ANGELIC OLD MAIDS.

Evening Star, Issue 3165, 12 April 1873, Page 2

ANGELIC OLD MAIDS.

The late Dr Norman M‘Leod, in an address, said, speaking of old maids :—“ But why are there so many old maids who could have married, but did not ? For reason, I take it upon me to reply, which, if known, would reveal in many an old majd a' moral heroism that might exalt her narpe above thousands of those which emblazon the page of history. Self-respect ; refined taste ; the love of an ideal never realised in the coarse materials with which circumstances brought her into contact; self-sacrifice to duty ; the claims of kindred, old or young, on her ministrations; aye, self-sacrifice by the true love ‘which seeketh not her own,’ but the good and happiness of its beloved object, and which accordingly weighs carefully the whole circumstances of the case, making up the result of what is right and suitable for woman to do, not only for her own sake, but chiefly for his. Oh 1 how many in the silence of their own heart, in their lonely chamber on their bended knees, or alone beneath the stars, with no eye upon them but that of God, have endured a long struggle and a crfsjs of great agony, while the knife pierced their hearts as they offered up themselves as a sacrifice at the a'tar of duty, which is ever the sublimcst sight on earth, in the eyes of pitying angels ! Such offerings as these are the more solemn and touching, because the more secret and unknown to the world, being made in the holy of holies of a pure and sensitive spirit, beyond whose veil no one can enter, save the one High Priest and Brotherman ! And these dear old maids are the persons who are so pitied by those who have married without one grain of love, and who have sold themselves as truly as ever slaves were sold, for so much a-year; with pin-money, and with such a comfortable house, and such a nice drawing-room, and such very handsome furniture, damask, and satin, and bronze, and mirrors; and prospects of footmen, too, or butler; with a one-horse carriage, to grow into a pair j and a cottage in the country j and a good marriage portion, settled all on themselves, and ‘heirs of their body;’ and then there was also, to be sure, the husband himself ! Poor Aunt Mary ! Wiiat a pity no one would buy her ! Ah ! She had too much worth for that sorb of market, so she remains poor, with few changes of fashionable raiment; and her nieces quiz her about her neat, everlasting grey gowns. Her travelling baggage, the black trunk, does not cover the carriage; but she comes and goes, circulating like a sun amongst the many planets, male and female, of her house.”