The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1852-05-06
The Widows WilI.-..A True Tale.
EY II EV. A. NJ. SCOTT

| II was a bitter night The snow had been fll-
ling in heecy flights during the greater portion Of
! the day, and The cold intense that little
business of any Kind had been prosecuted by the
industrious and enierprlsing citizens Of The village
! Night had succeeded dav. The snow and sieel
were still descending, and the spirit OF the storm
seemed TO howl around ,he house, and through
the fields and orchards and forests, and anOny the
diSan; mountains.
( Mr. Rowland had returned from his counting
house al an earlier hoar than usual. Supper had
been served, and the family had i,hered around
the sparkling FIRE. The children had been pu, to
bed in al adjoining apartment, aud the infLut was
sleeping in the cradle under the Immediate notice
of its mother. Mr. Rowland was reading
newspaper, and as the fifu blast noancd around
his commodious dwelling, he would make some
remarks relative to the severity Of the weather
Mrs Il. was parting the fllxen hair upon the he ID
Of the sleeping babe, and occasionally she I'M
prnied the warm kiss Of maternal affection upon
lts rudy check
! Suddenly some one raped a, the door. 1t
was opened. when a little girl Of about seven
years old was admitted. Her scanty dress was
tl;tered and torn, ragged qui!t thrown round
her slender shoulders, and pair of miserable old
shoes upon her feet She almost frozen.
''iou are the widow Watkins little daush-
tcr:" said Mrs. Rowland, inquirinsly.
! The htle girl answered in the affirmative, and
added that her Ma sch, and wished Mr..
Rowland 10 step over and see her. for she tho
she would surely die.
Mr. Rowland owned the place on which the
sick woman resided. She was very INDECENT
and bat poorly able TO pay the exIravagant rent
which the uuiaeling owner eXac;ed. The prop
eriy was once her husbands or rather her own
beng a gift from her father OF the very dav of
her wedding. NIr Watkins was wealthy when
| euI, / cd tl,,, b.r MI
no one seemed more likely 10 be successful in his
profession. He and Mr.. Rowland were early as
socrates. The latter, few years before the Pc
Rod at which we now find him, had commenced
.he nefarious trafi. in ardent spirt,-bad grown
rIch---had ndu ed Watkins 10 drInk--mad- him
drunk, and by degrees ii orunAard; and when the
poor besnlted victim was unable TO pay his debts,
contracted mostly for run, but partly by neglect
ing hs professional duties, he, his former as>ocI-
ale, his pretended friend, lis destroyer, was the
first to decry and Cypress hIm. ills horses and
oxen were sold b, The sheriff, next his household
and kitchen furniture were seized, and finally a
mortgage was gwen to Rowland upon he home
stead of the druuhard, to secure the runs dealer IN
the payment Of pilui balance in ms favor.
The calamity did not check The prodigal
reer Of the inebriate. He sill quaied the liquid
poson, and still did the tedr,le>s dealer hold ou,
inducements to prevail upon him to sink lower
iiIlO NTctCiitune,> anu slilule. n lew NethS d.
ter, he was one morning found dead in the street.
He had left the grocery at late hour The pre-
ccdng night, in d state of intoNicaion. The
night was dark, and he probably miss ID his way,
fell into a gutter-iuund himself unable 10 get
out--and, bcin. Supplied wilh rum, he went 10
sleep and iroZe 10 death.
/ Rowland IN d short time forecosed the mort
gage, and the home Of The druukarls wife be
came The legal property OF the man who hhd de-
stroYed her peace, and reduced Eer 10 h"ogary
and want He permitted her to remain the
premises, eXac'lne an eNiravagdnt rate ct rent.
NeuIal anguish, excessive labor, want of proper
noun ishment. and exposure. had We'll nigh worn
her out. aud she was fast sinking INTO the grave,
where the weary at rest. No one had been
neal her; no one seemed 20 care Tor her-ln TACT
/ II was not known even to her nearest ne ghbors
that she sick.
! MIR Rowland felt ANXIOUS only for his rent,
there being at that lime small sum due. And
perhaps 1t is ow ing 10 tha, circumstance that he
So readily consented TO accompany the little gir
10 the room o.. her sick mother. lie drew on ms
oyercoat tied a wooden comforter round his neck q,
drew on his gloves. and taking his umbrella, set
out through the drlillns snow and sleet, and bent
his way TO the widow ) uncomfortable home.
/ He found her yng u miserable bed OF straw. g.
with he, head slightly elevated, the only chair be-
longing TO her house being placed under her pii-
low. She was pale and ghasily. and. eSIaegty
near the hour Of disso' ulon. Mr.. RdY !arI Jei:g
seated on Il rude wooden stool, she ssi&. :r.a'iet-
bic but decided tone Of voice:
/ 81 have sent for you, sir, 10 pay me visit
that may make you the heir OF my estate. My
estate: know YOU are ready to ask what estate
| have TO bequeah And well may you ask that
| was once happy. This house was mlne; it was
my fathers gltt--my wedding portion. ] had
horses and oxen, and and sheep, and orch
ards aud meadows. Twas you that induced my
poor errlng husband to drink. 1t WAS you who
placed before him the liquid poison, and pressed
him 10 take it. Twas YOU that took away my
horses nd cows, and meadows and orchards, and
my own home. Twas you ihat ruined my peace
Jes,ro, ed my husband, and in the very noon oi
#. sent him down 10 a drinkurd's dIshonored
grave Twas YOU that made me a begsar. and
cast my poor starving babes upon the ohiriy et q
pnl,ess world. have nothing Jeff but 'h' So rag
gcd quits; them YOU do not want-yet have
Determined to b"9ueath YOU my estate. Here,
SIR IA u.y last VIII and teeiamenr, do beGueath
to YOU this vial Of tears. They are tears Ihat !
/ hsve shed--teafs that YOU have caused Take
this vial; wear it about your vie person; and
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