OLD M MAIDS-
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Among the foolish prejudices which dis

 credit mankind, the prejudice against old

 maids is one of the most foolish. The very fact that lady is an old maid, is, or ought to be, creditable. It is an evidence that she possesses prudence, foresight, and refined taste admirable qualities in wo- man! It is better to be overly prudent, particularly cautious, than not prudent and cautious enough. The old maid generally

 has the virtue ofprUdence in its perfection 1;

 -she had offers of marriage, no doubt ; what lady of thirty aud upwards has not She has rejected several sui,ors, most like ly, and doubtless she has reasons for so doing. It had been well for many we'd ded woman, had she practiced the saH,e caution. Much better is it 10 Be a happy old maid than a miserable wife. So thought the old maid, and thought correct ly, when she rejected Messrs. So and So. Perhaps she has lived to see one of her former lovers hanged, another in the peni- tentiarv, and third in tho alms- house.

 Perhaps one who she was censurcd for re- fusing has siace proved drunkard and a vagrant, or, having succeeded in getting a wife, has made her eminenily wrefched. All this mischief the oid maid may have Eoreseen, and by her prudence escaped it.

 Old maids arc often, very often, wo- men of superior minds; aRd such are most likely to be old maids, fer more than one reason. In the first place, they have the discfc,io io be slow in selecting their part ners for lie 1; and as three fo0rihs of ,nan- kiad. have not the qualifications Co make good husbands, it may be supposed that a discreet and malicious woman will reject three ont sf four of those who solicit her hand. This. ofcourse, makes her chances for marriage fewer, hut it makes her chan ces for happiness much greater. The sec ond cause why sensible women are apt to become old maids is, that most men dread them. Yes, it is a fact, that most men dread very sensible woman. IL is moi uncommon to hear a man who Is not Sool himself, make disparaging remarks con corning {" female SolOmOns," Plates iH pe,ticoats," 6Ec. Who has ever knowH very highly gifted ladies tO he popula' among their male acquaiRtaacc2 Men aSs apt to think that talents do mot beloRg ss tho feminine mind and when sssy hsv' disceunmam enough to admire gifed wt' man as friend Or occasional companion