True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-07-23
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Why Eunice Platt Taught School
q By FRANCIS D.. GAGE

u
s,dAfilqst' ssvgB --l g, ~ w.. y nd.
Sand so Eunice is married againl'-
Yes, she has left us, and | suppose
that hsr'husband will pow engross all to
himself, that which has been such com.
fort and blessing to our whole neighbor-
hood for six years. We always loved
Eunice, even in her girIhood, But when
she was left a widow, with babe in her
arms, dependent upon her own efforts, and
ullfound her stroug and self reliant, SO
ready TO ill her place; anywhere and
everywhere never signing and groaning
over misfortunes that could not be helped;
but meeting firmly all the difficulties that
rose up in her path, and moving them
away with a resolute hand, if she could,
and, il not, passing round and clambering
over. and with cheerful endcavor strug.
Cling on-we learned to feel that EunCe
Plat was more than common woman.
She found home in every heart, for to
every one she gave portion oil her
strength and resolution in some way that
made them better within the mselves
Her example--I mean her every step, as
she passed through this village, was so
buoyant and light SO full ofhope and en-
ergy, thatthe boys had to quicken their
pace; rs ifby instinct, and every girl in
the whole town became more thoughtful
and useful from her influence. The
mothers pointed TO Eunice Plat, and the
fathers failed not to say If Eunice Platt
wasn't widow with baby. should
want our Tom or Sam, or Frank to be
looking shat way But she's gone now,
I.dou't see who is 10 take her place 5G
"Has she done well :"
..."0h, her husband is as rich as Jew
she never need to do stroke of work
again. if she don't just please to do so.
They say he kept his first wife real lady.
Dressed her splendidly, kept his carriage,
took her to Saratoga or Cape May every
summer, and to Washington and New
York every winter, and allowed her to
do jus. as she pleased everywhere " .t
"Well that's nice, and | am glad Eu-
nice has done so well, for she has certain
" had a hard time Of taking care her.
self SO long. " . , ...... .,... o. s.,.
Yes and then 10 think of The way
she was brought to it. Raised to have
every want supplied, and marrying with a
fortune Of her osn, and giving it into her
husbands hand-thropgh pure love- y =
a." low was that. | never heard about
iti'' t,..9 '.,5.,....... .o...., .,.... ,s- w..
3~" .,.'', Did you not, Why, Eunice, you
know, was the youngest daughter Of old
Squire Ashbrook, up at A shbrook Cor
ners and when she married. he gave her
twenty thousand dollars in land aud mon.
'ey, Henry Plat lad a small capital, and
Eunice's twenly thousand was quite set
up for him. Her money was soon inves-
ted and her land pledged for more than it
was worth, Ill say hers Of course it was
all his then by the laws Of New York.
Well all things went on first rate for a
year orrtwo. But easy won easy lost
is an old and true saying. He dashed
ahead too fast, trusted everybody, made
bad bargains, and finally took to drinking;
is it not strange that men who call Them
selves so strong will lake to, drink when
trouble comes !-well, as was saying,
he, took 70 drink and things grew worse
and worse, The sheriff was ever a. his
heels and at last, when he could 70 no
f,lrther-when the creditors made sweep
all at once he found himselflost. In his
madness and despair he eiook arsenic and
made an end ofhimself, leaving Eunice to
brave life and its storms aIone-:her health
broken b., her sorrows, her prosperity all
gone, and q childto be supported Oh.
twas beautiful then TO see how, quietly
she gathered up her strength for the CON
fict She settled up her estate as well as
she could, leaving nothing for herself. nor
murmuripg that no dover was left her
ONLY, regretlipg that there was one credi-
tor 10 be left unpaid. .,.,".a,, .,s' ~
4. % Yes, Mrs Murphy, 10 my knowledge /;
The beautiful, fashionable, and accom-
pIished Eunice Plalt--when she rented
her cottage here after giving up herspleh-
did home, had not one, dollar 70 pay her
rent, But No one ever heard a murmur
from her lips, She used sometimes TO
say, = am am learning now what 1 should
have learned years ago. how to take care
of myself, then she would smile ex.
ultingly. Never too old to learn. YOU
know, Mrs. Smith" s2,s = E "@'inp sn
90 Such was the conversation that pass ed
beiween two ladies' in a New York VII
'lage, hid away among the hills-no mat
tor where year Or two after, lhe same
ladies' met again, and, with their knitting
work, were, gossiping away an evening
in another village, some hundreds cf
miles distant from ihe spot where the
above conversation was held.
io a'Scens to me, Mrs. Murphy. there's
anew order Of things psprirgihg up in
Your house since I was here last You
deed then 10 clear away the Tea things.
and stay ia the Kitchen half The evening,