The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-11
A HAPPY OLD MAID.


preciate any attention you show US, foI
the heart never loses Its freshness, and
though age creeps upon US, Wrmkling oul
faces and silvering our hair, we are as
young at heart when our cheeks bloom
ed and our eyes glowed with the spirit OF
youth and strength. So, because we ore
old, don e relegate US to a mental museum
Of antiquities, but give us some share in
your affections, and we viii more than re-
pay you for the sacrifice.
You want me TO tell you Of my lifei
Wei, perhaps I may interest you, though
I have no love story to relate
was the only child of my parents. !
remember my mother as being very pale
and pretty and always aiHng. was made
to understand very early in life that she
could not help me in my childish needs.
When wanted walk or drive, went
with my father. He was my constant
companion He was SO kind, SO gentle,
SO goodl He strove in every way to make
my life happy one. 1t was he who I'M
dressed me at night, and the happiest houI
of the whole day was when 1 lay in my
little crib in my nightrobe, with his deaI
hand in mine. He never left me till fell
asleep. What wonderful stories he told
me of fairy princesses and witches. How
absorbed 1 was in each enhancing tale,
and with what breathIess interest hung
upon every world All, those were happy
days.
I have lived long while and been a close
observer of human nature, yet 4 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 1 were closer com
panions than ever as I grew older. He
taught me to ride, and we took long
,tramps together. He was an instruc-
tive con- paniOn. He loved nature and was
a 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 viOlets in water:
You are a great comfort to your father,
Lucy. You will always be good to him,
won { youf"
kissed her and promised that would.
She died when was II years old, and her
last words were, Take care of your IA
ther, Lucy / was only a child but old
for my years, and 1 treasured her 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 to the house
and gave me lessons in French and music.
And SO grew up. Sometimes good ma
tured mother with a flock of girls would
demonstrate with him and argue that
ought to be in school, but he grew serious
at once.
4 can't spare Lucy" he would say.
'tShe is all have"
We took long rides together, and every
summer went to the seashOre, and
though my father was a handsome man,
still young and with an abundance of
money, yet he never seemed to care for
any society but mine. I am sure he might
have married almost any one, but he
never did
How people used to look at US in those
days, and how proud was of himl He
had such fine manner and was such a
gentleman, and 1, thanks to his sensible
training, was as blooming as a rose.
There is no such nurse as Mother Ma
ture The nearer we get to her the fresher
and purer feel. When I look at the
fashionable young woman Of today, who
is all nerves and exhausted by a long
walk, whose digestion is ruined by rich
food and late dinners, / feel very thankful
to my wise father. What glorious tramps
we took, what long drives and ridesl "A nd
now, old as am, bad weather never keeps
me in
pose must have been. 1 had many suit
ors. What girl has not who is young and
happy2 But though, girllike, was
pleased with attention, my heart was
never really touched. always remem-
bered my mothers last words, Take care
cy nay life apart from him.
Perhaps you think / might have been
happier if married, but that is impossible.
Ny father was always everything TO me.
We studied, we talked, we read together.
BY and by I found myself merging into
middle life, but 1 enjoyed life as much as
ever. Father was surrounded by learned
people, and one could not but absorb some
of their knowledge. / know 1 am called
clever; but, my dear, find much to
learn from day to day that if / stop TO con
slider how little really know I feel very
ignorant.
Yes, can truly say my life has been
happy one, and though the ties of wife
hood and motherhood have not been for
me, yet have always been satisfied. am
busy too. 1 have my afternoons in the
hospital and my class of scholars in our
Sunday school. Then do a great deal Of
work among the poor. So, you see. am
well employed
Now, you must stay to tea with US.
Here comes father. Isn't be the very pic
ture of a beautiful old age? His hair is
white but he is as erect as ever. Well, /
have talked long enough, but want you
to know that there is one satisfied old
maid Girls are too ready to grasp at a
shadow and miss the substance, and
though believe in marrying and happy
I believe also in happy old
maids. 7 am so years old, and father
celebrated his eighty second birthday last
fail, yet we are still happy and busy with
onr work, content to wait until the call
comes for us to fold our hands.-Ex-
change.