Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-12-05
THE WIDOWS TRIALS.
By HENRY WHITE,

The wind WAS howIing and moaning thro'
| Tie ,ariy deserted streets, driving the SHOW
III almost Dllnclng clouds into every creyicc
and doorway. Pedestrians paused in their
hurried progress towards their hurried bro
| sress towards their cheerful iresides, turning
| their backs upon the furious steel and storm.
wind, endeavOring to catch their breath, and
summonlns all their efforts again to combat
| the elements. Policemen fitted like shadows
underneath the friendly shed awnings and
rccesscs, seeking shelter from the pitIess
storm that ragged with such sweeping force.
The few wheeled vehicles tugged along slow
~ and noiselessly, through the snow that
was last gaining an ascendcncy over stearning
jaded horses. The city lamps cast but n
faint gilmmer through the surrounding snow.
fog OF truly wintry night of January in
this great metropolis. .. : e.t
1t was my first night in New York for
years; as had hut that day arrived rom
Europe, where l had spent four years in sight.
seeing and becoming acquainted with the Gus
I.toms and habits OF the various nations in the
| world ''"@ go. #
My parents dying when was but boy,
was lett to pursue my own course at maturity
md becoming po sessed Of valuable real es-
>ions. determined to see the world IN all
It's various forms, and had been pursuing
that course through the years mentioned. Il
| sall'ed forth from my hotel that evening
stormy though it was) to visit an old and
cherished friend OF my youth. We had been
schoomates together, firm friendship had
ever existed between us. and manhood had
rpenel that friendship into brotherly love. Il
George o---was young man o.: tai
n,s. prudent and energetic Upon leaving
school he accepted clerkship in a mcrcan.
| tile house doing a very EXTENSIVE business |;
and At the time | went abroad George was
advancing in the confidence OF his employers,
and bidding fair to become at no distant day
the junior partner Of the firm His letters.
to me had been frequent up to the March be-
fore my return. Since that had never re.
ceive'l any word or in fact, heard from him.
As approached the well remembered
house in the upper part Of the city, my hear,
beat light as thought OF the surprise nv
appearance would create. There was the
same old fashioned building looking very "a
miliar. vet there seemed something mela,,
choly and quiet connected with it. The light
IN the hous" buried dilnly Ringing, th..
b II. howev'r r. was ushcred into tn. paror
bright FIR" was in the old graf but ~t,lGess
rnigncd within 'h" friendly walls A sr y Oh
the stairs drew nv attention to the door and
Georg"'s mother entered the room. clothed
in mourning apparel was cordial. rec.iv
Cd bv the old lady. thr tears starting in pro
fusion as she recognized nv countermnce. r
dared not ask for George. OF his wlie, as III
snmhre garments told too plainly that the
FL Il strover Ind entered the humble dwell
ing and stel"n one of the happy f"ck. y
It was very diff 'llt task for me, and
INTRODUCED the subject as dslicat " ~ p6ssl-
hIe II was a nom Mt Of interst sorrow Il,
me, a. tn. tears g,ishad forth afresh ana was
somntime hnfnre tn. Widow S------conld
reply ] fel, had lacrrateda a wound that
was hut partially healed. ~4rstF4 ota /
arose 70 depart; hut composing herself
ard motionirg me to be Stated she related.
amid sohs and chokeing sighs. the following
story Of her trials. ftTsd q
"One year ago to night. George, nv only
child brought To his home his lovely bride, and
ahappier and livc'ier company were seldom
gathered together than were collected in this
room hut one short year ago to night "a year
fraught with sorrow and death
"Georgr's wife was one cf those persons
of whom II was trnly said to behold was to
love- or sprightlv, cheerful disposition.
she adapted herself to her new home, and our
family circle was complete. lisi
"It was hut 4 few days after New York
was convulsed 10 its very center on receiving