A GATHERING OF INNOCENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8746, 5 April 1890, Page 3

A GATHERING OF INNOCENTS.

A unique gathering took place a few months ano in one of the back State town ships of America. Several fetes in honor of golden and silver weddings bad followed one another in qniuk succession, end a number of giddy old bachelors, no. to be out of the swim, conceived the idea of giving a ball and baoquot, to which none should be invited but those who had passed fifty years or more in single bleßßtdneeß Invitations *ere accoriin^l) issued, a most enjoyable evening resulted, and rumor hath it that more than om venerable couple have decided upon join iug issue in the near future. One incident occurred, huwever, which teuded to slightly mar the otherwise complete success of t'a& "notion." An impetuous, flisbU, snn fiery old maiden whose presence bad been solicited — whose age for the paat ten years bad fluctuated in a most marvellous manner, between 40 and 45, bnt who •would never own up to a day more tbaD the latter — indignant at being invited, set out in a cold drizzling rain to waylay and chastise the ''mean old snake" who had co designedly (to her minrt) insulted her She misst d her game, but returned home with a severe cold, and was laid up next day with * bad attack of rheumatism. On le r.iins the occurrence, her would-bo host hastened to send her an explanation, together witb a bottle of that futsons painciuqucror, £t. Jneobs oil, which, as i* al*a\B doen, so Bpeedily relieved her Buff rini/8, that in gratefulness of heart ■he surrendered unconditionally, acc-pte'i biß apology and "mimbile dictu," attenJed tbe banqnet.