Year: 1873

Why, this is my birthday y exclaimed
Miss Felisse, as her eye fell on the date Of
the morning paper she had been reading, !
" had forgotten It until now. Forty to. I
day fwoador If look that old ?" and
she stood before the glass, where the hand.
some appointments Of her room we're mir
rored, aud looked critically at the prim, |
pleasant face and angular figure reflected
there. Forty to-day, aud still unmar-
ried; | am an old maid at last Il is no
use trying TO disguise it nny longer. No
one would mistake me for anything but
maiden lady Of increasing uncertain age,
and she flashed a swift smile of comica dis.
may, aud heaved o mock sigh, showing the
natural mirthiul spirit still alive under the
outward repression. Shaking her soft, gray
ish curls at the pictured face in the glass,
saying " It's no use, my dear you have
been weighed in the balance and are sadly
wanting in those attractions necessary to
secure a kindred spirit. They say that
while there is life there is hope, hut it is
always test to be resigned to the worst, and
Fate, who has dealt pretty kindly with you
10 regard to the worldly comforts Of this
life, has her unkind cut in reserve"


She sat down in deep easy chair by the
low window, and holding the paper idly in
her hand, her thoughts ran on in the same
strain: "I remember when | was
young girl | scorned the idea of being an
Old maid | never dreamed would live
to this age and still be single, and yet |
never had an offer had a lover once
Ben Whitley. wonder what has become
Of him ! haven't heard Of him since he
was married and went West twenty years
ago. But | never regret my lonely lot af-
ter going the rounds Of my married ac-
quaintances. | always come home and
congratulate myself on lucky escape from
matrimony. There il Matte Smith--such
bright, pretty girl as she was, when we
were at school together. She married
sober and industrious mechanic, who was
getting good wages, ard took up joyfhlly,
hopefully, life of narrow means and
small economies, expecting love to compen-
safe for all the hardships. had not seen
her for some time, so went to look her up
the other day.


The three older children trooped down to
the gate TO meet me, with the wonderful
news that they had baby in the house
as if this was not an usual occurrence, GER
tain as the coming of Christmas or Fourth
Of Jnly. / found the poor, tired, over
worked mother, dragging herself wearily
from one household duty to another, with
one child in her arms, and another, only a
baby itself, clinging to her skirts. She had
no servant; help was too expensive and
wasteful; her husband was very kind and
considerate, assisting her all he could; but
he could not leave his work, and his wages
are now the same as when there were two
instead Of seven to support. | next called
on cousin Sarah. | had heard that her
husband had been drinking more than
usual yesterday, and | thought she would
like to see the face of a friend. She is
very proud and did not mention the trouble
that lay heavy on her heart, until just be-
fore | came away something touched a
tender chord, and she sobbed out all her
sorrows with her head on my shoulder.
Poor thing, | pitied her, for she has no
children to comfort the lonely hours Of his
neglect offered what consolation could,
aud left her quite cheerful with the hope Of
his reformation.


There goes little Tommy Timmons on
the other side Of the street. I'll venture
his wife never shed tear over his conduct I;
nice, dutiiul little fellow, so obedient, and
willing to run on orrands But, then, he
wouldn't suit me for husband-too much
| like taking a boy to raise. His wife stands
head taller than he, and the neighbors do
say-though don't know how true it is
/ that when she wants to attract his atten-
ton to anything, she takes him by the ear
and turns his face in that direction.


There is Mrs. Judge Starr coming down
the steps to get into her carriage. One
would think she ought to be happy with
her husband, who is man of iRtellect,
wealth, and high standing among the peo-
pie, her beautiful home, and those two
beautiful little children, who are throwing
kisses aud calling goodbye, mamma, from
the upper windows, as the carriage whirls
away. But there is a skeleton there, though
there are but few who suspect it.


She came over the other day and told mC
all about it, for her heart was breaking for
sympathy, and she had no relative near tC
confde in. 1t seems there is some one elsC


who shares the stately judges wealth ant


regard, woman iairer and younger thar


the wife he promised to love and cherisi
until death parted them--a woman whose
sole aim in life is to attract and dazzle men
and who is, therefore, an expert in the


business.


So when | come to consider these exam


Piles Of the happiness of married life, | an


glad | am still lonely old maid. an


not tied down to lot Of crying childreI


who come faster than | can support them


| don't trembe aud quake when | hear I


step in the hall, thinking tipsy HUSBAND


is going TO stumble in and disgrace me.


am not bound for life TO meek, spiritles


creature, as insignificant as a caterpillar


nor crying my eyes out because my hus


band is uneasy in my society, and onl'


happy when basking in the smiles he ha


paid a good round price for. No, indeed


am free and independent, and happy, am


would not be married for the universe.


All, there is the postman with lctte


for me. I'll just run down and get il
Postmarked Illinois. | wonder who il ca
be from Yours, till death, Bcniami
Whitney" Well, never my hand trem
! bles so | can hardly hold the paper. II
: has lost his wife, and, hearing that | wa
still single, he has written to me to know
| will come and take charge Of things
housekeepers are hard to get and are YER
expensive, and he isn't very well of in thi
worlds goods, and wants me to be mothe
10 the six little children. There it is !
black and white, my FIRST offer; now, l.


no one ever say again | couldn't have
! married life if wanted to. OF course l.
, go my own feelings shan't be considere
at all it is my duty to 60 to those poe
0 motherless children. Where is that new
5 paper | was reading2 | want to sec whi
time the western train starts