The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-04
A DiscOllsDDate Widow.

dreary and hiIy road that ever mortal man
travelled, Il came in sight of what supposed
to he the widows house. TWAS low cabin
!. at the foot Of hill, with tremendous OAK
in front Of it,, saw some one setting under
the tree, and, as lapproached nearer, dis
covered 1t was woman, with her face
buried in her hands and weeping violently
As soon as | REACHED the spot, addressed
her somewhat in the following words:s
II ID not wish to be impertinent, madam
but feel some concern TO know what is the
matter with you?'.
"Oh! hoo--ee. Duh! OBJ, me! Hoo,oo
hoohoo"
my dear madam, What is the matter!" |
demanded, becoming really CONCERNED at
the manner in which she was acting. She
kept up her agony of distress, while group
Of six or seven children began to come frcm
the neighboring bushes and gather close
bout her.
e"Madamv cried l, sin the name Of all
that's good, tell me what ails your
20, stranger!' she exclaimed, raising her
eyes, bloodshot with weeping, "my--boo-
hoo! o!--hus-boo-band is--boo-hoo dead!"
and again she relapsed into her fit of weep
ing. l was truly affected by the poor wo-
mans distress and though poor sinner my
self, | could not refrain from offering her
some consolation.
MY dear madam, do not give up TO dis.
tresa.- Heaven has promised to be a husband
to the widow, and father to thofatherless.
Cheer up. my good woman; the cloud may
be dark, but the sun vii! eventually dissipste
it. You may have to labor bard for your
children, bnt Heaven will aid you!"
''That mn't nothin', stranger" exclaimed
the woman; ''as fur the children, ha.nt got
but seventeen, an make sport for thin easy
enough. Heaven mout be my husband, an
| has no doubt he'd make a mighty good
husband; but want sure nna husband, a
real live one like my poor John was afore
lie uied-poor John.--poor John! Q, me!-
hoo-hoo-ee-ee!'
When had listened to this speech, there
was something SO absolutely and purAy
original. in its ridiculous ideas that could
not help laughing at the mousner. As soon
T-.~.stsu 1--seo~~s~<a ssssA .as~-s~<A
nv tactics.
"Wel!, ma'am,' said, III that's all, for
Heavens sake don't give yourself any troub-
les There are plenty of men in the world;
surely you can get. another husband"
Il mont git another husband, stanger,
but, oh! coullnt find nary . mother like
John--poor John!-poor John! oh, me! boo
hoo!"
"What was there remarkably about him
ma'am? If he was uncommonly likely, there
Of handsome men left in the world
II he was IAN extraordinary strong pan,
know Of some giants in strength. Was be
good, kind and gentle, there are such still
left on earth. Was he man Of extraordi-
nary intellect, wisdom OF genius, depend mp
on il there arc others equa! 10 him on earth.
Depend upon it, that no matter what extra
gift ka-nay have possessed, with patience
and diligence you may find another to
smooth the rough way of lie for you, and
fill the vacancy which now distresses you So"
20. straHger!' returned the woman, Il
know It's your kiadhsartedness what makes
you speak so. but faint worth while; John
wasn't nothin' cx,raor'1ary in none q them
things as You speak Of. But. still | never,
no never! know + never kin find likes
Of John again on yuth! Q, John!poor JOHN!
poor JOHN! !-boo-hoo-ee!'
sWeu, madam, lave guessed till Tn
tired. What was there about John 50 re-
marksblv!n
"Markebul,!" she exclaimed, "why, stran-
ger. John vas the best fiddler On yuth. How
he'd Law back behind his fiddle and roll his
beautiful red head about from side to side,
as he played, Sugar in de Gourd,' Pig in De
Tatur Patch 'Ole Dan Tucker. an all them
tunes Just to think! 1t ha'nt been a
month since he sit rite here under this tree
and PLAYED for ne wh;lcI got up and danced
just shis way 10 that good old tsne..
30, she ~baldn,t 90 she couldn't an she wouldn't
coAe at ain
Te nm tuh diddle .dum aoole addy day."
And mere the womas jumped up and cut
two. or Ahree very difficult steps7talf way
betweeH The pigeon wing and old Virginia
back steb--while she sang the above tune ::
then falling, she screamed id all the agony Of
distress .s
.Andnow he's gone-dea,l! Oh, mel"
Irased as the woman for one moment,
aud lhen told her l knew some very gool
fid,Ners. She immediately became cain,
and looking up. p.inuo my face with. an snquir-
ing glance, she ssid:
ss,st1nger, ,aaybe you i good fldles;
III go ar git Johns fiddle"
And OF she started for tho house! As
soon IS sho was out Of sight, struck spurs
to my horse,
Esv can understand the depth of such
feeIng % that. a@