The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-10
HAPPY old MAID.

And so you have como to spend an hour
with me, dear. That IS kind, for young
things Ike you don't often fancy the soci-
ETY. OF elderly ladies, but we old people APP
preciste any attention you show us, for
the heart never loses its freshness, and
though age creeps upon as, wrinkiing our
faces and silvering our hair, We are as
young at heart as when our checks bloom
cd and our eyes glowed with the spirit OF
youth and strength. SO, because we are
old, don't rclefSie us TO mental museum
Of antiquities, but give us some share In
your affections. and va will more than re-
pay you fer the sacrifice.
You want me to tell you OF my lifef
Well, perhaps / may interest you, though
1 have no love story 10 relate.
was the only child Of my parents.
remember my mother AS being very pale
and pretty and always ailing. 1 was made
TO understand very early In life that she
could not help me in my childish needs.
When wanted walk or drive, 1 went
with my father. He was my constant
companion. He was so Kind, so gentle,
SO good He strovs in every way to make
my life happy one. IL was he who un-
dressed me at night and the happiest hour
of the whole day was when 1 lay In my
little crib in my nichtrobe, with his dear
hand in mine. He never left me till fell
asleep What wonderful stories he told
me of fairy princesses and witchesi How
absorbed was in each enhancing tale,
and with what breathless interest hung
upon every world All, those were happy
daysi
have lived a long while and bsen close
observer OF human nature, yet / have
never seen such devotion as my father
gave TO my mother. He spent long hours
beside her couch, and every luxury that
money could buy was hers.
had few playmates. Children love sun
shine, and ours was essentially a darkened
home. Ny father and were closer COM
panions than ever Ne / grew older. He
taught me 10 ride, and we took long
tramps together. Ho was an inssruc-
tive companion. He loved nature and was
fine botanist. He taught me all know
of flowers, and together we searched the
woods for the first violet and crocus.
Once my mother said to me as was care
fully putting some yiolets In water:
"You arc a great comfort To your father,
Lucy You will always be good to him,
won't your
kissed her and promised that / would.
She died when was l2 years old, and her
last words were, Take care of your IA
ther, Lucy" was only a child, but old
for my years, and treasured hor words in
my heart.
My father could scarcely bear me out OF
his sight. We were constantly together.
He taught me history and mathematics,
and had teacher who came 10 the house
and gave me lessons in French and music.
And so / grew up. Sometimes a good ma
tured mother with flock of girls would
remonstr.-ia a .4itA hiiffi and argue that
ought to be In school, but he grew serious
at once.
II can't spare Lucy" he would say.
"She is all have"
We took long rides together, and every
summer we went to the seashore, and,
though my father was handsome man,
still young and with an abundance OF
money, yet he never seemed TO care for
any society but mine. am sure he might
have married almost any one, but he
never did.
How people used 20 look at US in those
days, and how proud l was of himi lie
had such fine manner and was such q
gentleman, and j, thanks TO his sensible
training, was as blooming as "a rose.
There il no such nurse as Mother Ma
ture. The nearer we gCt to her the fresher
and purer we feel When i look at the
fashionable young woman of today, who
Is all nerves and exhausted by a long
walk, whose ligl stion is ruined by rich
food and late dinners, l feel very thankful
to ny wise father What glorious tramps
we took, what long drives and ridcsl And
now, old as / am, bad weather never keeps
mo in.
People called me handsome, so sup
pose / must have been. 1 had many suit
ors. What girl has not who is young and
happy' BuI though, girllikc, 1 was
pleased with attention, my heart was
never really touched. l always remem-
bored my mothers last words, Take care
Of your father, Lucy" l could never fan
cy my life apart from him.
Perhaps you think l might have been
happier II married, but that Ia impossible.
Ny father was always everything to mo.
Wa studied, we talked we read together.
BY and by found myself merging into
middle life, but enjoyed life as much as
ever Father was surrounded by learned
people, and one could not but absorb some
OF their knowledge. l know l am called
clever; but my dear find 30 much to
learn from day to day that If / stop TO con-
slider how little really know feel very
Ignorant.
Yes, oan truly say my life has been
happy one, and though tho ties of wife-
hood and motherhood have not been for
me, yet i have always been satisfied. am
busy too. j have my afternoons In the
hospital and my class Of scholars In our
Sunday school. Then l do great deal Of
work among the poor. So, you SEQ, am
well employed.
Now. you must stay 10 taa with US.
Here comes father Isn't he tho very pic-
ture Of . beautiful old age' His hair is
white, bat he il ns erect as ever. Well,
have talked long enough, but want you
20 know that thore is one sstisfed old
maid. Girls are too rendy 10 grasp at a
shadow and miss the substance, and
though believe in marrying and happy
marriages ! believe also in happy old
maids. / arn 60 years old, and father
celebrated his eighty second birthday last
fall. vet we arc still happy and busy with