The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-06-13
AN OLD MAID.

or course / was an old maid; anybody
|n Maple Ridge could have told you that,
had good many would have said | was
Several years older than the old family
Bible affirmed.
felt all of my three and thirty years,
md knew that the dark little face that
BOXED back at me so sobcrly from the
Sracked mirror showed them beyond
uestion. But, what of that! l had
5ther things TO think of than that was
b old maid-many Others.
There was poor Susie, our pet, the
Youngest of us all. who would marry
handsome, reckless Noll Dasher, who. af :
4 er wild life of only few years, ended
in drunkard's grave and left poor
usie and her two babies to me.
Nor was that al, for Fred, our eldest,
BE- pride Of our old father and mothers
Farts, must marry, too-which was well
pough only after one brief wear IN his
ty office, he, too, grew sick and uied-
lt oh! so peacefully, so nobly!
"lou'll care for my wife and baby,
ary" he said, looking at ne so plead
>gly, ald | answered. Eyes, Fred, al
bys"
So it isn't much wonder / looked old,
bee only my littlc dressmaking shop
pod between us all and starvation.
Father and mother had become so fee
they could only sit on either side of
chimnc. .ld talk of tleir trials and
rrows.
Susie took upon herself the care of the
be household, and I've shed many II
rret tear at night thinking how wan and
bite She was growing, our beautiful
bic Susie.
What did Fred's wife Co? THAT'S n
F. subject; no one ever said anything,
Z ! have seen Susie shut her lips in a
fangc way when "thc lady" swept into
simple meals and never offered to soil
white hands eyen to wash her own
hes or clothes.
She's never been taught to work, |
oppose ! thought; ''poor thing!"
Then bent lower over my sewing and
up little later.
Things had gone on in this way for
hrly year, until one night when it
growing very late, Susie came in and
p the door of my shop carefully.
What is it, my deGrl" said cheer
", for there was look on her face
y troubled me.
Mary, she said, sinking down at my
ana laying her pretty golden head
ny knee, "my poor Mary" and then
began to sob so pitifully.
mad but little time to spare, for
W Mrs. Creathocse must have her new
sS by the ne,t evening, but dropped
needle and took her in my arms and
spered:
What W is it, M darling, tell me, won't
ION, Mary, so good, so unselfsh. I
bear it, You are working yourself
'eatA for me an6 mine. I've thought
thought and planned, and there's
one way"
don't undors.and-how hot your
hs are! You're going TO be sick"
m going TO die. Don't look so
'led' I'm very wicked and foolish,
can't see you kill yourself nor my
'ous children starve. / am only
gong to get married." desperately.
Hen ielt her whole body shudder.
Yes, darling, but whoGn
m m going to mary Mr., Caleb Lefing
Snsie! You are raad!"
No' he proposed tonight as | left the
and accepted him, that's all; why
you congratulate meln
ecause | can't for | know-oh, nv
ng' know you don't love him !n'
.I'e l loved once and got a sweet
fu' Nes, I'm in love with the old
; money that's honest"
'Sn Never mind, sleep on it, pet.
laik about it tomorrow; / must
this dress now.n
Plary' do stop and rest, YOU rnselfs,
'Aeeper! Your burden shall be light
IN not half as miserable as YOU
knew what she suffered, and I
~ ior things had come to very bad
what with poor father down with
ioainatisn and Susie's children suf-
'or shoes, and none of MS too
" cad, unless ii was s'the ladvn-
"hat Susie had called Fred's wife