Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-06-04
THE WIDOWS VILLA True TALE.
BY REV. A. N. SCOTT.

b1 new a. NJ SUIT.
II was a bitter night The snow had been
falling in feecy flights during the greater por-
| ton of the day. and the cold was so intense that
| little business of any kind had been prosecuted
by the industrious and enterprisng 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
house, and through the fields and orchards and
! forests, and among the distant mountains
MI. Rowland had returned from his counting
| house at an earlier hour than usual Supper
had been served and the family had gathered a.
round the sparkling fire The children had been
put to bed IN an adjoining apartment, and the in
+ mt was sleeping in It's cradle under the imme-
date notice of its mother. Mr. Rowland was
reading newspaper and as the fitful blast moan
ed around his commodous dwelling, he would
make some remarks relative to the severity of
the weather. Mrs. R. was parting the faxen
hair upon the head of the sleeping babe, and oc-
casionally she imprinted the warm kiss of ma.
ternal 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 was thrown
around her slender shoulders and pair of mis-
cradle old shoes upon her feet. She was almost
frozen.
"You are the widow Watkins little dauph-
ter?" said Mrs. Rowland, inqnirngly.
The little girl answered in the affirmative, and
added that her Ma was sick, and wished Mr..
Rowland to sep over and see her, for she tho't
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 unteeling owner exacted. The prop
erty was once her husbands, or rather her own,
beng gilt from her father on the very day of
her Wedding. Mr.. Watkins was wealthy when
young man, and was educated for the bar. and
no one seemed more likely to be successful in
his profession. He and Mr.. Rowland were
early associates. The latter, a few years before
the period at which we now find him, had COM
menced the netarious traffic in ardent spirits
had grown rlch-had induced Watkins 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 neglectlng his professional duties, he
his former associate, his pretended friend his de-
stroyer, 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 mortgage was given to Row
land upon the homestead of the drunkard, to Sc.
cure the rum dealer in the payment of pitifuI
balance in his favor.
The calamity did not check the prodgal ca
reer OF the lnebrate. He still quatfed the LIQUID
poison, and still did the heartess dealer hold out
I 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 a state c. lntoxicaton--
The night was dark, and he probably missed his
way, fell into gutter--found himself unable to
get and, being stupefed with rum, he went
to sleep and froze to death.
Rowland in short time foreclosed the mort
gage, and the home of the drunkard's wife be-
came the legal property of the man who had de-
stroyed her peace, and reduced her to beggary
and want. lie permitted her to remain on the
premises, eXacting an eXtravagant rate of rent
Mental anguish, excessive labor, want of proper
nourlshment, and exposure, had we'll nigh worn
her out, and she fast sinking into the grave
| where the weary are at rest. No one had been
near her; no one seemed to care for her-it in
fact was not known even TO her nearest neigh
bors that she was sick.
Mr.. Rowland felt anxious only for his rem
there being at that time a small sum due And
perhaps it is owing to that circumstance that be
so readily consented to accompany the little GIRL
TO the room of her sick mother. He drew on his
| overcOat, tied q W len comforter around his
neck, drew on his gloves, and taking his umbrel-
la, set out through the drifting snow and slcet
and bont his way to the widow uncomfortable
home.
He found her lying on a miserable bed oil
straw, with her head slightly elevated, the only
chair belonging to her house being placed under
her pillow. She was pale and ghastly, and =
IDENTITY near the hour of dissolution. Mr.. Row
land being seated on rude wooden stool, she
said, in feeble but decided tone of voice:
Il have sent for you, sir, to pay me visit, that
may make you the heir Of my estate. My es-
tate? know you are ready 10 ask what estate
have to bequeath. And well you may ask that
| was once happy. This house was mine; it
was my fathers gi(t--my wedding portion ]
had horses and oxen and cows and sheep, and
orchards and meadows. Twas you that indu-
ced my poor erring husband to drink. 1t was
you who placed before him the liquid poison, and
pressed him to take it. Twas you that took a.
way my horses and cows, and meadows and or
chards, and my own home. Twas you that ru-
ined my peace, destroyed my husband, and in
the very noon of life sent him down to drunk
ards dishonored grave Twas you that made
me beggar, and cast my poor, starving babes
upon the charity of a cold ptiless world.
have nothing left but these ragged quilts them
you @do not want--yet have determined to be-
| queath you my estate. Here, sir, as my last will
and testament, | do bcqueath to you this vial of
tears! They are tears that | have shed-tcars
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 a hus-
hand and father, remember that you are inner,
! ting another vial of widows tears"
An hour more and the poor widow, the widow
of a thousand sorrows, the once favored child of
I fortune, the once lovely and wealthy bride, the
once atfecuonate wife and devoted young moth
er, lay cold and senseless in death, and her soul
! had been summoned to that God who has said,
! vengeance is mine, and will repay"
How NEAR Is HEAVEN ?--Christan some
! times look far away to heaven; but the rest is
not far off. The clouds that hide the shining
world are thin; they are transient, and soon will
/ obscure M bo mo aDj