Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-24
MAIDEN BLISS.


with me, dears That is kind, for young
things like you don't often fancy the soci-
ETY. of elderly ladies' but we old people APP
preciate any attention you show us, for
the heart never loses its freshness, and,
though age creeps upon us, wrinkling our
faces and silvering our hair, we are as
young at heart as when our cheeks doomed
and our eyes glowed with the spirit of
youth and strength, So, because we are
old don't relegate us toa mental museum
of antiquities, but give us some share in
your affections, and we will more than re-
pay you for the sacrifice.
You want me to tell you of my life?
Well, perhaps | may interest you, though
| have no love story to relate.
l was the only child of my parents. /
remember my mother as being very pale
and pretty and always ailing. | was made
to understand very early in life that she
could not help me in my childish needs.
When / wanted walk or a drive, l went
with my father. He was my constant
companion. He was SO kind, SO gentle, so
good He strove in every way to make my
life happy one. 1t was he who undressed
me at night, and the happiest hour of the
whole day was when lay in my little crib
in my nightrobe, with his dear hand in
mine. He never left me till | fell asleep.
What wonderful stories he told me of fairy
princesses and witches! How absorbed |
was in each enhancing tale, and with
what breathless interest hung upon every
word All, those were happy days
1 have lived long while and been a
close observer of human nature, yeG |
10 70
Their gave to my mother. He spent long
hours beside her couch and every luxury
that money could buy was hers.
l had few playmates. Children love
sunshine, and ours was essentially Il dark
ened home. My father and were closer
companions than ever as grew older. He
taught me to ride, and we took long
tramps together. He was an instructive
companion. He loved nature and was
fine botanst. 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 l was carefully
putting some violets in water:
"You are great comfort to your father,
Lucy You will always be good to him,
won't you?"
! kissed her and promised that l would,
She died when was IL years old, and her
last words were, "Tako caro- Of your IA
ther, Lucy" / was 0nlya child but old for
my years, and [ treasured her words in my
heart.
My father could scarcely bear mo out of
his sight. We were constantly together
He taught me history and mathematics
and had teacher who came to tho house
md in, nnph an Ia
And so | grew up Sometimes good ma.
tured mother with u flock of girls would
demonstrate with him 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 a 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 to look at us in those
| days, and how proud | was of him He
| had such fine manner and was such a
| gentleman, and ], thanks to his sensible
| training, was as blooming as a rose.
| There is no such nurse as Mother Nature.
| The nearer we get to her the fresher and
purer we feel. When look at the fash
ionable young woman of today, who is all
nerves and exhausted by long walk,
whose digestion is ruined by rich food and
late dinners, feel very thankful to my
wise father. What glorious tramps we
| ,b,t l,i,, pifl nd
now, old as l am, bad weather never keeps
me in.
People called me handsome, so I suppose
must have been. l had many suitors.
What girl has not who is young and happyi
But though, girllike, | was pleased with
attention, my heart was never really
touched. always remembered my moth,
er's last words, "Take care Of your father,
Lucy" could never fancy my life apart
from him.
Perhaps you think l might have been
happier il married, but that is impossible.
My father was always everything to me.
! We studied, we talked, we read together.
By and by found myself merging into
middle life, but enjoyed life as much az
ever. Father was surrounded by learned
people, and one could not but absorb some
of their knowledge. know l ain called
clever. But, my dear, l find so much to
learn from day to day that if stop to con-
slider how little l really know l feel very
| ignorant.
Yes, l can truly say my life has been a
happy one, and though the ties of wife
hood and motherhood have not been for
me, yet have always been satisfied. !
| am busy too. l have my afternoons in
the hospital and my class of scholars in
our Sunday school. Then I 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 he the very pic
| ture of beautiful old ageP His hair is
w6ite, 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
I believe in marrying and happy mar
riages, l believe also in happy old maids.
lam 60 years old, and father celebrated
his eighty second birthday last fall, yet we
are still happy and busy with our work,
content to wait until the call come for us