Betsey Bailey, anelderly maiden lady. was sitting alone in her quiet home, when all at once she broke out with:
 Well. l do declare. Here we be living alone in this heathenish way year after year, end we consider ourselves Christians. It's a shame that i've hundred people can't live to gether in harmony. when so many of us are church members."
 The car was sleeping quietly in Miss Bet seys Jap, jumped down and ran to the fur tiicr end of the room, for Miss Betsey had gesticulated in that direction in such man. nor as to inflict quite rap upon tho sleeping tsbby.
 'Wsll. l declare" said Miss Betsey, s.if didn't get 90 eloquent that scared the cat. I think mus: have been born for female or ator.
 After this she sat back in the chair, appar- ently asleep, but she was not her mind was busy over plan which she meant to put into immediate operation. It 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 midnigh. before she retired, and then it WAS not to sleep. .
 Early next morning she called on her most intimate acquaintance and neighbor, Miss Sarah Jenkens.
 Sarah, I've got notion, and it is so sell dom that am ever troubled with such thing that had to come right over and tell you be- fore lost it. Do you feel able this morning to grasp one of the grandest, noblest and brightest ideas the world has ever pondered on ?"
 ''Why Betsey for lands sake, don't scare g body to death. You are not going to set the river afre, are your"
 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."
 "Wel hope you don't mean to include me in this grand sGheme,"
 But do. You are the very one l want for my right hand man."
 ''The idea of an old maid like me lending aid to the grandest, noblest-"
 'Hold on, Sarah, don't repeat that sentence please: the very walls have ears, and 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 knit. ting and I'll knit and talk; was in such a hurry to get here this morning that forgot my work. ] can't talk, though, unless am doing something.h
 2 Betsey then proceeded to lay the scheme be fore her friend, who when she had concluded not only agreed to help her, but offered some very valuable suggestions. So eager were they with their plans that the noon hour slip ped by, and o'clock came before either of them thought of dinner.
 Next morning Betsey and Sarah were again together, this time prepared for walk. Both these ladies were Congregationalists, and many of their neighbors were surprised to see them stop at the house of Eliza Simmons one of the staunchest sisters of the Methodist persuasion It couldn't have been over an hour before the town was alive with the news
 The Orthodox were shocked, the Metho- dists opened their eyes in wonder, while the Baptists stood aloof in dignifed silence. For ons whole day the people talked of nothing but this breach of sectarian etiquette. The next day they had something else to talk about.
 These three ladies in company with Mar garet Stiles, another Methodist sister, called upon the West sisters, Mary and Martha, two ot the leading ladies of the Baptist society. They not only called, but they stayed all the forenoon and took dinner.
 This was on Saturday On Sunday those SIX ladies occupied Miss Bailey's pew in the Congregational church. The little flock was 90 astonished that they paid but little stten- tion to the sermon and the minister went home with the feeling that not dozen peo- pie in the whole congregation could tell what his text was.
 Bosworth was new in state of intense ex- citement. Such thing had never happened before. Many of the Congregationalista call. ed on Miss Betsey and on Miss Sarah, but all they could find out was that the ladies went with them by special invitation.
 On Thursday night the six ladies attended class meeting at the Methodist vestry. Not only that, but Miss Jenkins and Miss Martha Stiles both took part in the meeting.
 What was to be done? Something. certain tys AVt sniS SsotS OA SulukS COuiO CAtSt 1Otk. The Baptists visited the Misses Stiles, but all the information they could get was that they went te both places by invitation. and that Martha felt moved to speak at the latter place and did e. And the Methodists were no wiser for having called upon the erring sis. ters.
 The next Tuesday saw more mixing of the sets, and Monday night there was gathering at Miss Betsey's residence of all the ladies engaged in the conspiracy. Sixteen ladies were prese:t, and-was it chance 2-all were maiden ladies of fifty years and over. From this time forward there was a great intimacy between these ladies' In vain they tried to induce others to join them at the end of three months their band still numbered only sixteen.
 Betsey and Sarah talked the matter over. and concluded to open another chapter of their plan. They were not disappointed in getting only sixteen ladies to join them; in fact that was nearly double the number they had hoped to get in the beginning.
 A few days later notice appeared on the door of the Baptist store to the effect that it bad been sold to Miss Betsey Bailey. About the same time one appeared on the Congrega- tiOnalist store, saying that it had been sold to Miss Sarah Jenkina Both stores were closed and the people all had to go to the only re- maaning store in town, the Methodist, if they would buy anything.
 Both the ladies next called on the Metho- dist brother. and he readily agreed to take all the goods from the other stores if he could thereby get the whole trade of the town. He knew from bitter experience that one store was all the town could support, and he at once began to help the ladies in their scheme, though he was not aware of the part he was taking, looking only at the fact that he could make more money by the change This plan of the ladies was, . partial success, for the in- ha0itants fell right into this arrangement be- cause they could nsp help it.
 Still they would not visit, nor attend any but their own church: and three months more passed andstill only the sixteen maiden sisters belonged to the visiting company. Sochapter number three was opened
 One morning the train brought to the will lage very pretty young lady and four large trunks Such thing was not a common oc- currence. and the depot loungers soon spread