Washington telegraph., 1853-07-13
The Widows Affections,
BY FANNY FERN.

The funeral was over, and Jane Grey
came back to her desolate home. There
were the useless drugs, the tempting fruit
and flowers, which came all too late for the
sinking sufferer. Wherever her eye fell
there was some sad reminiscence to torture
her. They, whose life had been all sun
shine, came from cheerful homes, whose
threshold death had never darkened, to Of
fer consolation. III the usual phrases Of
of stereotyped coincidence had fallen upon
her ear; and now they had all gone, and
the world would move on just the same that
there was just one more broken heart in It.
She must bear her weight CT woe alone
She knew that her star had set. Earth. sea
and sky had no beauty now, since the eve
that worshipped them with her was closed
and rayless.
''Whom the Lord loyeth he chasteneth y
said Uncle John, joining the tips of the
fingers of either hand, and settling himself
in vestry attitude to say his lesson. 'Af-
Aictions come out Of the ground Man is
cut down like flower. God is the God Of
the widow and the fatherless l suppose
YOU find it so! % said he, looking into the
widows face.
Il can scarcely tell said jamie. This
was lightning flash from summer cloud.
Ny eyes are blinded; | cannot see the bow
Of promise
Wrong all wrong" said Uncle john
The Lord gave and the Lord hes taken
away. You ought to be resigned. I'm
afraid you don't enjoy religion Affections
are mercies in disguise. III lend YOU this
e 81
get submissive somehow, or you will have
other troubles sent upon you. Good morn
ing"
Uncle John was a rigid sectarian, of the
bluest school of divinity enjoying an inn
mense reputation for sanctity, than which
nothing was dearer to him, save the contents
Of his pockct-book. 1t was his glory to be
the Alpha and Omega Of parish gatherings
and committees to be consulted on the ex-
pediency of sending tracts to the Kangaroo
Islands; to be present at the laying Of cor
uer stones for embryo churches; to shine
conspicuously at ordinations, donation visits,
Sabbath celebrations. colporteur-mect-
ings-in short. anything that smacked Of
church -stceple, or added one inch to the
length and breadth of his pharisaieal skirt.
He pitticd the poor as every good christian
should but he never allowed them to put
their hands in his pocket-that was a terrific
rv over which the church had no control
it belonged entirely to the other side Of the
fence.
Uncle John sat in his counting-room look
ing very satisfactorily at the proof-sheets of
the Morning STAR" Of which he was editor
He had just glanced over his long list OF
subscribers, and congratulated himself that
matters were in such prosperous condition.
Then he took out a large roll Of bank bills
and fingered them most afectionately: then
he frowned oninously at a poor beggar
child, who peeped in at the door: smoothed
his chin, and settled himself comfortably in
his rocking-chair.
4 rap at the door of the counting-room
May I come in, uncle :" and Janie's long
black veil was thrown back from her sad
face
Yes" said Uncle John, rather frigid-
ly. pretty busy--'spose you won't stay
long," and he pushed his porte -monnaie
further down in his pocket.
Il came to ask" said jamie timidly, If
you would employ me to write for your pa
paper Matters are more desperate with
me than thought. and there is necessity
for nay doing something Immediately. | be-
lieve [ have talents that | might turn to ac-
count as writer | have literally nothing,
Uncle John, to depend upon
Your husband was an extravagant man
lived too fast Ought to have been eco
nomical as I was when [ was young man.
Can't have your cake and eat it too. Can't
expect me to make up for other peoples de-
fciencies You must take care of your-
self"
Certainly that's just what wish to do, "
said JAMIE struggling to restrain her tears
IT but she only finished the sentence
with sobs; the contrast between the sunny
past and the gloomy present was too strong
for her troubled heart.
Now, if there was anything Uncle John
mortally hated, it was to see woman cry.
In all such cases he irritated the victim till
she took speedy and frenzied leave. So
he remarked again that ''Mr Grey was ex-
travaeant, else there would have been some
thing left. He was sorry he was dead; but
that was thing lie wasn't to blame for
and he didn't know any reason why he
should be bothered about it. The world
was full of widows-they all went to work,
he supposed, and took care of themselves.
IF you will tell me whether you can en-
ploy me to write for you,' said the widow
Il will not trouble you longer.
Il have plenty who will write for moth
ing" sao the old man. market IS over
stocked with that sort Of thing Can't at
lord to pay contributors, especially new be-
sinners Don't think you have any talent
that way either Better take sewing, OF
sSomething," said he, taking out his watch
by way of a reminder that she had better