Year: 1873

"Why, this is my birthday !" exclaimed Miss


Felisse, as her eye fell on the date of the morn


ing paper she had been reading. 81 had for
gotten it until now. Forty to-day 1 wonder
| glass, -where-tne nauasof,fe- appointments U1
| her room were mrrored, and looked critically


at the prim, pleasant face and angular figure
| reflected there. "Forty to-day, and still un-


married; l am an old maid at last. 1t is no


use trying to disguise it any longer. No one
would mistake me for anything but q maiden
lady of increasing uncertain age" and she
| flashed a swift smile of comical dismay, and
heaved mock sigh, showing the naturally
mirthful spirit still alive under all the outward
| repression. Shaking her short grayish 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 attrac-
tions necessary to secure a kindred spirit
They say that while there is life there is hope,


but it is always best to be resigned to the worst,
and Fate, who has dealt pretty kindly with


you in 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
al remember when | was a young girl l scorn


ed the idea of being old maid. l never
dreamed l would live to this age and still be
single, and yet l never had an offer; l had a
lover once-Ben Whitney. l wonder what has


become of him? haven't heard of him since


he married and went West, twenty years ago.
But never regret my lonely lot after going the
round OF visiting my married acquaintances.-
l always come home and congratulate myself
on lucky escape from matrimony. There is
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, and took up joyfully ,
hopefully, life of narrow means and small
economies, expecting love to compensate tor
all the hardships. l had not seen her for some
time, so went to look her up the other day.


"The three older children came down to the
gate to meet me, with the wonderful news that
BABY was at their house-as if this was not
an annual occurrence, certain as the coming of
Christmas or Fourth of July. l found the poor,
tired, overworked mother dragging herself
YEARLY from one household duty to another,
with one child in her arms, and another, only
baby itself, jealously clinging to her skirts.
She had no servant; helpwas so expensive and
wasteful her husband was very kind and con-
sderate, 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. l
had heard that her husband had been drinking
worse 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 before
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. I offered what consola-
tion could and left her quite cheered with the
hope of his reformation.


"Thare goes little Tapa ~-:-''S on The
other side of the street. I'll venture his Wlie
never shed a tear over his conducts nice duti-
full little fellow, so obedient and kindly to run
of errands But, then, he wouldn't suit me for
husband-too much like taking 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 direct 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 people, her beautiful home and those
| two beautiful little children who are throwing


kisses and calling good-by, mamma, from the
| upper window as the carriage whirls away
But, ah there is a skeleton there, though few
| suspect it.


"She came over the other day and told me
all about it, for her heart was breaking for
| sympathy, and she had no relative near to con-
| fde in. 1t seems there is some one else who


shares in the stately Judges wealth and regard,


a woman fairer and younger than the wife he


promised TO love and cherish until death part
1 ed luCus a WOMdu WuOcc SOlC aim III liAS 10 W


attract and dazzle men, and who is, therefore,


an expert in the business.


$50 when / come 10 consider these examples


Of the happiness of married life / am glad l


am still a lonely old maid-I am not tied down


10 lotof crying children who come faster than
can supportthem. don't tremble and quake


when hear a step in the hall thinking a tipsy


husband is going 10 stumble in and disgrace


me. ] am not bound for life 10 a meek, spirit


less creature as Insignificant a caterpillar
i Nor crying my eyes out because my husband
/ Is uneasy in my society, aud only happy when


basking IN the smiles be has paid good round
price ior. Ne, indeed. ] am free and inde-


pendent and happy, and wouldn't be married
L Tor the universe.


~Ah, there IS the posiman with letter ior


nae. I'll Just run down aud get IL. P0stmark-


"a Illinois. ! wonder who u can be from ?
/ Yours till death, Benjamin Whitney Well,
] never, my hand trcmbias 50 ! can hardly hold
| the paper, Im SO fustered like. lie has lost


bis wife, and, hearing was still single, he has


written 10 me 10 know If ! will come and take


charge Of things h0usekeepers are hard to gei


and are very expensive, and he isn't very well


Of in this worlds goods aud wants me to be q


mother 10 his six little children. There il is


in black and white, my first offer; now, let nc
| one ever say again couldn't have married il


I wanted 10. OF course I'll go my own feel
| ing shan't be considered at all il is my duty


TO 20 TO those poor motherless children. Where


is that newspaper / was reading? / want tC
| What tina tho newt Western train starts >