The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-17
TATTIE'S COURTSHIP.
Nearly Half a Century Before She
Found a Nate.

Romance Of Love at First Sight Be-
tween Two Elderly People-They
Met, Loved and We're Engaged With
in Twenty-Four Hours.
From the Philadelphia Times
The little town of Dorsett Vermont, is
In a autter of excitement, which for the
time being throws the silver question and
all other matters of national Importance
into the shade. 1t is a regular social hur-
reane that swooped down upon themoun-
tain side inhabitants like veritable tor
u3do with all the effects of a genuine
western cyclone. There is but one topic
Of conversation, one channel of thought
and a very general cause for surprise and
hearty congratulation,
martha McGovern, known for miles
about the green clad hills as spinster
Matte. whose years have come and gone
until almost a half century has fled since
she first skipped jumping rope or tossed
areel hoop in the village school yard af-
ter a fond parent had brought her from
her native soil in old Massachusetts.
When Matte first saw the light of day
her baby eyes looked from the little bed
room windows on the third floor out upon
Breen's gentle slope, which all the world
of America Venerate and worship in their
patriotism as Grand old Bunker Hill.
when Matte grew up to the full stature
of woman's growth she had but one am
biti0n. and that was to beloved.
Her fathers position, as proprietor of
large store, gave her advantages in the
social whirl that were enviable. She
studied necessarily until she was re-
garded as an intellectual and musical
wonder, to be regarded in both fear and
admiration by her large circle of acquain
tdnCes.
Matte became an intellectual giant
and from her lofty intellectual heights
beheld one after another of her school
mates drift away from beneath their pa
rental roofs and 60 out into the wide
wide world" and establish homes of their
own.
She attended so many weddings that
she had uncousciously committed the Ger
emory to heart and for years past had
become so accustomed to recite it on all
occasions that her colossal brain had ex
banded beyond the owners control, and
the poor girl soon became regarded as an
innocent" a term that is applied to i'm
beetles in ireland, the land in which her
parents were born.
y
attention was drawn to the fact that she
was 'the last rose of summer, left bloom
ing alOneN with all her "companions
scattered and gone" Twelve years ago
she was left an orphan, with an income
from her fathers estate sufficient to sup
port her in comparative aff1uence, but
like many another "angel of Inercv.'' she
looked upon the woes of others as her
own, and regardless of conseq ueuces, set
about relieving all whom she found suf-
ferlng, never realizing what she was do
ing IN pairing down her fortune until the
greater part of it had been appropriated
In striving to cheer those who were in
want.
At the end of FIVE years poor Matties
funds had dwindled down so low that she
was obliged to seek employment, and was
compelled TO open private school for
children. In this she succeeded for
brief while, but as the children began
reciting the Episcopal marriage ceremony
TO their parents, instead of showing that
they We're mastering the rudiments of ed
ucation, they were withdrawn from the
school. Matties next occupation was
that of governess In the family of the
proprietor of a marble quarry. Here she
succeeded for brief period, when the
quarry masters children surprised him
one Sunday morning by reciting the mar
rage ceremony in concert at the break
fast table,
Consequently Matt:e's position was de-
clared vacant. A position in a Manches-
ter dry goods store was rendered and ac-
cepted by the young lady, whose years
We're multiplying Here she became the
Idol of bevy of associates, to whom in
leisure hours she would imDart the bene-
III OF her knowledge and drill in the mar
rage ceremony until every young lady
connected with the store was qualified to
lll the honOred position of either bride,
bridesmaid or maid of honor, and-perhaps
sae was the cause of each of her asso-
Gates filling the position first named.
Matte had not wanted admiSers and
mat she had not married formed the
Standing wonder of the neighborhood. In
10 manner prudlSh, an entertaining con-
Versationalist good-loo1ing above the
average and thorough musician, she
was always welcome among her friends.
Upon a recent Sunday evening Matte
attended church, where she heard an
to4lent discourse on THE Follies of
Lle,. delivered by an elderly clergyman,
"he had come from Pennsylvania to re-
CfNL LlS health among the green hills of
Vermont. At the conclusion of the SER
Wees Matte fingered in her pew until the
clergyman walked down the aisle, when
she stepped out beside him, extended her
SJ--, white hand and heartily Congratu-
said
The preacher paused to listen to her
thlAd words of praise, and holding her
Aalo within the grasp of his own, said ::
ny daughter, your words bring Joy and
E-1-Aess to my'heart. Your frankness is
very commendable, your criticism just
SGTlt Your appreciation highly appreciated.
H4ppJ must be the man who mas the
t-.aaare Of your constant companionship.
res Qne you are a woman who Is cher
'aNtu by loving and devoted husband"
Oh, my dear sir" replied Matte, as
nv eS ends dropped and a crimson flush
i.oPed up from beneath her chin and
SrI'aG itself over her downcast face, II
UI1 what the world calls an old maid, a
ot''-S1er and other such appellations that
ar applied TO those whom Cupid has
Hued upon. No, sir; it hath not
Es1seu the Lord hitherto to crown my
"-g with such blessing"
neither from pity OF a desire to re-
scr Jhe marriage state, DR.. GoodenOugh,
- pressing her hand, said "Remem-
AZ, 49, my dear, that the ways of Providence
w. i-Scrutable, and as the poet has said,
oo moves IN mysterious way His
sg-'efs TO perform anu that there is a
'7'u Tor all things under the sun 8"
,. know al these things. " replied Hat
ana try to feel contented, but the
.'t- IS cold and shows no pity toward a
-..'-. maiden I wish to,, could Irpo.v