The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-18
MAIDEN BLISS.
And so you have come to spend an hour

And so you have come to spend an hour
with me, dearP That is kind, for young
things like you don't often fancy tho 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 creops upon us, wrinkling our
faces and silvering our hair, we are as
young ut heart as when our checks bloomed
and our eyes glowed with the spirit of
youth and strength So, because we are
old, don't relegntc 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 toll YOU Of my lifcg
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 drive, ! went
with my father. lie was my constant
companion. He was so kind, 50 gentle, so
good! He strove in every way to make my
life u happy one. 1t was he who undrosscd
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 l fell asleep
What wonderful stories he told me of fairy
princCsses and witches How absorbed
was in each enhancing tale, and with
what breathless interest | hung upon every
word All, those We're happy days!
l have lived long willie and been a
close observer of human nature, yet /
have never seen such devotion as my IA
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 dark
ened home. My father and / were closer
companions than ever as | grew older. He
taught me to ride, and we took long
tramrs together. He was an instructive
companion. 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 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?'
l kissed her and promised that would
She died when was ~ years old, and hel
last words were, "Tako care of your fa
Their, Lucy" was onlya child, but old fol
my years, and 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 a teacher who came to the house
and gave me lessons in French and music
And so l grew up. Sometimes a good ma
tured mother with flock of girls would
demonstrate with him and argue that
ought to be in school, but he grew seriou:
at once.
81 can't spare Lucy" he would say
"She is all have"
We took long rides together, and ever,
summer we went to the seashorc, and
though my father was handsome man
still young and with an abundance o
money, yet he never seemed to care TO
any society but mine. / am sure he nigh
have married almost any one, but no neve
did
How people used to look at us in thos
days, and how proud 1 was of him II
had such fine manner and was such
gentleman, and /, thanks to his sensibl
training, was as blooming as rose
There is no such nurse as Mother Nature
The nearer we get to her the fresher an,
purer we feel. When look at the fash
ionable young woman of today, who is al
nerves and exhausted by a long walk
whose digestion is ruined by rich food ant
late dinners, feel very thankful to m
wise father. What glorious tramps W
took, what long drives and rides! An
now, old as l am, bad weather never keep
me in.
People called me handsome, so I suppos
l must have been. had many suiGors
What girl has not who syoung and happy
But though, girllike, was pleased wit
attention, my heart was never reall
touched. always remembered my moth
er's last words, "Take care of your father
Lucy" could never fancy my life apaI
| from him.
Perhaps you think l might have bee
| happier if married, but that is impossible
My father was always everything to mt
| We studied, We talked, we read together
By and by found myself merging int
middle life, but ! enjoyed life as much q
ever. Father was surrounded by learne
| people, and one could not but absorb som
of their knowledge. know l am calle
clever. But, my dear, l find so much
learn from day to day that if / stop to COZ
slider how little l really know feel yer
ignorant
Yes, can truly say my life has been
happy one, and though the ties of wifi
hood and motherhood have not been fC
me, yet I have always been satisfied.
am busy too l have my afternoons
the hospital and my class of scholars /
our Sunday school. Then 1 do gre;
deal Of work among the poor. So, 20
see, am well employed.
Now, you must stay to tea with u
Here comes father. Isn't he the very pi
ture of a beautiful old age9 His hair
white, but he is as erect us ever. Well
have talked long enough, but want yo
to know that there Is one satisfied o.
maid. Girls are too ready to grasp at
shadow and miss the substance, and thong
believe in marrying and happy ma
riages, l believe also in happy old maid
l am go years old, and father celebrate
his eighty second birthday last fall, yet v
are still happy and busy with our wor.