A GATHERING OF INNOCENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8810, 20 June 1890, Page 4

A GATHERING OF INNOCENTS.

A unique gatl.orins> took place a fow nionth& r iisio io one of the back State townships of America. Several fetes in hono of golden uud silver weddings had followed one another in am"'* 1 ' succession, and a number jf uHdy old bachelors, not to be out of the swine, conceived the idea of giving a ball and banquet, to which none should bo invited but those who had passed fifty years or more in single blessedness Invitations wore accordingly issued, a most enjoyable evening resulted, c ad rumor hath it that more than oit> venerable couple have decided upon joining issue in the near future. One incident occurred, huwever, which tended to slightly mar the otherwise complete success of faa ."notion." An impetuous, flighty, and fit>ry old maiden whose presence had been solicited — whose ajjo for too past ten years had fluctuated in a moat marvellous m.i nner, between 40 and 45, bat who would never own up to a day more taan the latter — iadijinant at being invited, set out in a cold drizzling rain to waylay and chastise the ''mean old Bnake" who had po designedly (to her mind) insulted her. She ruiesed her game, but returned home with a severe cold, and was laid up next duy with a bad attack of rheumatism. On learning the occurrence, her would-be hoßt hastened to send her an explanation, together with a bottle of that famouß painconqueror, St. Jacobs oil, which, as it always doe&, bo speedily relieved her sufferings,, that in gratefulness of heart she surrendered unconditionally, accepted bis apology and "mirabile dicta," attended the banquet.