Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-04-08
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL 8. 1904
I'll E RI
ANNIVERSARY
BY LAWRENCE PERRY



in South Dusenbury. What with mu-
sicales, lectures, socials and the like
the little village usually managed to
fill In the dark, cheerless gap between
harvest and sowing nicely. But this
winter the felcities of village life had
been augmented by an amazing and
unparalleled number of wedding ami.
versares Wooden weddings, tin we'd
dings crystal weddings, had followed
one another in rapid succession until
those who were blessed In the giving
were hardly less numerous than those
blessed in the receiving.
Now, South Dusenbury contained Its
share Of spinsters, village parlance
which, being interpreted, signifed that
the woman to whom the term was ap-
piled had lived twenty-eight years or
mOre--generally more-and was still
unmarried. To their eternal credit be
1t said that they reJolced open hearted
ly In the marital anniversaries Of their
fellow citizens and had contributed not
little to the general atmosphere OF
happiness which attended these func-
lions.
No, not quite all. One exception
one distinguished exception-must be
noted, Keziah Bottleby. Miss Bottleby
was strong minded, tall, angular wo-
man, an ardent church worker and
ready to turn her helpful hand to any
thing when the needs Of the neighbor-
hood required. But these wedding an
nlversaries began to pail upon her, and
by the time Deacon Thompson and
Mrs. Thompson had celebrated their
silver wedding she was thoroughly dis
gusted. She lost no opportunity In let
ting that fact be known. Hers was n
trenchant tongue. Some were amused;
more were made uncomfortable. But
there was no other result. The ami.
versaries continued just the same. OF
course this fact did not silence Miss
Bottleby.
II tell ye," she said one afternoon at
q meeting of the Kings Daughters, ats
perfectly scandalous. Sech graspin'
tendencies as has been exhibited In this
village this winter Is downright hea-
thenlsh. Why, look at old John Newell
and sophy Newell They amt done
nothin' but spat these mortal twenty.
five years, accordin' to all accounts
and, laws me, there they stood up TO.
gether at their silver weddln', she in a
new Bingham dress and all perked up
and slmperin' about with one eye and
countin the presents with the other. 1t
made me sick. And l guess | showed
Jest how felt tooI'
As usual. Miss Bottleby was listened
to In the most respectful silence, and
when she ceased speaking no one ven
tured a remark. Miss Bottleby gave
contemptuous sniff and applied herself
to her needle. While she sewed on, the
glimmer OF an idea shot through her
mind, and M she pondered and en-.
larged upon II the stern lines of her
face relaxed into broad smile. Yes,
she would do 1t. There was no reason
why she should not and many reasons
why she should. If 80 many persons
congratulated themselves and asked
others to join them simply because
they had been married score or 40 Of
years why should she not be congratu-
lated In remaining single similar
periodf surely IL was more dilncult to
remain unmarried than 10 ma nus
oand. res she would 90 II.
In n day or two the villagers received
the following Invitations:
MISS heziah bottleDy' having exist
eu I'D single DIessedhess Tor Iorty-nVe
years REQUESTS your presence Mt her
nome on thursday, May ", at D O'Clock
IN the afternoon the occasion being an
oiu 'huiu Varie'y' ne" una uo'eh'
mus WIZ ne serFeu, anu presents may
I've stored III 'he parior
Ahey were 'he tnik Vi inc ViIIaee,
,heSe lhVlthtiohs' ana every one sald
no" INK" MISS bott'eDy II was. Ihey
w meant 10 60 100 ior tney ieit tna'
she dId deserve something TOT her long
years OF hDnegation' Inc general lend
o"cy "us =" ueie"t her purPoSe Wy w
horlig ine obvious sarchsH ana pre-
'cnnlns inht ',iey looh ner SERIOUSLY
hiram Spiiks n"u receiver an NV
'ntion' ana u nuu struck Responsive
choru III MS heaI., ior ne 100 had en-
Joyeu me VI ceiiphcy.
ne met NlSs not,ieDy several Gays
peiore the variety party ana she
siii'u ~ "nInly tnat hIrhnn hIteu
us nnt cie"r from ms nead instead OF
siFins '"e cus'ohnry niue MP OF NIB
'" n'
no" W. ye' hirain shld MISS bot
'" 10y, 'ne warm oay
why no" ue uo-o-o' hezihh bald
riiruln, 'es' "in' yes irs 'oIernD'e
Thnt IN vo.,., 49,.
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