Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-08-26
A GOLDEN BIRTHDAY.

THURSDAY, October llth, l8-. Hark,
that is the sunrise gun, announcing
HE opening of new dayi Much
obliged to you, good gunner at the
navy yard, for thus saluting me on my
birthday.
To think that l, Helen Copithorne
all actually fifty years old! can not
realize it, not even when L try to con-
vince myself of the painful fact by
iubtracting the year OF my nativity
from this present ammo domini. Once
apon a time 1 looked upon fifty as
rery advanced age-oouldn't really
See much difference between fifty and
seventy; but now | hold vastly differ
snt opinion on the subject.
When / was about twelve, one of my
aunts was invited to dine at our house
because it was her birthday. Ny
mother would give me no information
as to the age of my elderly relative but
the big family Bible was less rsticent,
little subtraction gave forty as re-
mainder; when auntie arrived she
carried her best cap in flat willow
basket; fancy me arrayed in a capl
'NO single woman except you,
Helen, would have the courage to not
merely announce her age but ths-the
the eccentricity to make fiesta of it
and actually send out invitations to a
golden birthday, as you quantity
erm it," said my cid friend and former
Ichool-mate, Mrs. Ly ford, a few days
ago.
Even in writing or speaking to my
self of her | try always to allude to her
as Mrs. Lyford; L have not yet become
accustomed to "Marlan," as she writes
leT Christian name, and to call her by
The old familiar title Mary Ann"
would never do! There is one com
'ort in being an old maid; you've never
married into a severely aristocratic,
conventional family and therefore have
40 husbands position to maintain.
"Oh you know that l was always,
sven in my girl-hood, called as odd as
Dicks hat-band,' whatever that may
mean, and my cranky ways do not
Tanish as the years roll on" L answer
ID lightly. "My cousin had golden
wedding, you remember, lots of fun
and heaps of presents; why should she
because she has husband and children
have all the good times? AS 1, being
an old maid
"Dont use that Objectionable word,
ny dear; single woman sounds much
better"
Then why should not L, being a
Jingle woman who can't possibly have
golden wedding, celebrate her semi
!entennialP II people wish to bring
me golden gifts, as they did to cousin
Mary, I'll not refuse them; but of
course I do not expect them in many
,ases."
Just think how many wedding pres
,nts you have madel"
"Yes, and as l told Lou Hodges,
who has been married three times,
'OHle people really owe me a pres
snt.
You remembered DR.. Berrien and
Mrs. Lawler, each time they were mar
'ied-really, HeIsn, l shouldn't won
Ter if you had quite charming party
iter ALL" said Mary Aun-Marian, l
mean, suddenly rousing from her usual
ey manner.
81 mean to try tol 1 happen to have
he gown, a white crepe, which l wore
It the last party 1 ever gave, the day L
Eas twenty-five; / intend to wear it,
or now that fashions have changed it
squite in the mode. I plan to adorn
ny rooms with yellow flowers, my
Arge birthday cake-gold cake--ls to
oe iced in yellow, my ice cream Is to
,e favored with orange and the water
Ce will be served in baskets Of orange
,eel; oh 1 assure you l shall be ss
Iolden as it is possible for me to be-"
After Mrs Lyford had departed it
occurred to me that as l still possessed
very gift which had received at my
asst birthday party it would be good
'lan to arrange them on q table IN my
'osy little parlor, and here they lie,
'lled on my bureau waiting to be dis
'osed o::-two lace handkerchiefs. a
Fhite fan, a set of carved coral iewelry,
turquoise and pearl ring, silver
rinsigrette, filigree silver bouquet
holder, set of Shakespeare, writing
iesk, and the copy of Longfellow
Fhlch Mr.. 1remlett so awkwardly pre-
ented to me.
Hobart Tremlett, how much that
tame once meantl l wonder where he
now, if he ls alive and happy; his
children must be grown by this time
'rownl Yes, and married; Hobart may
De a grandfather long ere this, for he
Eas married in less than year from
hat day.
Poor mamma never forgave him for
rs heartless desertion of me, as she
allied 1t; but think she was wrong,
Ie never gave utteTAnce to one word OF
owe and his air OF seeming devotion
nay have been only little gallantry
Inherited from his Maryland mother.
Had he cared for me why did he not
peak? He was rich, therefore our
ossof money could not have Influenced
i'm. AS for the disgrace which came
pom US, dear kind Mr.. Beaudette was
My my step-father therefore | did not
'ecome nameless because he, my
aether's second husband, had married
fhlle his first wife was still living. No
Ne ever blamed him; it was clear
nough that he had good reason to be-
leve himself widower when he mar
led my mother; yet the shock Of Nine.
'eaudette's appearance at our house
?e morning after my party SO affected
I'm that / know he was demented
then he pulled the fatal trigger.
How my life was ohangedl From
sing known as Miss Beaudetts, step.
luehter and idoIzed ward OF rich
oo0D fnfo