The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-04-14
Our Saturday Night.
ONLY A WIDOW.

ONLY A WIDOW.
! To night we stood IN front Of house,
! looking IL through 4 window, 10 see 10
man At work. The curtain was dewn t.
| within te1 inches of the window, sill, but
We could lock IN aud see woman at work
( OF God millions here were two OF us
! there. And which of US cared for the 9th
er? Had she known We were there, she
| iuight have thought us impe.tinent-bu
We did not so mean II, Tor 90 did not run
! our thought. or intentions.
She swept the t0or-n0 carpet thereon.
! She set the chairs iu pzce-shoved little
/ table to one corner of the room. Then she
stopped before glass TO smooth her hair
! back irou u brow that seemed to US fair.
/ but sorrow lined Then she stirred up
/ the fre-took lamp from the mantel, and
set it on little table close by sewing
machine, and soon WAS 1t work, although
/ it was three hours past sundONn this Sat
urday Night, as she worked ana We watch
; ed
| Hello! is that you?'
/ ''Ies
! "W hat srs you standing so still fol?'
! Looking At that wonan-y ou can see
( her look under the curtain
/ Only poor widow al work-what sense
/ in looking at her? Come alorg III going
! !oUr WAY.
/ And SO We reeled mp our thread of
( thoughts and walked homewarl to he liz
! tie room where We sit 10 write this chap
ter and wait 10 say good bye to the week
! for W shall never see 1t again, aud would
| part trlcnIs.
Only widow
And is not that a volume? You who
( see only widow at work, sse not the hum
! dEed,h part. We sec woman Whose life
may have been happy-uay have been
miserable. If happy
She had home. She was loved and
pette4 and cared t0r and protected and ca
ressci by one who was deaTer to ller than
al others. She was one who to hi, manly
/ keeping had corided her love, her heart
her affection, her lie To ard him who Is
now mourned WAS her delight To care for
him-to welcome him home from toii-to
watch by aud over him in sicknsss-to
/ l.At~n his load minister 10 hi. wants, ana
make him proud Of her, harry ,oith her,
earnest and manly through her, was her
great, noble, God given mission.
/ " - look back 10 tho days when she gave
her heart aud herself wholly to him 10
the lime when the tso started out as young
vOyasera on the sea so full Of wrecks. We
saw hIn bending to kiss hcr-hoding her
! to his hesrt--smooihing back the hair
from her forehead-Iooking way down the
/ mystic depths OF those loving eyes, to the
/ heart all his OWL sitting side by side
/ holding palm in palnl--restlng his tired
! heal on her bosom or hers on his-kissing
| her and calling her the while his darling
| And ~e saw the years fading as they fol
| lowed the yapory weeks down the vale OF
time. And age leaving marks aai furrows
/ on their bro.s, as occupants OF cradles
came to b;nd them still closer in love and
/ life. And We saw with what pride she
/ looked on him; good, true, noble, loving
/ polite, kind hearted man and considerate
! husband; atectlonate and honest parent,
setting good examples, az he would make
OF his sons and daughters men and 1COmen
/ And we saw the house growing in attrac.
| tIons-tiiends calling to enjoy their hospi
tslty--ths walls being covered with pie
tursS-the rooms everywhere with articles
OF luxury, taste, comfort, and convenience
We saw their home becoming more and
more-more and still more happy as they
learned how little the world cared for
them and how much tFey cared for each
othor-how happy we're they together, how
! nervous, and uneasy, lonely when ssparst
ed. How she watched for his coming
greeted him with a kiss-how he held ber
to his hear, d rested from his labor in
her loving presence.
Then We saw her watching over hi. sick
bed-her heart in fear, tears, agony, and
then they told her be was desd-and then
like dream went her lite Of happiness,
+ =
less, heart wrecked, living on the floating,
tear-wet memories Of the happy past, The
good ships parted company before the
sog 'ou aud to Sink-to labor aud repins-
with her weary load till death comes to her
relief
Only widowl
Grea, God! As if that was not enough
And you all SPEAK unkiudiy OF her. as if
his death was her crirnel You shut her
out from empioyment-you compel her TO
work for pennies where you pay othc,s
dol..rs-you take delight In giving her
sork, and cheating her out OF her scanty
pay-yol deem 1t Christianity to torture
and over-worx her, for she Is only widow !
Ii her heart from its despair turns to the
hight OF kindness and loving vords-lt she
sinilss on one who speaks kindly 10 her
II she dsres raise be- eyes from the grave
o! her los. gae, the young and the old siik E
sheer at her, for she is onIy widow. AMI
she struggles on with wondr0us herolsln
Sac cares tor her little ones. She do.s her
duly. She hyes To purpose. She takes
stu closer to her heart the little one. lie
had loft, and then yOp blame her for loving
Gtr aT-t> >tOER-the ones who gre warmed
by The sunlight OF oldeu memories of him,
DO matter how changed her life NAV be-
God love al the widows--sii who have
lost their loved ones-sii who are sorr0wful
OF heart for those who sleep here to vaken
just over yoadeT! We love the earnest
men with wives and little ones. whs strive
to 1--we loving, useful iivss We love the
men who labor. and nlan, and take care of
their homes aui earnings. thar their vid