The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-10-07

Dr0Nr WINTER s lNUHn SlbIllS anu lltI flllll
frosty air.
css=a4s~sras-----'--s-1s'sa-'.-r----
A Woman at the Bottom oft.
To tell the truth, said Johu Haviland'
as he threw aside his evening paper and
faced the little group in the parlor, Il am
fast growing out of patience with his text
"a woman at the bottom of it, 1t
would be strange in this world, made up,
as far as we are aware, Of nothing but
the two sexes, If a woman would not oc.
casionaly be found at the bottom Of any.
thing good. 1t is the injustice of the
thing that makes me angry Now there
are hundreds Of US poor fellows who owe
all we are, all we have. aud ali we can
hope to become, in this world or the next,
to the unsel6sh love of woman,
Tho gentleman's faco wac flushed, and
he spoke very warmly and teelngly, so
much that his wife, rocking her baby to
sleep in the farther corner Of the room in.
quired
But why should you care, John p 1t
has always been 50, and always will be so,
we do not think much about it now be.
cause we have been taught to expect it,
But you should care, and you should
fight for each other more than you do.
There is one chapter in my lie's history
that have always kept locked in my
heart, but tonight | feel as il it were my
duty to open it for your inspection; and
| do it for the love OF woman for the
love Of one woman who made me what
am worthy to be, the husband ola good
woman
why, John = said Mrs. Haviland,sott.
ly approaching, g,-babe still held tightly
to her hosom-you absolutely frighten
me-
Let's have the story, said the rest Of
the group, certain that something good
might be anticipated, and John commence
ed, at first little timid. but gaining con-
lidence as he proceeded.
when first came to New York, at
the age Of twelve years, to seek my for.
tune, | can call myself preco ,ious chap
without danger Of being accused of an un
usual degree Of selfappreciatioa. was
quick to learn everything-the bad as
well as the good. My employer used
protaue language. picked up the oaths
he dropped with naturalness that sur
prised even myself The boys in the OF.
fee all chewed tobacco. This was a little
the hardest job | ever attempted, out af
ter two weeks of nausea and iDdescribabC
stomach wrenchings, came off victori
Gus, aud could get away with my peper a
day with the very best of 'em
True every word Of it, continued thC
speaker.
'One afternoon | was sent with note
from my employer to house in the upper
part Of the city. | hadn't anything tC
read, but | had plenty of tobacco, ant
with that | proposed to entertain myself
during the two or three hours mus
spend in the passage. For some distance
| | did not notice who was beside me, bu
by and by lady said very softly and
pleasantly Would you please. little bo,
be more careful. am going to part,
this afternoon, and | should hate to hav,
my dress spoiled
i looked into her face. 1t was tn,
sweetest face | ever saw. Pale, earnest
and loving, to my boyish heart it was th
countenancc Of an angel
What 10 the world did you say? in
terrupted Mrs. Haviland, her bright eye
filling with tears, as she saw how tn
memory of this beautiful woman alfecte,
her husband
Say There was little | could say.
think all did for some time was to look
managed to dispose Of the tobacco, how
ever, and wiped my mouth very CAREFUL
all of which | felt certain she saw, an
mentally commented upon.
Have you mother, little boy? sh
asked in the same low tone.
M, ma'am,' | answered, and | fe
my throat filling up, and | knew mus
swallow mighty fast to keep from sol
bing'
You have father, then, | suppose
she kept on.
No, maam, no father
brothers and sisters?'
, Neither
Then the little boy is all alone in ii
world p
'All alone, ma'am
How long has his mother been dead
Two years. answered.
And you loved her p came next
Dearly was all l could say.
p, She was silent for momont, and tn
said so sweetly-oh | shall never forg
I it-'and what do you think your de
mother would say-how do you think S
would feel-to know that her little b
was guilty of such disgusting habit
this p pointing to my cheek, where t
tell-tale cud mad vainly tried to stand
ground.
: Il must leave you now she continue
y but here is my card, and if you come
me most any evening, | shall be glad
see you, and perhaps we can be Of servi
to each other
She gave me her little gloved hands
| shall never forget the sensation of Il
moment. | could not bear to part W
her without her felt that l could
,o.l;... ,,;,L ko. / ooulI ,,rom N a m n