PS 
 
 CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 FROM 
 
 Miss Mary J. Hull 
 
Cornell University Library 
 PS 1029.A37L8 
 
 3 1924 022 051 514 
 
The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022051514 
 
3L0CHY OStR 
 
 ■ative of Lochy's court 
 Heated General Harrisoi'i 
 
 ■A BTLENDID NSW BOOK WIUCi BB OVT JSrSSXl! WSBX. AGENTS WANTSB. 
 
LOCHY OSTROM, 
 
 m lAIDl HS OF POIMEEPSIE; 
 
 OK, 
 
 THE LOVE OE A LOIG LIEETIME. 
 
 AN AUTHENTIC BIOGEAPHY OF BACHEL OSTROM WHO EECSpiTTLl 
 DIED IN POUGHKEHPSIE, N. Y., AGED NINETY YEARS, APPAR- 
 ENTLY VERY POOR, BUT REALLY WEALTHY. 
 
 The foUoTpng pages contain a most deeply Interesting narrative of Looby's court 
 ship with Hon. J. W. Gazely, the great Ohio lawyer, who defeated General' Harrisou 
 for Congress. 
 
 Her estrangement because of her mother — The love-letters that passed' between 
 Looby and her lover for nearly fifty years — ^ 
 
 Her Subsequent Eooentrio and Hermit-like Life until her Death. 
 
 ALSO, 
 
 A full and correct account of all the valuables that were found by the court appraisers 
 in Jier room after her death, consisting of Bonds, Mortgages, Silverware, rich silks 
 and dresses, and 
 
 TEE WEDDING CAKE, 
 
 Made by lochy for her Intended Wedding over Sixty-five years ago! 
 
 ALSO, . • 
 
 ft 
 
 The full proceedings in the Surrogate's Court of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., by the various 
 Heirs and Claimants of the property left by Lochy, as heard 
 
 BY JUDGE MILTOIi^r A. FOWLER ' 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 Ko, 224 South Third Street, JPIiiladelphia, JPenn^a» 
 

 '/-i 
 
 •>■ 
 
 
 
 Batered aoeor£ing to Act of Congress, in 1871 , by C W. At.tctawdeb, in the oQoe of tbe 
 Librarian to C<»gTesg, at Wosliinstoa, D. C. 
 
LOCHY OSTROl: 
 
 THE MAIDEN MISER 01 
 
 POUGMEEPSIE E T. 
 
 The history which we are about to record in the following pages is 
 without Q, single parallel, at least in our recollection. And we doubt 
 whether among the many thousands of interested readers, who peruse 
 it, there are any who ever heard of such a case. Though beyond doubt 
 it is every whit true, the facts being thoroughly substantiated in a High 
 court of law, andundefr oath, we are certain that the wildest fiction which 
 was ever invented, does not equal-it for romance, and the strange blend- 
 ings- of such incongruous characteristics of human temperament. 
 
 loChy's birth. 
 
 THE ENTRY IN THE FAMILY BIBLE AND RECORD OF CHURCH IN 
 POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 
 
 "Rachel, daughter of Jacobus Ostrom and Mary Lewis, born April 
 29th 1181, baptized September 30th 1781 Sponsors, Thomas Lewis and 
 Rachel Lewis. " 
 
 So reads the record from which we ascertained the exact age of Rachel 
 or Lochy Ostrom the singular and miserly woman who has been appro- 
 priately surnamed " The Maiden Miser of Ponghkeepsie. " Her death 
 occurred in the early part of ISTO, thus making her just on the verge of 
 ninety years old. 
 
 Her parents were in good circumstances and she, with the rest of the 
 children, received what in those days was an excellent education. Not 
 only was Rachel a beautiful girl, but she was also gifted with great 
 abilities. At fancy needlework and embrdidery she was exceedingly 
 
4 lOCHY OSTEOM OR THE 
 
 good and also at drawing and painting. The good sense and judgment 
 of her mother did not permit her daughter's finer accomplishments to 
 Interfere with those of a homlier and useful character. Consequently 
 Lochy could spin flax finer and better and quiclier than any girl in the 
 village. The same could be said of her butter, cheese and bread. 
 
 Mrs. Ramsey of Poughkeepsie speaking of Lochy with whom she was 
 acquainted since the two were young girls said : 
 
 " Of all our acquaintances there was none whom we loved so much as 
 Lochy. She was like a sunbeam, always full of life and warmth, and as 
 merry as a cricket. There was not one of us girls, who, if she had any 
 troubles did not run to Lochy to tell her and confide in her. And as for 
 the beaux, why Sir, there was not a young fellow for twenty five miles 
 round, who was not cracked after Locby Ostrom. And yet none of us 
 ever got jealous of her. She was always strange about the men folks. 
 At corn husking, and harvest homes, may days, and all the festivals of 
 those times Lochy was the life of every one of them. Romping and 
 sin"-ing and dancing with the young fellows she set them almost beside 
 themselves with delight and yet she would allow none ofthern to pay 
 any serious attentious to her, no matter how handsome they were, nor 
 how rich. 
 
 " She was a good girl, and had a heart like an angel. I just remember 
 a circumstance that occurred when she was about twenty years old 
 which will show you what she was. _ A man and his daughter came 
 along the road one day, and apparently they had been travelling a long 
 wavs for they were very dusty and tired looking. They said they were 
 trving to make their way to Montreal in Canada, and that they had 
 walked all the way from New York. Such a journey inthose days was 
 'something fearful, Sir, something like if a person of today were to say 
 he was going to walk a foot round the world. 
 
 " Just at this very time somebody brought a report that a woman had 
 b'een murdered by her husband down in New York, and that the murder- 
 er it was supposed had fled from the city. The two had one child, a 
 daughter, and as she had disappeared also ; it was supposed thdt the 
 murderer had forced her to go along with bim. The description agreed 
 with that of the man, but not of the girl. This was near enough, how- 
 ever, to induce all the people to believe that the murderer was none 
 other than the suspected man. The suspicion' was confirmed by the 
 discovery of blood upon his trousers, by a sharp eyed lout, a fellow who 
 was continually lounging round the taverns, and poking his nose into 
 everybody's business but his own. 
 
 "Consequently the man was arrested and narrowly escaped being exe- 
 cuted by the rougher classes. Lochy Ostrom was the only one who be- 
 lieved him innocent and she did not hesitate to assert her belief in 
 
MAIDEN MIBEK OF POTJGHKEEPSIE, N. T. 6 
 
 Spite of all to the contrary. To her the daughter clung like a poor, friend- 
 less creature that she was. At first Lochy's father was very angry that 
 a child of his should be so foolish as to act as she did. But her argu- 
 ments at length o\/ercanie hini arid he presently thought as she thought, 
 and with her became the friend of the unfortunate map. After obtaining 
 her father's consent and assistance, Lochy at once went promptly to \i ork 
 to effect the prisoner's liberation, and with such a hearty good will that 
 within three weeks he was honorably discharged. 
 
 " His good friend was not satisfied with this alone, and she did not 
 rest until she had gone round among all her friends and raised him a 
 good purse of money. " 
 
 After leaving Mrs. Ramsey with a promise that we would pay her 
 another visit to listen to such a history of her old friend as only 'such an 
 aged woman could give, we went to the house lately occupied by Lochy 
 Ostrom. It is situated on Montgomery street in Poughkeepsie, New 
 York. The Maiden Miser during her lifetime occupied in this building 
 a bed-room, a living-room or kitchen, and two large pantries, all on the 
 second floor, or story. Besides these she had three small rooms in the 
 attic. 
 
 We entered the main room with strangely mingled feelings of awe and 
 curiosity. The first feeling we experienced on looking around the silent 
 and dimly lighted apartment was one ^of disappointment. Hating heard 
 so much of Lochy's meanness and niggardly hahis, we expected to see a 
 squalid repulsive chamber. So far from this it was " as neat as wax, " 
 to use a common expression. Everything was scrupulously clean and 
 orderly, and gave evidence of intense economy rather than of penurious 
 neglect. The furniture belonged to the fashion of a century ago, and 
 in* those days it was, no doubt, stylish and handsome. Now it is lum- 
 bering and ugly, though it will yet outlast half a dozen of the light flimsy 
 setts of furniture they make now a days. 
 
 T^he bureau was above all the most singular, od,dity of all. It was 
 built of solid, heavy mahogany planks rather than boards. Lochy must 
 have spent much labor' and beeswax on this old bureau, for being as black 
 as ebony from its great age, it shone like a mirror, whilst its almost 
 numberless handles and knobs and ornaments,, all of fine brass and highly 
 polished, looked like gold. 
 
 Every drawer of this bureau was packed full of female underclothing 
 made up entirely of patches, so that it was doubtful if there was a gar- 
 ment that ha4 a particle in it of the original linen of which it had been 
 made. 
 
 The windows, three in number, were curtained with common chinz or 
 callico of sixty years ago. The colors and figures of these curtains had 
 in their time been gorgeous. Lochy had pinned on the fronts of them 
 
6 LOCHY OSTROM OE THE 
 
 sheets of newspapers so as to prevent the rajs of the sun from fading 
 them out. 
 
 Round the walls were hung some cheap pictures in tints all of which 
 we noticed were on religious and cfiaritable subjects; or subjects showing 
 constancy in love and friendship. One was a sailor bidding adieu to a 
 young girl, another Eloise and Abelarde, a third two doves, a fourth our 
 Saviour with Martha and Mary, a fifth the babes in the wood and the 
 sixth the good Samaritan. 
 
 Upon the mantel shelf there were several old fashioned ornaments, one 
 of alabaster, two of china and two of a black and brown pottery ware 
 now no longer made. 
 
 In this room were two closets or pantries, and on opening the doors 
 of these we found them completely filled with a general assortment of very 
 antiquated crockery, cooking utensils, bedding, old umbrellas, and in 
 fact a collection of almost everything that could be mentioned. Had 
 Mrs. Toodles herself made the collection it could not have been more 
 extensive and varied in its nature. 
 
 The carpet on the floor was another relic of by-gone days. It was 
 well preserved except just before the old rocking chair in which the Maid- 
 en Miser used to sit and sew. Here it had been worn quite thin many 
 yeai's since. To save it, Lochy had a long time ago- made a foot mat of 
 listing and bits of cloth patches. We say a long time ago, because the 
 mat itself, when we examined it, had evidently been nearly wprn through 
 in the middle, where its owner's feet were always placed. 
 
 Having thoroughly examined this apartment we next passed into the 
 bedroom. It was silent as a tomb and dim also' until the window cur- 
 tains were pulled aside. The furniture was just as old .fashioned as that 
 we had seen in the sitting room, but it was more scanty. In one corner 
 there stood the bedstead which according to modern valuation would be 
 high priced at three dollars. It had a valance and trimmings of old 
 fashioned stuff, which in many places showed the neatness and dexterity 
 of Lochy's needle. The little pillow of fine old fashioned .down, such as 
 some of us have heard our grand-mothers boastof, and covered with pat- 
 ches of various, colors lay directly in the middle of the lop of the bed. 
 
 We can hardly describe the feelings we experienced as we noticed the 
 position of this pillow. We never remember having seen a bed made 
 with a single pillow in this way. We have seen single pillows to be 
 sure but they were invariably placed on the right or left side, suggesting 
 the idea of companionship ; of husband, or mother, sister, brother or 
 perhaps of a beloved child. We pressed our hands down the middle of 
 the bed and found just as we thought, that it had been worn down into 
 a hollow. And the pictures of other years came trooping before us. 
 
 On that patched, solitary pillow more than half a century ago; then it 
 
MAIDEN MISER OF POUaHKEEtSIB, N. T. t 
 
 was new perhaps, a present from ber mother, Lochy Ostrom bad lain her 
 bead and dreamed of happy days to come ; whfen having given her whole 
 noble heart to the only man she ever loved she saw before her a long 
 life of biiss. 
 
 On that same pillow she had lain many and many a night and wet it 
 with bitter tears after the bright skies of her existence had become 
 clouded. • 
 
 On that same pillow, when she had become an old woman, and lost all 
 hope of him she adored; when her heart had grown cold and steel-lilve, 
 and her frame shrivelled and angular; her once beautiful hair scanty and 
 ■white, her blooming cheek wriokled and brown, aud her eyes dim ^ and 
 weak, she had laid her bead to cogitate with the precision of a mathime- 
 tician the sterner realities of life. 
 
 On that same pillow after nearly ninety years' pilgrimage through this 
 earthly life old Rachel laid her head to die. And all alone 1 - Poor old 
 woman, like a winter icicle in the midst of summer; like a seared and 
 yellow leaf falling from a tree in full bloom. 
 
 Beneath that bed in the odd-looking old hair-covered trunk were nearly 
 twenty two thousand dollars ! Yet Lochy died alone, with no hand to 
 give her parching lips a drop of cold water, or close her eyelids, and no 
 voice to minister in her dulling ears words of Heavenly consolation. 
 Alone in the world, alone while passing through the dark valley of the 
 'shadow of Death. Or perhaps the spirit of the -loved one met Lochy on 
 the verge of the great chasm and led her into eternity never again 
 to part. 
 
 " How did she look when she was found? " we asked of the lady who 
 showed us through the rooms. 
 
 " Quite calm and peaceable, Sir, " was the reply. " She seemed as 
 though she had been trying to pray, for her eyes were directed straight 
 up, and her hands were clasped, or rather pressed flat together above 
 ber breast. It was a little hard for us to get them down at her side 
 when we went to make her ready for the grave. " 
 
 " Ah, " we remarked, "if the heirs and friends who are now fighting 
 so fiercely over what she has left, had only known her wealth how they 
 would have crowded, weeping round her death bed. " 
 
 " Yes, Sir, you speak truly there. " 
 
 We now ascended the stairs to the next floor to examine the three at- 
 tic rooms which Lpchy had used for stowing away articles of dress . 
 which she had accumulated during her long lifetime. For the last tea 
 or twelve years she had not bought a single dress, yet there were in the 
 first attic twenty five or thirty fine frocks some of them elegant and 
 costly silks dating seventy years back. And such silks; even the best 
 of what are now manufactured would not compare with the fabrics Lochy 
 had hoarded away. 
 
? liOCHT OSTROM OR THE 
 
 The contents of all three of these littje rooms were strang^ely incongru- 
 ous, there being a little of everything from old, worn but 'slippers to 
 silks and satins and velvets; and from a tinder box tp a beautiful Sevrei^ 
 vase, all preserved with equal care. On all sides, stowed away on shelves 
 were pots and cans and jars of preserves,, and pickles, and canned 
 fruits, none of which seemed to have ever been opened. 
 
 Par back in a corner was a sheet zinc case, such as «pool cotton is iiUr 
 ported in, and, on opening the lid, tbei-e came to view a strange aiid 
 touching collection. In the middle sat a poundcake most beautifully 
 iced with various shapes. On the top in the centre was a well executed 
 figure of a cu'pid. The cake was very much shrivelled and as , hard and 
 tough as a block of \yood. Here and there the icing was broken ofiF 
 round the edges by the shrinking of the cake, and in afew places it had 
 beconie as brown as the ' cake 4feself. Otherwise it was altogether as per- 
 fect as tjie first day it was made. This cake must have been bake4 hy 
 Lochy herself,; because when'.she wag a youiiig' woman it was the fashion 
 among all classes, rich and poor, for the expected bride to bajje and 
 adorn the wedding' cake, and also to bake all the bread iuaed at the mar- 
 riage feast. 
 
 Beside the oake were two. white Silk gloves, each for the right hand. 
 One was evidently a geUblcmau's and the other a lady's glove; but ap- 
 parently neither bad ever been worn. On the other sideof tlie cake was 
 a little blank book made; of leaves of white -paper stitched together with 
 red silk, and between whose-, pages,, now. discolored with age, were press- 
 ed some sprigs of forget-me-nots, a white lily, and sevei-al moss rose 
 buds. A small book uff(6eniswus also'inithe bos on which was the 
 monogram R. 0. Worked in colored beads. 
 
 So long had the bookrremdinfed ' f?huf that each bead had pressed its 
 shape fully into 'the page above it, so that the monogram was just as 
 plainly indented into the paper as though; it had been regularly Stamped 
 there. . . , : ; 
 
 Like the solitary pillow, the contents of this zinc case awakened a 
 saddening traiu'of reflections in 'our mind. In. Charles Dickens novel 
 of Great- Expectations tb-ere is a charactbrj Miss Haversbam, who pre- 
 served her intended weddiing cake till she died. That was fiction, but 
 tiere before us was fact. And perhdps the shrivelled loaf of iced cake 
 we looked upon was as old, or oven ©Mer than Dickens himself ; who 
 could tell ? 
 
 We do-not'tihimk it had ever been opened since it was first stowed 
 BWav thus by the disappointed maiden fbr the dust on the top of the 
 case and around it must'have been half an inch in thickness. 
 
 Of all the rooms which old Lochy Ostrom occupied the most valuable^ 
 OT, to ■^Msak more correctly, the most "important one was her bed chamber. 
 
Correct likeness of James W. Gazely Esq;, the once celebrated lawyer 
 of Cincinnati, and the intended husband of Locby Ostrom, the Maiden 
 Miser of Poughkeepsie. 
 
MAIDEN MISER OF PODGHKEEPSIE, N. T. 11 
 
 After she died and Mr. Walter D. Wheeler had been eonstituted ad- 
 ministrator, there were also appointed two appraisers, both true and 
 good men, Daniel W. Guernsey, Esq., and 0. D. M. Baker, Esq. They 
 entered at once upon their duty, arid proceeded to the apartments lately 
 occupied by the Maiden Miser. They found things such as we have 
 described. And something beside. i 
 
 " I wonder what Lochy has under her bed, " said one, glancing' into 
 ■ the gloom beneath the unpretentious couch. 
 
 ." There's a little, dirty looking trunk pushed up in the corner on the 
 floor. " 
 
 " Let us see what is in it. Bring it out; it looks like Lochy herself, a 
 relic of the past. " 
 
 The trunk was drawn from its concealment. It was covered with 
 dust and cobwebs, which being cleared away, it proved to be a hair box 
 or toy trunk.- It's measurement was' taken by way of curiosity and was 
 as follows — length eighteen»jnches, heighth six inches, width ten inches. 
 This done the rusty lock was opened^ -the lid yaised, and the contents ex- 
 posed to view. , 
 
 First was a great number of receipts, bills, and miscellanecus papers, 
 which were quickly taken out and laid on one side. Next came two very 
 old and well worn w^Uets, one of which was empty and the other of 
 which contained a silver fifty cent piece. 
 
 " Hallo I why, what's this ? '' exclaimed one of the gentlemen. 
 
 As he spoke, he drew out 'a bond and mortgage for three hundred 
 dollars. 
 
 " Abont the same as this, I should say I " said the second as he took 
 out a pile of greenbacks amounting in all three hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 " Ah! but here's gold! what do you say to that! " exclaimed number 
 one, chinking a handful of gold coins of $20, $10 and $5 denominations. 
 
 "I say here's silver," replied number two, bringing forth from the 
 depths of the little old trunk a handful of silrer dollars, halves, quarters, 
 ten and five cent pieces. 
 
 "Well, well, this is romantic. " ' 
 
 '' Oh, no ! it is verj practical I should say, for here are twelve hundred 
 dollars wprth of U. S. bonds. 
 
 " And here's plate ; real Stirling silver. " 
 
 Tie speaker took out an old fashioned silver cup with the monogram 
 R. O. engraved on it» half a dozen solid silver table spoons, three desert 
 spoons, one dozen tea spoons, one pair sugar tongs, and two salt spoons. 
 
 In this way, first one and then the other drew out something of value 
 until as the inventory afterward proved they had before them property 
 to the value of $21,558.94! 
 
 Lastly, from the very bottom of the trunk they brought out the most 
 
12 
 
 LOCHY OSTROM GR THE 
 
 precious of all poor old Lochy's treasures.iQ tte shape of a bundle of 
 love letters, seventeen in number. The package was tied round with ia 
 narrow white satin ribbon, yellowish and scained w.ith age. The letters 
 themselves were much discolored and stained apparently with tear 
 marks. 
 
 Poor old Lochy! doubtless many a time had she wept over these re- 
 minders of long-siace-passed felicity. They were, like the shrivdled 
 wedding cake, the empty gloves, and the withered flowers, sad to look 
 upon. In that little packet was the whole history of her lonely life. The 
 hand that wrote them had long since been mouldering in the grave far 
 away in the west, the manly, noble heart that had glowed with true love 
 for Lochy had ceased to throb many a year ago. It was pitiful to think of. 
 
 A FULL LIST OF WHAT WAS FGUHD IN THE TEUNK. 
 
 Greenbacks .... 
 
 Gold Coin 
 
 Silver Coin ..... 
 2 U S. Bonds, Five 'Twenties. 
 1 U. S. Bond, Five Twenties, . 
 Bond of Germa-n H. Preston, dated January 20th 18G9 
 Bond iind Mortgage from J. M. Cable, dated May 2d 1850 
 Bond and Mortgage from J. P. H. Tallman and wife to, Joseph 
 F. Barnard, dated Dec. 6tli for $1800, assigned to E,. Ostrom, 
 April 18G5, $800, paid May lOlh 1865 leaving $1000 due and 
 
 interest from May 1st 1869 
 
 Bond and Mortgage of Walter D: Wheeler and wife to R. Ost- 
 rom, dated May 1st 1867, for $4000 with interest from May 1st 
 
 1869 
 
 Bond and Mortgage made ^3y .Tames T. Hill, April 26th 1854 
 to James Rowell and assigned to Rachel Ostrom, May 1st 
 1863, for the amount of $1500 with interest from May 1st 
 
 1869 
 
 Mortgage from German H. Preston to Mary T. Reed a'ssigned 
 
 to R. Ositroni for $4000 
 
 Mortgage from Hamilton Kimlin to Daniel C. Hogan, made 
 Dec. 1829 and assigned to R. Ostfxim May 2d 1867 for $287 
 and interest from May 1st 1867 . . . " . . 
 Mortgage from Elienezer Boyee and wife to S D. Rider dated 
 Miiy 2il 18^6, and assigned to R. Ostrom May 1st 1867 for 
 
 $5188 and interest from May 1st 1869 
 
 Mortgage to Rachel Ostrom by Philip and Maria Cnduer, 
 djsled May 1st 1862 for $500 and interegt fFom May 1st 1869 
 
 $306.00 
 
 105.00' 
 
 22.06 
 
 200 00 
 
 1,000 00 
 
 1,000.00 
 
 liooo.oo 
 
 1,087.31 
 4,151.66' 
 
 1,556,87 
 •4,151.66 
 
 279.87 
 
 5,384.71 
 518.97 
 
500.00 
 200.00 
 415.02 
 53.50 
 144.00 
 101.25 
 
 MAIDEN MISER OF POTIQHKEEPSIB, N. T. 13 
 
 MMtgage from Juliet Gallop,. B. A. Van Eleek May 1st 1866 
 
 [paid] for . . 
 
 On same now due including interest from May 1st 18G9 . 
 
 Balance in Savings Bank, 
 
 Gash at home in Bank Book 
 
 Silver Ware 
 
 Furniture, Coal, &c., &c. ..... 
 
 The grand total of the Inventory reached the Unexpected sum of 
 $21,553.94! There were several reports got abroad that beside all this 
 wealth Lochy had left numerous lots of real estate still more valuable. 
 If such is the case no one knows it positively. Nor has any person come 
 forward to make any statement in Court to that effect that we have 
 beard of. 
 
 THE AFFECTIONATE ALLEGED HEIRS SWARM FORWARD FOB 
 THE PROPERTY. 
 
 A few days after the decease of the Maiden Miser was made public 
 together with the fact, that, instead of being poor, she was wealthy, 
 there was a great rush of heirs. People who had believed, and indeed 
 were certain that Lochy Ostrom had not a relative in the wide, wide 
 world were astounded to see such a formidable phalanx of heirs start 
 forward. 
 
 Letters of administration on the estate of deceased were granted to 
 Walter D. Wheffler, Esq., a creditor of Lochy Ostrom. On October 29th 
 18'70 when the case was called up before Surrogate Milton A. Fowler, 
 Jemima McKibbin, through her counsel, made a motion that the letters 
 previously granted to Walter D. Wheeler should be revoked, and that 
 letters of administration should be granted to her as being the nearest 
 of Kin to the deceased. 
 
 Judge Nelson rose and said he appeared in behalf of Mary Fonda, and 
 filed her claim. 
 
 Mr. Peter Borland appeared for the petitioner. D. W. Guernsey, Esq., 
 appeared for Thomas and Eliza Lewis of Washington Hollow; E. Crum- 
 iiey, Esq., for Margaret Yer Valin; Walter Farrington, Esq., for B. Hil- 
 dibrant ; James S. Williams, Esq., for James Roame and Judge Whea- 
 ton for Walter D. Wheeler. 
 
 John P. H. Tallman, Esq., presented a new petition for administration 
 from John A. Lewis, and Samuel G. Bond. The petition stated that 
 Jemima McKibbin, and others named in her petition, were in no way re- 
 latives of the deceased, bnt that said Rachel Ostrom left surviving her, 
 Amelia Turner, Clarrissa Sage, John A. Lewis, Thomas Bond, Samuel 
 
14 LOCHY OSTROM OR THE 
 
 G. Bond, Sarah A. Wheeler, Elizabeth Buys, Isaac Buys, William 
 Henry Buys, all cousins. 
 
 Judge Nelson then addressed the Court, after which, Rachel Roame of 
 332 West Nineteenth Street, New York City, was placed on the witness 
 stand, and testified that she, herself was nearly seventy three years old 
 and knew Lochy Ostrora in her lifetime. 
 
 ," Ilow long ago were you acquainted with Lochy Ostrom, Mrs. 
 Roame?" 
 
 " Very many years ago. Sir, in her early days when she was a young 
 woman. " 
 
 " Did you know her in her schooldays? " 
 
 " Yes Sir. " 
 
 " Where did Lochy live at that time, Mrs. Roame ? " 
 
 " She lived with her mother on Washington Street. " 
 
 " What was your grandmother's name? " 
 
 " Rachel Van Beushoten. Her married name was Lewis. " 
 
 " Was there any relationship ? " 
 
 "Well, Sir, yes. It was in this way. My grandfather, Thomas 
 Lewis and Lochy Ostrom's mother, Maria, were brother and sister. I 
 was always taught to respect them as such. Thomas Lewis was also 
 Jemima McKibbin's grandfather. The fatiier's name was Leonard Lewis. 
 Mary Fiiiida and Mrs. McKibbin are sisters. " 
 
 The witness was then cross-examined. 
 
 "Can you remember the time when you were twelve years old? " 
 
 "Oh, yes. Sir." 
 
 " About how old was Lochy Ostrom then at that time? " 
 
 " She was grown up quite a woman. At that time also her father 
 was dead. Lochy and her brother Hendricks and her aunt lived to- 
 gether in Washington street. " 
 
 " Were any other members of the family living ? " 
 
 " Yes, Sir, there was another brother living at Three Rivers, Canada. " 
 
 " Did you ever visit Lochy Ostrom in your early days ? " 
 
 " Yes, Sir, during school vacations. " 
 
 " Did she recognise your grandmother as her sister-in-law ? " 
 
 " Yes, Sir. " 
 
 " Well, now, were the visits you made to Lochy Ostrom after the 
 death of your grandmother repeated often enough by you to keep up the 
 identity of Lochy? " 
 
 " Oh, dear, yes. " 
 
 How long since is is that you la,st saw Lochy Ostrom ? " 
 
 " One year ago I saw her. " 
 
 " Did y/)u say anything to her at that time about her family? " 
 '"Yes, Sir, I spoke to her about it. It's natural you know when old 
 
Locliy Ostroni's old ni.ahogany bureau. The bunale of her love letters. 
 And the pound cake, baked aud ornamented with icing at the time of her 
 intended marriage. The icing was perfect, though the oajEe was much 
 shrivelled with age. 
 
MAIDEN MISEK'Or POTIGHKEEPSIE, N. T. It 
 
 people meet for them talk about relatives and friends. She did tell me 
 itat she believed all her relations were dead and that shb was the only 
 one of tlie whole fattiily thai was left alive." 
 , " Previous to this visit, how long was it before you had seen Lochy ? " 
 
 " AltuQSt twenty years, Sir. " 
 
 "What did you say Lochy 's mother's name was? " 
 
 '"It was Maria Lewis. " ' 
 
 Here the case was adjourned until Friday November 18th. On that 
 date the proceedings were resumed. 
 
 Astonishing as it may seem there were on this occasion seventy se- 
 parate and distinct persons all claiming to be the only true heirs of the 
 Maiden Miser. They were like a small army of Micawbers waiting for 
 something to turn up. Many of these claimants were championed by the 
 best lawers iarPoughkeepsie ,and were arniecFwith' all sorts of papers, 
 legal docamenls, and letters, some of which were suspiciously new while 
 others were quite aged, judging from the rough yellow, paper and pi^le 
 faded ink. 
 
 THE SCENE IN THE COURT HOUSE. 
 
 Surrogate Fowler is not. a man easy to be astonished; but for once in 
 his life was astonished, as was also Rene Borland, Esq., his chief 
 Clerk. 
 
 ., Around the legal table sat an array of Counsellors sufficient to terrify 
 larger estates than poor old Lochy Ostrom's. 
 
 •John P. H. Tallman, Esq., who claimed twelve thousand dollars for 
 legal services rendered to the Maiden Miser during her lifetime, appeared, 
 for John A. Lewis; Peter Borland, Esq., for Jemima McKibbin ; O. D. 
 M. Baker, Esq., for Mary Fonda; D.'W. Guernsey, Esq., for Thomds 
 Lewis and others; E. Crumney for Margaret Ver Ya}\n', W. J. Thorne, 
 Esq., for the Hildibrant heirs and Judge Wheaton for Walter D. Wheeli 
 er the first administrator. 
 
 A new lawyer Martin I Tpwnsend came in from Troy, N. T., for the 
 firm of Townsend and Brown. He appeared for Trojiart beirs, as though 
 there were not enough already, 
 
 " Proceed gentlemen, » smiled the Surrogate, with his usual alFability. 
 
 On behalf of Jemima McKibbin the first witness called was Emma 
 Dubois. She testified that she knew Lochv 0,«tr<.m in her, lifetime, see- 
 ing her almost daily. , Heard her say that Jemima McKibbin was her 
 •learest relative. b6ing her t^econd, cousin. She said that her mother had 
 one brother and that was Mrs. McKibbin's grandfather; heard her say 
 that she had two brothers, but both were dead. 
 
 Being cross-examined the witness said that Lochy used to mit her> 
 2 
 
Jg LOCHT OSTROM OR THE 
 
 father's house often ; but not b^ invitation. Sometimes she would stay 
 ail' day and all night; beard her say that she had no relatives; her mar- 
 ried brother leaving no children. .Never had hearid her say anything 
 about her father's side ; had heard her say that her mother had one bro- 
 ther and he was Mrs. McKibbia's graufather. Heard her often say that 
 she was going to make a will. She said there was no relative near 
 enough . to take her property. I have heard Lochy say that Clarissa 
 Sage claimed to be a distant relative of hers, as did also Mrs. Turner. 
 
 John M. Cable testified, " I have resided in Poughkeepsie between 
 sixty and seventy years. " 
 
 " Did you know Rachel, otherwise known as Lochy Ostrom. " 
 " Yes Sir, I knew her well, for fifty or sixty years. " 
 " When you first knew her, where did she live ? " 
 " She lived here in Poughkeepsie, in Washington street. " 
 " With whom ? " 
 
 " With her mother and brother. They are both dead now. " 
 " That brother's name, what was it? " 
 " His naajp was Hendrick. " 
 " This brother, was he ever married? " 
 " Yes, Sir. " 
 
 " All the family lived in Washington street? " 
 
 " They did, and owned the property there. They also owned other, 
 property. " 
 
 " Did Lochy ever speak to you of other brothers? " 
 " She did. She told me that Leonard and John died without childreti. " 
 The testimony was pretty much all of the same cloth, and after the 
 last witness had signed his testimony, there ensued a desultory conver- 
 sation among all the parties present about one John Ostrom, who was 
 said to have been aliveJn Lochy's time, and who had a son that went 
 to sea. There was evidently an endeavor on the part of E. Crumney 
 Esq., to bring him out, or his next of kin as heirs; but no definite result •• 
 was reached. , 
 
 The following record obtained from the First Reformed Church in 
 Main street was then put in evidence. 
 
 " Rachel, daughter of Jacobus Ostrom and Mary Lewis, born April 
 29th 1781; baptized September 30th ITSl — Sponsors Thomas Lewis 
 and Rachel Lewis. " 
 
 " Maria, daughter of Thomas Lewis and Rachel Van Beusehoten ; 
 born August 14th 1782, baptized November 19th 1782— Sponsors Jaco- 
 bus and Anna Meryte Ostrom. " 
 
 At this juncture of the case there was an interruption that caused con- 
 siderable merriment. It was occasioned by Henry M. Taylor Esq., of • 
 Poughkeepsie, presenting, a petition from one Hiram Barrager of Fond 
 du Lac> Wisconsin. 
 
MAIDEN MISER Or POUGHKEEPSIE, S. T. 19 
 
 Tbe petitioner stated therein that he formerly resided la the township 
 of Sidney, Canada West, that his wife's name was Polly Ostrorfl to whom 
 he was married in 1852, that the said wife is the daughter of Simon Ost- 
 rom, deceased, who formerly resided at Bay Trinity, Canada West. 
 
 " Deponent is informed that said Simon Ostrom who is the father of 
 deponent's v\fffe, was a brother of the deceased Lochy Ostrom. " 
 
 The petition was filed. 
 
 The next move was made by Leonard B. Sackett Esq., and created 
 much laughter. He presented the following letter, copied verbatim. 
 
 Denveb, Collerado, Feb. 17. 1870. 
 Mb. Lkonaed B. Saoketi, Bsa. 
 
 Dear Sir : 
 
 Having refferance to you by letter from a sitizen of your plaze as a 
 man of promptitude and ability in your profession, I would desire you to 
 investigate and inquire into the leavings of Lochy Ostrom, finding out 
 what was her fathers name and decent, as I think she was a Sister of my 
 fathers, and if so there is certainly an Heir at Law to hair Estate, and i 
 shall .want you to atend to the recovery of Sed Estate and the Business 
 connected thire with, but iff her Decent or Leanage does not belong to 
 me then i want nothing of itt. i therefore leave mysilfif in your hands for 
 further direction and ^hall be governed by you in the neseary steps to be 
 taken either for or against sed estate, i would state that my family 
 were raised in Orange and Montgomery Co. State of New, York. All 
 questions you may feel inclined to ask i shall most cheerfully answer aa 
 far as my knowledge goes. 
 
 Yours Trewly. 
 
 W. H. OSTEOM. 
 
 The Court ordering this document to be filed thought that after such a 
 joke an adjournment better take place. So the further consideration of 
 the case was postponed till Wednesday December 7th. 
 
 Punctually at the proper hour on that date Surragate Eowler took his 
 seat and the case was taken up again. 
 
 Another heir has turned up making seventy one. This petitioner hails 
 from Kavenna Ohio. He says: ^ 
 
 "My mother's^ster, whose name was Rachel, married John Ostrom. 
 It is believed by me that Lochy is the issue of this .marriage. Rachel . 
 died at TJtica, N. Y. in 1833. " 
 
 JAMES FUREY. 
 The following document has been received by D. W. Ghierneey Efiq 
 
20 LOOHY ostkom; oa thb 
 
 EiTEBTOif, Connt. Oct. 2S. 1870. 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 I saw a few days ago in an article in a newspaper, in reference to the 
 Rachel Louby Ostrom of Poughkeepsie. I carried the paper to my fa- 
 ther, who is now sixty five years old, and he requested nie«as being his 
 son to put in a claim as the legal heir. His name is Melancto^ C. Ost- 
 rom. Please inform me what is the legal course to pursue. 
 
 GEOEGE M. OSTEOM. 
 
 Upon the opening of the proceedings the present administrator of 
 Lochy's estate Mr. Walter D. Wheeler, appeared in Court with a mys- 
 terious looking half-bushel bag, whi^h it was afterwards ascertained con- 
 tainfed vouchers, deeds, and other papers belonging to the estate and 
 ordered to be presented by the Court. 
 
 The bag was opened and the proper persons began to dive down 
 among its contents ; all musty souvenirs of the past, the most valuable 
 of which was the family bible containing the records of family names, 
 marriages and deaths. 
 
 It was indeed a singular scene for a curious beholder to gaze upon. 
 The main object was to ascertain beyond doubt what was really the 
 name of Lochy's father Among the rest wds discovered the following 
 curious document. 
 
 " By His Excellency Geo. Washington Esq., General and Commander 
 in Chief of the forces of the United States of America. These are to 
 certify that the bearer hei;eof, Sigeter Walter, soldier in the Eighth 
 Massachnssetts Regiment, having faithfully served the United States 
 seven years and three months, and being enlisted for the war only, is 
 hereby discharged from the American Army. 
 
 G^ven at the Head Quarters the seventh day of June 1783. 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
 
 Out of the same bag came the following : 
 
 May 1st 1T85. 
 
 Mk. Heddbice Ostbok 
 
 To Jaues Obtboh, Db. 
 
 To Settlement on account Pds. 5 IS. 6d. 
 
 " 1 Turkey . . , . , . , . . 4" 6" 
 
MAIDEN MISER OF POUGHKEEPSIB, N. T. 21 
 
 " Funeral Charges 
 
 ',' Digging Grave 
 
 ■* 3 Galls Rum 
 
 " 1 Coffin . 
 
 " Sugar, pipes and tobacco 
 
 2" 8" 
 1" 8" 
 O^'- 0" 
 4" " 
 00" 0" 
 
 Next came out the annexed novel receip 
 
 Received of Jacob Ostrom three shillings, two pence in full of all de- 
 mands from the beginning of the world to eternity. 
 
 EOBEET JOHNSOH. , 
 
 Here is the all important document which proves that the name of 
 Lochy's father was Jacobus. 
 
 Mb. Jacobus Ostbou 
 
 To 6abbiei< Ellisoit, Db. 
 
 To Teaching his daughter, Rachel seven months, viz. from May 1st 
 1T96 to Dec. 1st IPd. Is. Od. Contents received. 
 
 Gabriel ELLisbir. 
 
 Also among the documents were papers showing tnat Andrew Ostrom 
 was a brother of Jacobus Ostrom. Therefore if any children of Andrew 
 are alive let them make themselves known. 
 
 Besides all these documents there came forth from the mysterious old 
 bag several love letters which by some raeansmust have escaped Lochy's 
 notice when she tied up the packet of seventeen. 
 
 After the examination of the contents of the bag the first witness call- 
 ed was Walter D. Wheeler the administrator of the estate. His testi- 
 mony was simply to the point that he had found the bag of records 
 among Lochy's effects. 
 
 Peter Dorland Esq., rising said: 
 
 " May it please the Court, I now move Your Honor that an order be 
 entered revoking the letters Of administration issued to Walter D. Wheel- 
 er, and that letters of administration be granted to Jemima McKibbin. " 
 
 William I. Thorne requested Surrogate Fowler to wait a reasonable 
 time until all parties could be heard. The Judge said if Mr. Thorne or 
 others wished an adjournment in order to disprove Mrs. McKibbin's 
 right to the letters of administration, the Court would order such ad- 
 journment, but the Court expected such proof, if there be any, today. 
 
 Mr. Thorne replied that he was in a position to show that Mrs. Mc 
 Kibbm was not an heir ; and perhaps that the whole thing was a fraud. 
 
22 liOCHY ostrom; oe the 
 
 He denied that there was an heir proof. 
 
 The Surrogate notified all the lawyers present to prepare themselves to 
 show how they expected to get pay for appearances; after which be ad- 
 journed the Court until December 23d. 
 
 THE LAWYERS THINNED OUT. 
 
 On December 23d Friday the proceedings were resumed. Judge 
 Fowler's hints to the lawyers on the preceeding occasion about shov/ing 
 how they expected to get pay for their services bad thinned their ranks 
 like a discbarge at close quarters, of a maitrailleur. Instead of seventeen 
 of these gentlemen presenting themselves only /owr came forward, as 
 follows— Peter Borland Esq. for Jemima McKibbin ; O. D. M, Baker 
 Esq., of the firm of Nelson and Baker for the Lewis heirs ; and E. Crum- 
 ney Esq., for the Hildibrant heirs, and James Williams Esq. for Eloise 
 Wiswell. 
 
 Peter Dorland Esq., made a motion asking that an order be entered, 
 revoking letters of administration issued to Walter D. Wheeler, and, 
 upon filing the bond required, by Jemima McKibbin, new letters be 
 granted her. 
 
 Judge Wheaton on behalf of Walter D. Wheeler the present adminis- 
 trator stated that he was willing that the order be granted, and intimat- 
 ed that there were to be many claims of a doubtful nature made against 
 the estate. 
 
 Thereupon Surrogate Fowler declared Jemima McKibbin as adminis- 
 tratrix. 
 
 James Weeks Esq., who appeared in the same line as the Lewis heirs, 
 suggested that a definite order be entered, which was assented to. 
 
 THE FINAL FIGHT FOR THE RICHES. 
 
 Now that the combat of the heirs had ceased and Jemima McKibbin 
 had received the letters of administratis a host of claimants attacked 
 that lady in front, flank, and rear ; presenting bills for every imaginable 
 thing against the estate she bad received froi?i the Maiden Miser. Some 
 of these claims were of the most ludicrous character. To show the 
 avidity of their presentors. Judge Wheaton in open Court stated that a 
 corrected inventory of Loehy's estate footed up to seventeen thousand 
 dollars, while the various claims footed up to nineteen thousand dollars! 
 
 The largest claim against the estate is that of John P. H. Tallman 
 
MAIDEN MISEE 0¥ POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. ' 23 
 
 Esq., the lawyer, for twelve thousand dollars for legal services rendered 
 to Loehy Ostrom during her lifetime. Mr. Calvin T. Frost of Peekskill 
 was appointed referee in this case. 
 
 Mr. Tallmaa swore that old Lochy used to call on him two or three 
 times a day for twelve years, and that he always bad t6 give up other 
 business to attend to hers. There were many prominent lawyers pre- 
 'sent to give evidence about Mr. Tallraan's claim. Previously several 
 witnesses had sworn to the fact that Lochy had visited Mr. Tallraan's 
 office daily for a number of years, remaining in consultation with him 
 from fifteen niinutes to two hours, five or six times a day, to the exclus- 
 ion of other clients. Three of Mr. TaHman's clerks testified to Lochy's 
 visits occurring daily through a period of eight or ten years. Evidence 
 was taken as to the value of services thus rendered. 
 
 Charles A. Fowler,- Surrogate of Ulster County testified thalt if the 
 intestate consulted the plaintive five or six times a day in his office^ and 
 occupied from fifteen minutes to two hours time at each interview for 
 six years, those services would be worth from five to ten dollars for each 
 consultation, and if they were of more than usual importance two hours' 
 time would be W(ylh more than that; probably twenty five dollars each. 
 Some weight would be given to the importance of the case. A fair 
 charge for important consultation would depend upon the time consumed. 
 If two hours, then not less than ten dollars. If the consultation was 
 upon the subject of investing her money, $25,000, he would charge five 
 or ten dollars each. Two hours consultation on any matter would be > 
 worth ten dollars. Any consultation, even if it does not consume over 
 five minutes, is worth five dollars, if it is worth anything. 
 
 There are some consultations, ho-wever, for which lawyers do not 
 habitually charge anything. Litigated cases are among these. Mr. 
 ■Fowler stated that Be had had the management of estates worth $25,000, 
 or upwar^^s for over six years ; but never had such a client as Lochy 
 Ostrom is s^id to have been. He never knew a layer to charge by the 
 hour, at least a respectable practitioner. Never knew a lawyer who did, 
 all the business for a client who charged for every consultation. Ob- 
 served in the testimony that Lochy Ostrom never had any litigate^ 
 business. 
 
 Cornelius Esselatyn of Hfid^on, testified that if Lochy Ostrom visited 
 Mr. Tallman and consulted his time to the exclusion of other clients she 
 should pay for it.' It is worth from three hundred to five hundred dol- 
 lars to take care of an estate worth $25,000, not including the time oc- 
 cupied iti daily consultation at the office. If an ignorant and miserly 
 wom^in came'to riie over and over again to consult on one piece of busi- 
 ness all the lime, an<l I' had the general management of her affairs, I 
 ] would regard it as my right to charge her from five to ten dollars for 
 each consultation.! 
 
24 LocHY ostrom; or the , 
 
 Among others who testified in this line were Judge Thomas George of 
 Newbui-g, J. Hellick Drake Esq., of the same place, and Hon. Chas. L. 
 Beal of Columbia County. 
 
 A further adjournment of the case was then ordered till December 
 26th during which examination,. Hon. Ailard Anthony and Hon. John 
 Thompson appeared for Mr. Tallman, while Judge Charles Wheaton 
 and Wm. I. Thorne represented Walter D. Wheeler, the former adminis-' 
 trator of the estate. E. Crumney Esq., appeared for unknown heirs. 
 During the proceedings the counsel for Mr. Tallman offered to prove that 
 Lochy Ostrom promised to pay Mr. Tallman liberally for services render- 
 ed by him but the opposition objected.. 
 
 The most persistent and successful lawyer throughout the whole case 
 was Peter Dorland Esq., he showing wonderful shrewdness and skill in 
 all his moves. 
 
 One bill of about three hundred dollars brought against 'the Maidea 
 Miser's estate was for " pie furnished at various' times to Rachel other- 
 wise, known as Lochy Ostrom. " There are others just as frivolous and 
 flimsey and we do not think Mrs. Mc'Kibbiu will have much trouble in 
 throwing them out altogether. 
 
 LOCHY'S 'LONG LIFE-LOVE. 
 
 There is nothing so admirable and lovely in woman as her true love. 
 It never grows old, it never pals the taste, and while human nature is 
 human nature, so long will woman's love command the adoration of man- 
 kihd, like the daily returning sun with its bright beams and geujal 
 wariifith. 
 
 And what has directed particular attention to poor old Lochy Ostrom> 
 is not the fact of the miserly habits of the latter half of her fife, is not 
 the fact that she, was once such a lovely, spi'ightly girl, but it is the fact 
 that for between sixty anA seventy years &he carried in her heart the 
 purest love for one man. In early womanhood^ in mature life, and in 
 withering years of her latest existeTiee that pure love grew greener like 
 the ivy that clings round the dead oak. 
 
 At about the age of twenty two or twenty three, Lochy or Pretty, 
 Rachie as she was then called, happened to meet J. W. G.izely at a 
 little social gathering to which both had been invited. Be was a young 
 man then of good figure, with a fine, intellectual face and engaging man- 
 ners. He had heard before of Ijochy and had been warned about loos- 
 ing his heart. Lochy had also heard of him and had been cautioned not 
 to fall in love with him. 
 
 " No danger, " laughed the gay-spirited girl. " Your Adonis will not 
 
Lochy Ostrom's siDgular dream as narrated to old Mrs. Ramsey, 
 
MAIDEN MIS£E OF FOUaHKHEFSIE, N. X. 
 
 2r 
 
 conquer me. " 
 
 Th& instant they met the two glanced at each other, and each felt a 
 strange sensation, a feeling neither eould describe. And singularly 
 enough, during the rest of the evening until nearly the close of the party 
 each one avoided the other as much as possible. 
 
 For once and forever Lochy Ostrom's heart was made captive by that 
 mysterious gossamer, that indescribable strand, which, though unseen, 
 binds so strongly, that Death alone can snap it. 
 
 From that evening forward Lochy exchanged her merry, light-hearted 
 manners for a more quiet though equally pleasant demeanor. The 
 many bounding riviilets of good will and affection that had hitherto 
 diffused themselves in all directions from her good young-heart were now 
 gathered into one deep flowing river which swept ceaselessly on toward 
 the newly-found object of her love. 
 
 Exactly the same effect was produced upon Gazely, and in spite of 
 themselves these two young people were drawn to each other until at 
 last they exchanged vows of mutual love and fidelity. 
 
 IThe first time it is supposod they went out together in public was on 
 Christmas Day, 1806, which would be just sixty-four years previous to 
 Lochy's death. It is quite possible that they went in public together 
 some time previous to that even, though as we have no positive data, we- 
 cannot tell. The following is the card : 
 
 The company of Miss R. Ostrom is reauested at a ball, 
 
 at Cuningham's Hotel, on Wednesday Evening, 
 
 December 25th: instant, at 6 o'clock, P. M. 
 
 T. Slee 
 
 C.PoWEES 
 
 I MANAGERS. X g 
 
 F. MoifTGpMEET 
 
 Cook 
 
 Decembeb 20 th 1806. 
 
 This card was found with Lochy's love letters after she died and doubt- 
 less was sacredly kept by her through the long years of her life as a me- 
 mento of the past. 
 
 In obtaining a history of the early and even middle life of a woman so 
 exceedingly old ^s Lochy Ostrom, there is naturally the greatest difficulty. 
 Persons who knew her in her early days are nearly all dead or did not 
 take sufficient interest in her at that time, to remember now any facts. 
 Still from the few that are alive it was possible to glean a pretty correct 
 
28 
 
 history of her young years ; whilst from the present generation it was 
 quite easy to obtaiu anecdotes about the Maideu Miser's decliuing age 
 sufficient to fill a large sized book. 
 
 She has been called " The Maiden Miser " an appellation which is 
 quite likely to mislead people in their opinion of her and cause them' to 
 regard her as a creature of sordid nature grubbing for gold and hoarding 
 it away. Strangers thought her a cold, grasping iron-hearted old wo- 
 man entirely devoid of all the kiudlier attributes of human nature. 
 
 Never was there a greater mistake? In her pccentric way Loehy Ost- 
 roai, the Maiden Miser, during her long life did more real good and was 
 ten times more benevolent than ninety-nine out of a hundred persons 
 around her, who noised their charities abroad. Only a few months be- 
 'fore her death she made use of the following remarks to an aged friend 
 whom she had assisted. 
 
 "You know I am a poor old woman myself, and have not much ; still 
 I always have a little to help a worthy friend. When I had my trouble 
 I made up my mind that it was the will of Providence. Had mj' mother 
 not broken off my match J would quite likely have been married and be- 
 come the mother of children and been quite happy with Mr. Gazeley. 
 Then and for many a long year afterwards I felt terribly about it; but 
 by the time I reached the top of the weary bill and looked back on the 
 sunshine'in the valley, and looked around me at the tiapplness I could 
 have in future by miuistering to my fellow beings, I got a new heart and 
 began a new life. 
 
 " I know I am odd in my ways and eccentric in my habits; but that 
 was the only method in which I could accomplish what I have accom- 
 plished. It might have been different at one time, but it is as well as 
 
 it is. Perhaps in the oth&r life we may be rejoined Ah me ! ah me 1 
 
 what a strange thing the human heart is! But never mind I must 
 think of what there is to do. Here I have brought you ajar of preserved 
 plums, and a couple of plasters for your back.. You will find the plums 
 will give you a reli.sh for your food, and the plasters which I spread my- 
 self, you can depend will do your back a great deal of good. " 
 
 These remarks were made as she was taking her leave of the aged lady 
 whom she often visited, and used thus to assist. With this preliminary 
 insight into the real character and disposition of Loehy Ostrom, we place 
 before our readers, her former history, from the time she promised Mr. 
 Gazoly to become his wife, to the period of her death. 
 
 LOCHY'S COURTSHIP. 
 
 At the time that Loehy Ostrom became acquainted with Mr. Jam^s 
 W. Graze.ly, that gentleman. was just eomm«neing the practice of law in 
 
MAIDBN MISER OF POTJOHKEEPSIE, N. T. 29 
 
 Poughkeepsie. Being bighlj' respectable, Lobby's parents made no ob- 
 jection to his paying attention to their daughter, especially as she herself 
 took such a fancy for him. 
 
 Several years the courtship went on, and so thoroughly convinced were 
 all the friends and aequaintan<;es of the two lovers that they would soon 
 wed, that nothing else was thought of During this time Lochy's father 
 died, leaving her mother a widow. The match was then hastened on by 
 the mother who wished her daughter to be sqltlcd down in life. Hither- 
 to it had been supposed by the Ostronis that Gazely had money, or at 
 least that his people were well off and influential. This illusion was dis- 
 pelled by the suitor himself, who, informing his intended mother-in-law 
 of his being comparatively poor, told her: 
 
 " Why, Mrs. Ostrom, if it had not been for my poverty,! would have 
 married Lochy long ago. But I could not ask her to become my wife 
 till I felt thoroughly able to support her properly as such. " 
 
 " That's very brave and noble in you, James, replied the raatter-of- 
 fuct-mother, " I'm much obliged to you for being bo candid, as I can now 
 make an arrangement for Lochy to marry somebody who can keep her. " 
 ' Gazely was astounded, and when he recovered somewhat he remon- 
 strated : 
 
 " Why Mrs. Ostrom, it will not hurt Lochy to wait a little longer'for 
 me. I shall soon be doing quite well. " 
 
 ■ " No 1 no, James, " quickly replied the practical woman. " That is 
 all a day dream. You'll get over that when you are older. Lawyering 
 is a dreadful poor business for a poor young man, without, at any rate, 
 he ^as political friends to push him ahead. Now if you were a farmer 
 oTsomething of that sort, then Lochycould be of some help to you and you 
 could get along very well together. But in the name of common sense, 
 what help could she give you as a lawyer? Why not a bit. I like yon 
 as well as anybody I know, and I'd rather you had Lochy than any man 
 of our acquaintance. I believe you love each other. But you can nei- 
 ther one of you live on love, nor keep children on it. So you better give 
 up the idea of marrying Lochy. " > 
 
 Gamely was an eccentric man, and surveying his intended mother-in- 
 law he remarked with that bitter politeness which is so much keener 
 than explosive anger: 
 
 " Mrs. Ostrom you are the most intensely practical woman I ever be- 
 held. Your heart ia a diamond for hardness. " Then he added as he 
 withdrew, " You may prevent Lochy marrying me perhaps, but you 
 cannot force her to marry any other man. " 
 
 For a short time after this interview the young couple continued much 
 as usual to see each other, as though nothing had occurred ; and, but for 
 one unfortunate circumstance, thfl objections of the practical mother 
 might have been overcome. [In those days it was not so easy for per- 
 
30 LOCHY ostrom; oe the 
 
 sons to get married as it is at the present time. Theii no clergyman 
 •would dare to perform the ceremony except in the regakr way, the banns 
 being pi-oclainied from the altar three Sundays previous to the marriage.] 
 The circumstance we speak of was the sudden illness of Mrs. Ostrom. 
 She was seized with paralysis one night, and from that tour till the day 
 of her death she was almost helpless. This- sad event was what changed 
 the entire after current of both Lochy's life anii that of her affianced 
 lover, James Gazely. 
 
 THE LOVER'S PART. 
 
 Lochy loved her mother and when the latter was thus stricken down 
 by disease the daughther felt that it was her duty to remain with her 
 mother, and forego her own happiness the better to perform that duty. 
 At the next interview she had with her affianced, therefore, after con- 
 versing sometime upon general topics she said: 
 
 " Dear James, I have concluded to ask you, either to release me 'from 
 my promise to become your wife, or else to wait for me until mother dies. 
 There is no one to attend to her but myself Therefore my duty is 
 plain, and' I could not ask you to load yourself with my sick mother be- 
 side myself I cannot tell you the pain it brings to my heart to make 
 this request of you, James, but you see yourself how it is. " 
 
 Gazely sat silently fondling Lochy's hands and gazing sorrowfully 
 into her face for at least five minutes. Then, like a strong man who has 
 suddenly nerved himself for a terrible agony he said in a more than 
 usually quiet tone : 
 
 " Lochy, it seems to me that Heaven itself is against our union. You 
 area good, noble girl and I know you love me. And only God knows how 
 I love you. My mind is made up. Now decide. Shall I release you? 
 or shall I wait for you? " 
 
 " If you will wait James, I — I — " 
 
 The loving girl could not finish the sentence ; but twining her arms 
 about her lover's neck, her woman's heart gave way, and she wept 
 violently. 
 
 " Lochy, " at last said Gazely, raising her face so that he could look 
 down upon it, " it shall be so, we will wait for each other. It may be 
 for years ; it may be forever ; but we will wait. Tomorrow I start for 
 the West. There I can make my way ; there perhaps in a short time 
 I can become wealthy enough to return and marry you, whether your 
 mother be living or not. " 
 
 " Can't you stay here, James ? " pleaded Lochy, " though my s&d 
 duty prevents me becoming your wife, still if I could only have you near 
 
MAIDEN MISER OF FOUGHKEEPSIE, N. T. 33 
 
 me to u^tei' occasional words of love to me and to see you once in awhile, 
 it would cheer me coatinuallj, and lighten the burden. . And I fear if 
 you go away I shall never behold you again. Something will happen 
 some cloud will arise. " 
 
 " No, Lochy, that may not be. I cannot remain here. My fate cries 
 out, and ^o somewhere, I must. " 
 
 "Well, if you must, James, you must. " answered Lochy with quiet 
 sorrow. 
 
 Gazely then rose and the two stepped out on the porch together. 
 
 " You won't forget me, will you, James, when you go away to the 
 West ? " 
 
 " Do you see the Pole Star shining up there? " asked Gazely pointing 
 up to the sky. 
 
 " Yes I see it. They say it never sets, but is always in view. " 
 
 " As true as that star so I will be to you, Lochy. " 
 
 " Oh, James, something seems to tell me that if you once go away, it 
 will be forever. You will see some woniaii handsomer and better than 
 I, and — look up there! you see the cloud which has just hidden the star 
 — you will forget me. Ah.! that is an omen. " 
 
 " Never mind the omens, Lochj, love, " replied Gazely. "It is for 
 you I go, but I will come back agaiu. Come, kiss me good bye, sweet 
 heart, good bye ! " 
 
 " Well,. James, " said Lochy in a low, grave tone, "whether you for- 
 get me or not, I shall never forget you; whether you ■ ever marry any 
 one beside me or not, I will never marry except with you, I have given 
 you my heart and pledge, and should I live to be a hundred years old no 
 other man shall ever have it. And so.^I kiss you good hye-^forever ! 
 forever ! " she added to herself as Gazely sprang down from the porch 
 and strode swiftly away up the ro,ad. 
 
 Lochy at once began her new. life. Some young women in her situa- 
 tion, though assuming the same duty she did with her sick mother, would 
 have become morose and ilKnatured. But it was quite the reverse- with 
 her. Though the nature of Mrs,, Ostrom's malady made her sometimes 
 exceedingly provoking, yet nevel", for an instant did the patient girl, lose 
 her temper nor suffer herself to speak angrily to the invalid. 
 
 The means whibh the father had left behind were rather meagre and 
 besides the efforts of the brothier Hendrick, it required Lochy herself to 
 work occasionally in order to meet the daily wants and necessities of the 
 house. Still she never murmured, nor repined ; but met each fresh diffi- 
 culty with fresh determination and effort. No matter what the labor was 
 Lochy never flinched from it. Now she would go out sewing for a day, 
 then she would be taking in scholars and' teaching them either embroid- 
 3 
 
34 LocHT ostrom; or the 
 
 ery, tambouring, or drawiog in profile. 
 
 [The medallion head which appears on our cover is a perfect profile 
 likeness of Lochy Ostrom at the age of twenty-four. And what makes 
 it more noticable is the fact that it wa,s most iugeniously drawn by Lochy 
 herself by means of four looking- glasses.] 
 
 Just after the parting between her and Mr. Gazely, Lochy had a 
 strange dream which she narrated to her mother and aftei'wai'ds to a few 
 of her friends. She thought she saw herself sitting asleep in an easy 
 cbair dressed for her marriage. A few yards from her there appeared 
 an altar before which stood a second image of herself holding the hand 
 of Mr. Gazely while a clergyman in robes stood with book in hand ready 
 for the ceremony. Suddenly, hovering above the altar scene, there came 
 a cloudy figure like Time or Death with a huge scythe in his hands. Ha 
 waved it over the nuptial pair who were instantly torn -apart by unseen 
 hands, when all in a moment the vision vanished. 
 
 This strange dream she never narrated to any one in her old age, nor 
 could she endare any of her old acquaintances to whom she bad chanced 
 to tell it refer to it. 
 
 THE FIRST LETTER. 
 
 Mr. Gazely had promised Lochy that he would write to her as soon 
 as he reached Cincinnati ; in fact both had agreed to write often to each 
 other. But in -those primitive times travelling was very difiTicult and im- 
 perfect, and consequently Lochy did not receive the coveted letter for 
 seven weeks after her final interview with her lover. The following is a 
 copy 
 
 Cincinhati, July 1st 1809. 
 
 My dear Lochy : 
 
 I arrived here safe and sound, though somewhat sore with 
 the unmerciful jolting I received during the last part of the staging. 
 MapjS' times while journeying through the Wild and looely forest or over 
 the rough mountain ridges, I Imivc had no-^uide save that Pole star you 
 and I gazed at when you and I kissed good bye. I expect to do well 
 here. At least I intend to leave no stone unturned in the effort. And 
 I hope for your sake that Providence will smile upon me for once. I 
 took a walk today among the hills The scenery is lovely, the air balmy 
 the trees in full verdure and the earth carpeted with the most delightful 
 flowers. I have plucked you one or two and eilfelosed them in this letter. 
 Every time I write to you I shall send you a sprig or bud. If you press 
 
MAIDEN MISER OF POUGHKEEPSIB, N. T. 35 
 
 them between the leaves of a book they will dry and keep for long years. 
 There's several kisses on each one for you, darling. Do you know it is 
 a great thing for a man to have an object, to strife for in life. As the 
 attraction of the Sun keeps all the stars and bodies of this universe in 
 their regular orbits, so does object keep mankind ever moving in a regu- 
 lar orbit. What do you suppose I would be without yourself to keep 
 me in my orbit ? Certainly I should become aa erratic wanderer, like a 
 comet ; or be constantly 'flying off at tangents, 
 
 I hope this will find your mother as well as possible, for with her ail- 
 ment it is impossible that she could improve. I often and often regret 
 that she did not consent to our union ; because then she as well as your- 
 self would have had a protector. I believe we could have managed to 
 get along very well;, not of course as we should like; but pretty well 
 considering everything. 
 
 I lie awake often at nights and think of you; imagining that I see you 
 and hear you attending to your self-imposed duty of caring for your 
 mother. Somfetimes I think you are a little hard in having made me 
 wait but then again the thought comes to me what a good, dear, devoted 
 wife will a girl make who is so good • to her mother. Then my lojve 
 grows stronger and strquger for you, Lochy. I do not spend one cent ■ 
 foolishly. In fact r deprive myself of many articles, and debar myeelf 
 of many enjoyments in order that I may save money. Because .dearest 
 you see by thus eating brown bread now I shall the sooner be able to 
 oiake you my wife. The shirt bosoms you made me are very handsome. 
 I see none so well fitting or so finely stitched. 
 
 Remember me kindly to your mother. You can show her tbis letter 
 if you like. Give my best respects to Hendrick and the rest. How 
 does the dove I gave you get along? She was a pretty bird and loved 
 •. me very much. The postboy is jtist playing his horn. This is bis last 
 round for collecting the letters; so I must close this missive and send it 
 to you. A thousand kisses for you darling. Ever your own 
 
 JAMES W. GAZELy. 
 
 This first letter from her loter was exceedingly welcome to Lochy 
 who trembled with excitement 4«wi joy aa the post man placed it in her 
 hand with the remark : 
 
 " Don't recollect ever having had a letter for you before Miss Lochy. " 
 Though Loc,hy |reg4Jt many times over and ov-er. again' during that 
 day she did not attempt to write an answer until night, aftier she had 
 finished her household duties and got h.er mother to sleep; Then getting 
 out the inkkorn an,d quills she sat herself down la he,r chamber to write 
 her first Iqye lietter. Uqtil now she thought it an easy task; but though 
 
36 LOCHY OSTROM; OB THE 
 
 her mind was filled with brilliant words she could not get them down 
 properly upon the paper, and it was not until she had spoiled and mend- 
 ed several quills — in those days there were no steel or gold pens — and 
 inked several sheets of paper as well as her fingers, that she managed to 
 write fairly the following reply: 
 
 POUOHKEKPSIB, N. Y. JULT 22d 1809, 
 
 Dear James: 
 
 I have just got your letter, and I am trying to answer it, for I know 
 you want an answer. But 1 don't know how. You won't think me 
 bold because I write dear before your name. I hope not because it is 
 true. Indeed you are very, very dear to me, James. I ani glad you 
 liked those shirt bosoms. I made them as well as I knew how. Whea 
 they wear out send me word and I will make you more. You ask how 
 the dove is; well she is just as usual, she will come and perch on my 
 shoulder now just as she used -to do you and put her bill to my lips and 
 coo, like the lovable little creature she is. Do you know this afternoon 
 when no one was about I read your letter to her, and she hopped, and 
 cooed, and went on at a great rate just as though she understood it all. 
 The flowers yon send I will keep in the little volume of poems you gave 
 
 me last Christmas. I have a little box that I put something else in ; 
 
 shall I tell you what? Yes I will — our wedding cake, and I will put it, 
 and the book with the flowers in the same box. Should I die at any time 
 they will be found there. 
 
 Mother is not in a very airaiable mood today, so I shall not show her 
 the letter till tomorrow. She suffers very njuch at times and 1 do not 
 wonder that she should be crabbed and exacting in consequence. But I 
 have already learned to bear with her. It is my duty pnd your praise 
 you give me for thus attending to this sad duty will keep my spirits 
 bright at times in the future when otherwise I might feel a little despond, 
 ent. I often and often think of you in the stilly hours of night and the 
 busy hours of day and oh how often t wish you were here with me. 1 
 send you back a thousand kisses a ""'''';c»ther thousand beside that. 
 
 Never any cple's but your own 
 
 LOCHY. 
 
 From this time up to 1811 the correspondence was kept np between 
 the parted lovers. At that time Mr. Gazely, having saved up some 
 tttoney, made a visit to Poughkeepsie to endeavor to persuade Lochy to 
 marry him. But it.was useless." Notwithstanding all he could urge, the 
 money he had already saved, and faia bright prospects in Cincinnati, 
 
MAIDEN MISER OF POUQHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 37 
 
 Lochy would not consent to marry him until the death of her mother. 
 Though his love was not diminished by this refusal, still he was much 
 troubled about it, and there was a little acerbity in his manner when he 
 bade her good bye. Again in 1812, while the war excitement was up 
 between this country and England, Gazely ouce nuire came to Pough- 
 keepsie to urge the marriage. Again he was disappointed, however, and 
 left in some anger for Cincinnati. Duciog the next six or seven years, 
 neither heard of the other, when Gazely wrote as follows. 
 
 Cincinnati, August 15th 1818. 
 
 Dearest Lochy: 
 
 It is nigh seven years since I saw my native village during 
 which time I have received a letter from no person in it. How happy 
 are we in thinking of an'd enjoying ofouroWn dear selves. I shall be 
 glad to know from you where are the thousand rambles, the thousand 
 hours, and the thousand scenes of delight we hiive taken together? To 
 where have they fled? Are the/e any traces by which we can say, 
 " here we eonversed, here we sat, here we walked ; " or is it all fled ? 
 Do we yet dream, or is there any reality? Oh Lochy, like the yearning, 
 wandering sailor, I look toward you again, my guiding star. Must we 
 never meet again ? Please write to me. — 
 
 JAMES. 
 
 PonoHKEEPSiE, September 1st 1818. 
 Dearest James: 
 
 I had thought you were gone from itie forever as you did 
 not write me any more. Your sweet letter came like an unexpected sun- 
 ,beam of light and love from a cold, dark sky. And yet after all it caused 
 me anquish. " Mu.st, we never meet again ? " Would to heaven I. could 
 fly to your arms and heart and tell \ "yes, yes, never to part again. " 
 But— the old story— my duty to i-4 She is getl»ing more and more 
 
 feeble every day, and requires every moment of my time. Sometimes I 
 feel ready to give np. Oh, James, if you will promise to forget me I 
 will gladly release you from your vow to me. Do not I pray and, be- 
 seech of you let me hinder you from marrying some other woman if you 
 can be happy. But believe me I shall never have any other wnage in 
 my heart but yours. 
 
 Ever your loving but wretched 
 
 LOCHY. 
 
38 IiOCHY OSTBOM; OK THB 
 
 Cinncinnati, November 4tli 1818. 
 Dearest Locby: 
 
 You were doubtless a little perplexed at my manner of 
 writing. Turn your eyes on the past and then say how I should have 
 written. In 1811 and 1812 I made two journeys from the West to offer 
 and yield to you a heart which I did not feel at liberty to give to another. 
 Your duty to your mother forbade your acceptance. This is a sacred 
 duty. I always commend you for its performance. At the same time, I 
 thought and still thinly thisought not to have been an objection. Ours was 
 a painful, heart-rending separation. You stood on the porch where we 
 had so often before embraced and parted. I told you it was doubtful if 
 I should ever return ; you would not believe me. I did not tell you in 
 my last, but I now confess to you that during the long period you did 
 not hear from me I considered it ray duty to marry an estimable lady, 
 whom, however, it pleased God to remove from me within a 3''ear after 
 the wedding day. She is now happy in the mansions of eternal rest. 
 
 Your lover 
 
 JAMES W. GAZELY. 
 
 To this letter Ijochy wrote a reply full of affection, kind words, and 
 condolence, but at the end she mournfully added : "My poor heart is 
 torn by the thought that my adherence to duty caused you to release 
 yourself from your self-imposed promise. But I cannot chide you for it. 
 Do you remember the omen of the cloud coming over the star? I would 
 sign myself as I used to "ever your loving &c. &c. " But I dare not 
 thrust myself upon you that way, and so wishing you, dearest James 
 every happiness I sign plain ' 
 
 LOCHY OSTBOM. 
 
 On the following February Gazely wrote a long letter to Lochy from 
 which we take these extracts: 
 
 " It is a great duty you have to discharge toward your mother; and 
 to a generous noble mind its faithful discharge will afford a lasting con- 
 solation. I wish her removal from her distress and should feel the great- 
 est pleasure in rendering any relief in my power to her; or any pleasure 
 
MAIDEN MISER OF POUaHKEEPSIB, N. Y. 39 
 
 to the noble daughter who diligently watches her tottering steps and 
 soothes her life. Go on and fulfil your heavenly duty. Remember me 
 to her and remember also that the greatest and warmest wish of my 
 heart has ever been to see you happy. You once said my goipg away so 
 far was the cause of our separation. You think we would have been 
 Jiappy had I remaitied in my native state. I answer do you not recollect 
 that the last lime I saw you my offer was to live anywhere, and' consent 
 to any arrangement for our mutual peace, happiness and satisfaction ; in 
 ■which offer your mother was not forgotten nor neglected. You well 
 know the reason why it was not so. Ftora that day to the present I 
 Lave looked upon our separation as inevitable and eternal. 
 
 Were I in the state of New York my opinion is we would both be as 
 we are now — great friends, and quite happy together, and very comfort- 
 able apart. "Where an attachment is so strpng that objections and incon- 
 veniences are no obstacles sufficient to prevent a union, it forms the 
 foundation of human happiness, and gives the parties an opportunity to 
 be happy in the society of each other. It appears to me that this is 
 wanting. I have no idea that I could make any offer that would induce 
 Rachel Ostrom to change her situation ; therefore I shall not make one. 
 A bare, cold calculation of probable happiness or misery will not answer 
 whenever our affections are so weak that we stop to consider a few years 
 and consult friends. Marriage in this case is out of the quiestion. My 
 disposition in such affairs is to consult the heart first and afterwards con- 
 sult good fortune and trust in Providence. My dearest girl you have ' 
 had too many doubts and fears. I hope that you will yet learn thSt the 
 best marriage outfit is an undivided love. Without it everything is in- 
 deed poverty. " 
 
 From the very day that Lochy received this letter her whole nature 
 seemed to alter, and she commenced to lead a different life. The best 
 description we can give is her own words to old Mrs. Ramsey when 
 after Mr. Gazely's rumored death she referred to it. 
 
 " Tiiat was a dagger thrust into my heart. That hour my love chang- 
 ed from a warm life to a stony image cold and insensate. I saw before 
 me another path in my future earthly existence. I felt that I was to 
 live alone. I knew mother must soon die and that I must work to snp- 
 port myself beside laying up something for old age. I felt certain I 
 bbould live to be very aged. There was no other course for me to 
 pursue. " 
 
 From the receipt of that letter twenty six long years passed away and 
 then, the postman' brought Lochy Ostrom a letter postmarked Cincinnati. 
 She was astonished but there was no-thrilling in her bosom as she recog- 
 
40 liOCHT OSTROM; OB THE 
 
 nized the handwriting of her once-betrothted lover.' Twenty six years of 
 struggling had made her " very practical ". She broke the seal and read 
 
 "Bear Bachel: 
 
 After the long period of time which has passed since you and I ex- 
 changed our last letters I have gone through many changes and vicisi- 
 tudes. I am now a wealthy and may add an old man. I have growij 
 stout and gray. So I was thinking aboiit you, Lochy, and imagining 
 how you looked. After this long interval I feel again the myserious 
 love of early youth coming back. Who should I turn to Lochy dear but 
 old affection? Are all the fountains of pleasant waters dried up? I did 
 hope the past might turn up a bfight new leave. I have dreamed of 
 pleasures fled — long gone! I have stood in their midst until they seem- 
 ed realities. And why should it not be so? We must hope or die. 
 Nothing in anger, in malice, naught set down. Let us bury the past and 
 forget it, and hope for a brighter and happier futui'e. I am now rich, 
 Lochy ; will you marry me ? " 
 
 Twenty six years had iiideed altered Lbchy Ostrom the once loving 
 happy girl for she promptly returned a cold but respectful refusal to this 
 last offer of marriage. 
 
 Again years passed on, and one day Lochy, who was living then with 
 Mrs. Hoffman in Cannon street was astounded'one day to see James W. 
 Gazely, now an old man and a distinguished* lawyer walk into the room 
 where she sat. She was now grey with age, her face was wrinkled and 
 pinched and her step weak. Her opce magnificent bust and figure 
 shrunk and bent. She received Mr. Gfazely very affectionately; but to all 
 bis earnest offers of marriage she firmly answered " no. " Finding he 
 could not prevail Mr. Gazely rose and with a mournfijl tone said: 
 
 "Lochy, ours have been strange, strange lives. You are old so am I. 
 We have both made mistakes I think. But let that all go. You were 
 right. about, that omen of the clouded star, and I believe the cloud will 
 not be removed in this life. But I think it will in the next. Now Lochy 
 I am goirig away now forever. I shall employ the rest of my life in 
 pood works. You do the same, and should you ever be so situated that 
 1 can be of benefit to you, write to me in Cincinnati. And now give me 
 one farewell kiss Lochy, and in the words I once repeated to you when 
 a young man, good bye, sweet heart good bye. " 
 
 The kiss was given, the courtship of a lifetime was ended, James W. 
 Gazely went away, and his once beautiful, light-hearted affianced retired 
 to her room to gaze at the withered flowers and the shrivelled wedding 
 cake with its sugar cupid she had in the long ago ornamented for her in- 
 tended nuptials. 
 
MAIDEN MISER 0^' POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y. 43 
 
 "Forever! Forever! yes, forever!!' murnanred the old woman, 
 whom people called the " Maiden Miser " as she shut down the lid of 
 the metal box that contained these sacred treasures of her girlhood's 
 heart. 
 
 Since that day neither Lochy nor any one else in Ponghkeepsie ever 
 heard tale nor tiding of James W. Gazely. It has been supposed that 
 after his return to Cincinnati he sold off his property and went away a 
 long distance into the back country out of the way of all travel or world- 
 ly excitement and passed the remainder of his life in thinking over the 
 past. He was quite as eccentric in his way as Lochy, was as the follow- 
 ing anecdote will prove. Being once engaged in arguing a case in Court 
 he could not succeed in convincing the three judges he was addressing, 
 of the correctness of his cause though he himself knew it was right. 
 Finally, and just as he had concluded he remarked: 
 
 " May it please Your Honors, this Court reminds me of a Tara Tara 
 team. " 
 
 " Pray, Sir, what kind of a team is that?" inquired the presiding 
 judge. 
 
 " Well, Tour Honors, " replied Gazely, with the most intense gravity, 
 " it is a team very much used in South America. " 
 
 " Did you ever see it, Mr. Gazely? " asked another judge. 
 
 " Indeed I have often seen it, Your Honor. " 
 
 " What was it, Mr. Gazely ? " querried the third judge. 
 
 Gazely having meanwhile sat down, now rose, and drawing on his 
 gloves in a quiet way, glanced around the Court room and then turning 
 full upon the Judges replied: 
 
 " Well, Your Honors, that Tarra, Tarra team is composed of two 
 mules and a jackass — the middle position always being assigned to the 
 jackass. " * 
 
 Instantly there was a great hub-bub in Court and Gazely was prompt- 
 ly committed for gross- contempt of Court. The moment it became 
 known throughout the city there was the mo.st intense public excitement, 
 a very large number of the people taking sides with the bold lawyer. 
 He refused to apologize and also refused to pay the fine and was thrown 
 into prison. This increased the storm, and just at this time an election 
 for Congress being about to take place, some one nominated Mr. Gazely 
 for the Cincinnati district. General Harrison then at the heighth of his 
 popularity, was running in the same district. Yet notwithstanding that 
 Mr. Gazely triumphantly carried the district by a large majority. And 
 in those days running for Congress was a far different matter from what 
 it is DOW. Beside intellect and influence a man had to have a high 
 moral standing in the community before he could aspire to representative 
 honors. 
 
44 LOCHY OSTROJJ ; OE THE 
 
 If Lochy Ostrom had been aecentric before, she became tenfold more so 
 after this final parting with the man she once fondly believed would be- 
 come her husband. For several months subsequent she would shut her- 
 . self up in her bedroom for three and four days together, scarcely eating 
 anj'thing and sitting constantly near the window gazing up into the sky. 
 Then she would start, out with a basket on her arm, visjting every- 
 fcody she knew and gathering herbs and useful flowers. 
 
 Whoever had a fine garden was sure to receive repeated calls from the 
 little old woman. And she was so kind and pleasant in her manner and 
 so full of interesting anecdotes of the olden times that she w.as ever wel- 
 come to thuse whom she visited. Prom the magazine of her memory she 
 would briug forth many stories and reminiscences of the olden days when 
 she was a " lass " as she used to say. 
 
 No person ever tired of Lochy. She was most demonstrative to young 
 people and to this class and also very aged women she devoted her time 
 and generosity. This word, generosity uSed in connection with the title of 
 Maiden Miser, of course seems strange. -But we use it advisedly. While 
 Lochy Ostrom was cold and stony hearted to people of the world, who were 
 possessed of merely selfish, motives and inclinations, she wasnot only warm 
 in disposition but generous and liberal to those whom she discovered to bs 
 worthy. And her long experience and perception enabled her tq read a 
 countenance almost as clearly as she could read the page of a book. 
 
 Of course siuce the old lady's death there has been much exaggeration 
 about her, both against her and in her favor. From what cai^ be learn- 
 ed from reliable persons, however, she did not hesitate to show her 
 dislike toward "any one whom she took umbrage at, and sometimes 
 she would take this umbrage for very slight reasons. 
 
 As wo have before said, also, Lochy used to select as objects for the 
 display of her more generous liloods young married people who were 
 just struggling along in life. One particularly noble trait of her char- 
 acter was the unostentatious and kindly way in .which she extended her 
 pecuniary assistance to those she decided to help. 
 
 A gentleman of Poughkecpsie, who is now doing a prosperous busi- 
 ness in New York City, in Grand street, told us: 
 
 "I owe all my success, Sir, to good old Lochy Ostrom. People say 
 that she was a grasping, hard-hearted old miser. To some she might 
 have been appeared to be so; but whereever she thought that anybody 
 was worthy of a lift she would go in with will. I myself am aa in- 
 stance of it. 
 
 " When I was going to see my wife, Lochy used sometimes to be at 
 my future father-in-law's house. They always treated her well; if she 
 was tired, they would have her take off her things and lie down and rest 
 hersdfj and if meals happened be on the table when Lochy made her 
 
MAIDEN MISER OF POUQHKEEPSIE, N. T. 45 
 
 appearance, a chair was always put up for her and an extra plate brought 
 out. 
 
 " Well, Annie and I got married at last, and I tools her home. We 
 got two rooms and got thirty dollars worth of furniture beside our bed- 
 stead and one or two other articles that mother-in-law gave us. For six 
 years all went right, and then, as bad' luck would have it, I got out of 
 work and could get nothing to do. As you may suppose we were in 
 quite a bad way, and I was beginning to feel myself despondent, when 
 one afternoon who should come bolting into our room but old Lo'chy 
 Ostrom. 9 . , 
 
 " Dear, dear, I am awful hungry, " said she, " what are you going to 
 have good for supper? " ' 
 
 "Not much," replied I; " but what we have you're quite welcome 
 to share with us, Aunt Lochy. " 
 
 Annie hurried np the meal which was mush and molasses and a bit of 
 cold meat we had had for dinner. 
 
 Lochy partook quite sparingly as though she did not want to eat too 
 much from us, and all the time she was running on about old times and 
 when she was a " lass, " making things so genial that we forgot our 
 poverty and felt quite merry. " After supper she said : 
 
 " John and Annie before I tell you what I came to tell you, I wish 
 you both to promise that you will never repeat it to any living soul; at 
 least while 1 am alive. " 
 
 We promised, never dreaming what was coming for we had always 
 supposed Lochy to be very poor and friendless. ■ 
 
 " Well, " said she, " though I am not rich I have a little money that 
 I keep laid by in order that when I see a worthy honest young married 
 couple trying to get alotig and having a rough time to do so, I can help 
 themalittie. I think it is so delightful for young married folks to get along 
 nicely and cheerily together. 
 
 " There's a little store for sale up on Montgomery street, which can be 
 bought out for eight hundred dollars. Kow I have brought you the 
 mon^y and you can go up in the morning and buy it. That will employ- 
 Annie here, and so you can get along till you get work. I've no doubt 
 you will do very well, for you are isteady and industrious. You must 
 give me a bond though for the money and you must pay me five per 
 (Sent interest. In that way I keep the little money I have from decreas- 
 ing, and so when I geti it back from you I can help some other young 
 folks. " 
 
 Annie and I both embraced Aunt Lochy, and thanked her a thousand 
 times over for her unexpected kindness. She produced the money and 
 the bond. I filled up and signed the latter. The next day I went and 
 purchased the store, and my wife and I began life in real earnest, for now 
 
46 tocHY ostrom; oe the 
 
 we had an object to labor for. Within two years we had paid Lochy 
 b^ck her money with the interest in full. I recollect I could not make 
 it exactly, and so handed her an even dollar which was about eight 
 cents too much. I told her it was as near as I could get it But she 
 refused to take it and bringing out her old purse gave nie the-eight 
 cents, with the remark : 
 
 " William, always be strict in business. lam; If I had neglected 
 this cardinal principle I would not have been able to befriend you. Now, 
 sometime, no doubt you will be in a position to give some fellow being 
 a lift, and if you ever are never hesitate to do so, D9it for my sake. " 
 
 LOCHY'S DEATH.. 
 
 For sometime previous to her death the eccentric, but kind hearted old 
 lady had been complaining heavily of her ailments. She felt that she 
 could not in the course of nature live much longer. But strangely enough 
 she did not make any preparations for either the disposal of herproperty^ . 
 nor for the care of her body after death. The people in the house where 
 she had rooms kindly proposed to her that some of them should stay 
 with her at least through the nights. But she refused this saying she would 
 have no trouble dying when her time came. 
 
 During the night of her decease she was heard to get up once or twice 
 and move the rocking chair about, and cough violently at times. Theii 
 all became quiet. The next day when they did not bear her get up they 
 went to her bed-room and. found her dead. She must have been sitting 
 in her old rocking chair by the table reading an old testament, and feel- 
 ing the pangs cif death approach, managed to get herself in the chair close , 
 by the bed into which she had then clambered and died. It was indeed 
 a sad sight. The old book laid on the table by the lamp which had 
 burned out. Midway between ihe table and bed on the floor were her 
 spectacles, where she had let them fall. The thin pinched features were 
 calm, the eyes directed upward^ and the jaw fallen considerably. Most 
 touching of all, however, the forearms were extended and the hands clasp- 
 ed together like those of a person in the act of prayer. Poor old Looby 
 Ostrom! For seventy years she had plodded through the cold world ut- 
 terly alone, and though she bad so often befriended tlie. friendless, yet, 
 as she had lived, so she died — alone. Alone! how sad! no kind hand to 
 adjust the pillow, to give drink to the parched old lips, to gather and 
 smooth back th* scanty white hair. No voicp to whisper in her ear of 
 the Great City beyond the roUing flood. Yet how sweet and beautiful 
 the reflection that the stilled heart had kept alive true pure love for one 
 man throughout that long, long lifetime. So died poor old Locbj Ost- 
 rom a true, pure, loving woman