Surprises

           Jowasaloneinthetwilight,lyingontheoldsofa,lookingatthefire,andthinking.Itwasherfavoritewayofspendingthehourofdusk.Noonedisturbedher,andsheusedtoliethereonBeth’slittleredpillow,planningstories,dreamingdreams,orthinkingtenderthoughtsofthesisterwhoneverseemedfaraway.Herfacelookedtired,grave,andrathersad,fortomorrowwasherbirthday,andshewasthinkinghowfasttheyearswentby,howoldshewasgetting,andhowlittlesheseemedtohaveaccomplished.Almosttwenty-five,andnothingtoshowforit.Jowasmistakeninthat.Therewasagooddealtoshow,andby-and-byshesaw,andwasgratefulforit.

           "Anoldmaid,that’swhatI’mtobe.Aliteraryspinster,withapenforaspouse,afamilyofstoriesforchildren,andtwentyyearshenceamorseloffame,perhaps,when,likepoorJohnson,I’moldandcan’tenjoyit,solitary,andcan’tshareit,independent,anddon’tneedit.Well,Ineedn’tbeasoursaintnoraselfishsinner,and,Idaresay,oldmaidsareverycomfortablewhentheygetusedtoit,but..."andthereJosighed,asiftheprospectwasnotinviting.

           Itseldomis,atfirst,andthirtyseemstheendofallthingstofive-and-twenty.Butit’snotasbadasitlooks,andonecangetonquitehappilyifonehassomethinginone’sselftofallbackupon.Attwenty-five,girlsbegintotalkaboutbeingoldmaids,butsecretlyresolvethattheyneverwillbe.