Weekly Trinity journal., 1873-10-11
A WOMAN AT THE BOTTOM OF 1T

lnlS JoAl, II WOLldu NJ VIC pOIlOlH VI lV'
1t would be strange in this world, made
up, as far as we are aware, of nothing but
the two sexes, if woman would not oc-
casionally be found at the bottom of any
thing good 1t is the injustice of the
thing that makes me angry. Now there
are a hundred of us poor fellows who owe
all we are, all we have, and all we can
hope to become, in this world or the next,
to the unselfsh love of woman"
The gentleman's face was flushed, and
he spoke very warmly and feelingly, so
much so that his wife rocking her baby
to sleep in the further corner of the room
inquired:
"But why should you care, John ? 1t
has always been so, and always will be so.
We don't think much about it now, be-
cause we have been taught to expect it,"
" But you should care and you should
fight for one another more than you do.
There is one chapter in my life's history
that always kept locked in my heart,
but tonight l feel as if 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 l am
worthy to be, the husband of good
woman"
"Why, John !" said Mrs. Haviland,
softly approaching-the babe still held
tightly to her bosom" you absolutely
frighten me-"
Lets have the story" said the rest of
the group, certain that something good
might be anticipated, and John COM
menced, at first little timid, but gaining
confidence as he proceeded.
When L first came to New York, at
the age Of twelve years, to seek my for
tune, can call myself precocious chap
without danger of being accused of an
unusual degree of self-appreciation l
was quick to learn everything, the bad as
well as the good. My employer used
profane language. picked up the oaths
he dropped with naturalness that sur
prised even myself. The boys in the
office all chewed tobacco. This was Il
little the hardest job ever attempted,
but after two weeks of nausea and inde-
scribable stomach wrenchings, came off
victorious, and could get away with my
paper day with the best of 'em."
"True, every word Of it," continued
the speaker.
One afternoon I was sent with note
from my employer to a house in the upper
part Of the city. l hadn't anything to
read, but l had plenty of tobacco, and
with that / proposed to entertain myself
during the two or three hours l must
spend in the passage. For some distance
did not notice who were beside me, but
by and by lady said very softly and
pleasantly: Would you please, little
boy, be more careful, L am going to n
party this afternoon and i should hate to
have my dress spoiled
81 looked into her face. 1t was the
sweetest face ever saw. Pale, earnest
and loving, to my boyish heart it was the
countenance of an angel"
What in the world did you say ?" in
terrupted Mrs. Havland, her bright eyes
filing with tears, as she saw how the
memory Of this beautiful woman affected
her husband.
Say? There was very little could
say. | think all did for some time was
to look. l managed to dispose of the
tobacco, however, and wiped my mouth
very carefully, all of which l felt certain
she saw and mentally commented upon"
Have you a mother, little boy ?" she
next asked in the same low tone.
No, ma'am," l answered, and L felt
my throat fill up and knew l must swal-
low mighty fast to keep from sobbing.
You have father, then, suppose ?"
she kept on.
No, ma'am, no father"
Brothers or sisters ?"
Neither, ma'am."
"Then the little boy is all alone in the
world ?"
All alone, ma'am."
" How long has his mother been dead ?"
and the dear woman looked away from
my face and waited till could speak.
Two years." l answered.
"And you loved her ?" came next.
Dearly" was all could say.
"She was silent for moment, and
then said, SO sweetly-oh / shall never
forget it
"And what do you think your dear
mother would say-how do you think she
would feel-to know that her little boy
was guilty of such disgusting habit as
this ?' pointing to my cheek where the
tell-tale cud had vainly tried to stand its
ground.
" must leave now" she continued,
" but here is my card, and if you come
to me almost any evening, shall be glad
to be Of service to you, and perhaps we
can be Of service to each other"
She gave me her little gloved hand,
and to my dying day shall never forget
the sensation Of that moment. / could
not bear to part with her; without her |
felt that l could do nothing her /
could grow to a mans estate-a man in
the truest sense of the word. From that
moment tobacco never passed my lips.
As soon as l could summon courage, 1
called upon that lady. Well do | re-
member how my heart beat as l waited