The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-07-31
THE WIDOWS WILL: A TRUE TALE.
BY REV. A NJ. SCOTT.


BY REV. A NJ. SCOTT.
twas bitter night The snow had been tall
ing in Aeecy flights during the greater portion
of the day. and the cold was so intense that III
tie business of any kind had been prosecuted oy
the industrious and enterpriSing citizens OF the
village. Night had succeeded day. The snow
and sleet were still descending. and the spirit OF
the storm seemed to howl around the mouse,
and through the fields and orchards and forests,
and among the distant mountains.
Mr.. Rowland had returned from his count
ing house at an earlier hour than usual. Supper
had been served, and the family had gathered
around the sparkling fire. The children had
been put to bed in an adjoining apartment, and
the infant was sleeping in the cradle under the
immediate notice Of its mother. Mr. Rowland
was reading newspaper, and as the hliul blast
moaned around his commodious dwelling, he
would make some remarks relative to the Sc
verify of the weather. Mrs. II. was parting the
faxen curs upon the head Of the sleeping babe,
and occasionally she imprinted the waru kiss
of maternal affection upon its ruddy cheek.
Suddenly some one raped at the door. 1t
was opened, when little girl of about seven
years old was admitted. Her scanty dress was
tattered and torn, ragged quilt thrown around
her slender shoulders, and pair of miserable
old shoes upon her feet. She was almost
frozen.
You are the widow Watkins little daugh-
ter 2" said Mrs. Rowland, inquiringly.
The little girl answered in the affirmative, and
added that her Ma was sick, and wished Mr.
Rowland TO step over and see her, for she
thought she would surely die
Mr.. Rowland owned the place on which the
sick woman resided She was very INDECENT,
and but poorly able to pay the extravagant rent
which the unfeeling owner exacted The prop
erty was once her husbands, or rather her
own being a gift from her father on the very
day of her wedding. Mr.. W atkins was wealthy
| when young man, and was educated for the
bar, and no one seemed more likely to be sue
| cessfu in his profession. He and Mr.. Rowland
were early associates The latter, few years
before the period at which we now find him,
| had commenced the neiarious traffic in ardent
| spirits-had grown rich - had induced Wat
kins to drink-made him drunk, and by degrees
drunkard and when the poor besotted victim
was unable to pay his debts, contracted mostly
for rum, but partly by neglecting his profession
al duties, he, his former associate, his pretend
ed friend, his destroyer, was the first to decry
and Cypress him. His horses and oxen were
sold by the sheriff, next his household and
| kitchen furniture were seized, and finally mort
gage was given to Rowland upon the home
stead of the drunkard, to secure the rum dealer
in the payment of pitiful balance in his ia
vor
This calamity did not check the prodigal ca
reer Of the inebriate. He still quafed the liquid
poison, and still did the heartess dealer hold out
inducements to prevail upon him to sink lower
into wretchedness and shame. A few weeks
after, he was one morning found dead in the
street. He had left the grocery at late hour
the preceding night in state OF intoxlcatlon.
The night was dark, and he probably missed his
way--fell into a gutter-found himself unable
to get out-and, being stupefed with rum, he
he went to sleep and froze to death.
Rowland in a short time foreclosed the mort
gage, and the home of the drunkard's wife be-
came the legal property ofthe man who had
destroyed her peace, and reduced her ie. beSgary
| and want. HE permitted her to remain Oh the
premises, exactlng an extravagant rate of rent.
Mental anguish, excessive labor, want OF prop
er nOurishment, and exposure, had well nigh
worn her out, and she was fast sinking into the
grave, where the weary are at rest. No one
had been near her ; no one seemed to care for
her-in fact it was not known even to her near
est neighbors that she was sick
Mr.. Rowland felt anxious only for his rent
there being at that time small sum due. AND
perhaps it is owing to that circumstance tina
he so readily consented to accompany the little
girl to the room of her sick mother. He drew
on his overcoat, tied woolen comforter round
his neck, drew on his gloves, and taking his
umbrella, sat out through the drifting snow ant
sleet, and bent his way TO the widows uncom.
Portable home.
He found her lying on miserable bed o.
straw, with her head slightly elevated, the on
ly chair belonging to her house being placed
under her pillow. She was pale and ghastly
and evidently near the hour of dissolution
Mr.. Rowland being seated on a rude wooden
stool, she said in feeble but decided tone OF
voice,
:" have sent for you, sir, to pay me visit,
that ! may make you the heir to my estate.
My estate? know you are ready to ask what
estate | have to bequeath. And well may
you ask that. | was once happy. This house
was once mine it was my fathers gift-my
wedding portion. had horses and oxen, and
cows and sheep, and orchards and meadows.
Twas you that induced my poor erring hus-
band TO drink. Ii was you who placed before
him the liquid poison, and pressed him TO take
it. Twas you that took away my horses and
cows, and meadows and orchards, and my own
home, Twas you that ruined my peace, de-
suoyed my husband, and in the very noon OF
life sent him down to a drunkard's dishonored
grave. Twas you that made me beggar, and
cast my poor starving babes upon the charity Of
pitiless world have nothing left but these
ragged quilts; them you do not want-yet
have determined to bequeath you my estate,
Here, sir, as my last will and testament, do
begueath to you this vial OF tears. They are
tears that | have shed-tears that you have
caused. Take this vial wear it about your vile
person and when hereafter you present the
flowing bowl to the lips of husband and ia
Their, remember that you are inheriung an
other vial of widows tears,
An hour more, and the poor widow, the
widow Of thousand sorrows, the once favored
child of fortune, the once lovely and wealthy
bride, the once affectonate wife and devoted
young mother, lay cold and senseless in death,
and her soul had been summoned to that God
who has said, Vengeance is mine, and will
repay"
| FEMALE MFnlCAI CnII rGr nv p rNasYF.