Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1884 — An Old Lady’s Pleasures. [ARTICLE]

An Old Lady’s Pleasures.

She had many mild pleasures. She had a pretty house full of things which formed a graceful entourage suitable, as she felt, for such a woman as she was, and in which she took pleasure in their own beauty—soft chairs and couches, a fire-place ani light which were the perfection of tempered warmth and illumination. She had a carriage, very comfortable and easy, in which, when the weather was suitable, she went out, and a pretty garden and lawns, in which, when she preferred staying at home, she could have her little walk or sit out under the trees. She had books in plenty and all the

newspapers and everything that was needful to keep her within the reflection of the busy life which she no longer cared to encounter in her own person. The post rarely brought her painful letters; for all those impassioned interests which bring pain had died out, and the sorrows of others, when they were communicated to her gave her a luxurious sense of sympathy, yet exemption. She was sorry for them; but such catastrophes could touch her no more; and often she had pleapant letters, which afforded her something to talk and think about, and discuss as if it concerned her—business which could not hurt her if itfatted, which wtrtdd

please her if it succeeded. Her letters, her papers, her books, each coming at its appointed hour, were all instruments of pleasure. She came down stairs at a certain hour, which she kept to as if it had been of the utmost importance, although it was es no importance at all; she took just so much good wine, so many cups of tea. Her repasts were as regular as clockwork—never too late, never too early. Her whole life went on velvet, rolling smoothly along, without jar of interruption, blameless, pleasant, kind. People talked of her old age as a model of old age, with no bitterness or sourness in it. And, indeed, why should she have been sour or bitter ? It suited her far better to be kind.— Old Lady Mary.