Year: 1873

J
an old maid. l never dreamed | would
live to this age and still be single, and yet
| never had an offer. had lover once,
Ben Whitney. | wonder what has become
of him? l haven't heard of him since he
was married and went Went twenty years
ago. But l never regret my lonely lot
after going the rounds of my married
acquaintance. l always come home and
congratulate myself on lucky escape from
matrlmony There is Matte Smith-such
a bright, pretty girl as she was. when we
were at school together. She married
sober and industrious mechanic, who was
getting good wages, and took up joyfully.
hopefully, a life of narrow means and
small economies, expecting love to COM
pensate for all the hardships. | had not
seen her for some time, SO l 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,
certain as the coming Of Christmas or
Fourth of July. l found the poor, tired.
over-worked mother, dragging herself
YEARLY from one household duty to
another, with one child in her arms, and
another, only baby itself, clinglng to her
skirts. She had no servant; help was too
expensive and wasteful her husband was
very kind and consderate, 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 L
though she would like to see the face OF
friend. She is very proud and did not
mention the trouble that lay heavy on her
heart, until just before | came away some
thing touched a tender chord, and she
sobbed out all her sorrows with her head
on my shoulder. Poor thing, | lpitied her,
for she has no children to comfort the
lonely hours of his neglect. offered what
consolation | could, and left her quite
cheerful with the hope of his reformation.
There goes little Tommy Tnmons, on
the other side of the street. Iii venture
his wife never shed tear over his con-
duct; nice, dutiful little fellow, so
obedlent, and willing to run on errands !.
But, then, he wouldn't suit me for a hus-
band, too much like taking boy to raise.
His wife stands head taller than he, and
and the nelghbors do say, though L don't
know how true it is, that when she wants
to attract his attention 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 intellect


wealth, and high standing among the peo-
pie, her beautiful home, and those Two


lovely little children, VINO are throwing


kisses and calling good bye, mamma, from


the upper windows, as the carriage whlrls


away. But there is skeleton there


though there are but few who suspect 1t.


She came over the other day and tolo


me all about it, for her heart Was breaking


for sympathy, aud she had no relative neal


to con6de in. 1t seems there is some ont


else who shares the stately judges wealth


and regard, a woman falrer and younge


than the wife he promised to love an'


cherish until death parted them, a womal


whose sole aim in life is to attract anC


dazzle men, and who is, therefore, an ex


pert in the business.


So when come to consider these exam


Piles of the happiness OF married life, l an


glad | am still lonely old maid. L al


not tied down to lot of crying chlldreI


who come faster than | can support them
[ don't tremble and quake when L hear


step in the hall, thinking tlpsy HUSBAND
is going to stumble in and disgrace me.


am not bound for life to a meek, spiritles
, creature, as insignificant as a caterpillar
nor crying my eyes out because m
husband is uneasy in my society, and onl
: happy when basklng in the smiles he ha
paid round price for No, indeed. | al
free and independent, and happy, an
:. would not be married for the universe.
u All, there is the postman with lette
for me. I'll just down and get it. Posi-
= marked Illinois. [ wonder who it can
e from? Yours, till death, Benz. Whitney
. Well, never; my hand trembIes so L ca
hardly hold the paper. He has lost b
: wife, and hearing that l was still singh
u he has written to me to know if Wi
come aud take charge of things; house
u keepers are hard to get and are very e.
pensive, and he isn't very well off In th
U worlds goods, and wants me to be mothe
e to the SIX little children. There it is i
u black and white, my first offer; now, let Z
) one ever say again [ couldn't have ma
u ried life if | wanted to. OF course L
60; my own feelings shan't be considere
= at all it is my duty to 60 to those po'
y, motherless children. Where is that new
q ! paper | was reading? | want to see VIII
1 time the western train starts!


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