Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-10-14
MIscEIIAlHsFoUs % .
iA WOMAN ArTHE BOTTOM OFT.

feed the little group in the zparlor, II am
fast growing out of patience with thisstext.-
'a woman at the bottom of it, 1t would Be
strange in this world made up, US far as we
are aware of nothing but the two sexes, If a
woman would not occasionally be found a. the
bottom "f anything good Itis the injustice
of the thing thar makes me angry Nav,
there are hundreds OF us poor fellows who owe
all we are, all We have. aud all We can hope
to become in this world or the next. to The
unselfiSh love of woman poo al -
The ecntlec,an's face was flushed. and he
spoke very warmly and feelinyly, so much so
that his wife, rocking her baby to sleep in the
farther corner of the rooui inquired.
"But Why should you care, Jdhn {? II has
always been so. We DOM think much about
it now because we have been taught to ex-
pect it" - ...'5.-ss
'Butyou should care ! and you should e sht
for each other more that you do There is
one chapter in my lite's history TINT have
always kept locked in my heart. but to>night
feel as il. 1T were. my duty to open it for
your inspection; aud / do it for the love OF
w1nian-fnr the love of one woman who made
ne what l am worthy to be, the husband of
good woman" ~ So Is ia
-7s"Why joint" said Mrs Havilsnd, softly
pproachiny-habe kiill held tight to her
bosom -t.you absolutely frighten me-"
Let's have The story" said the rest Of the
group. certain thar something gond might be
anticipated, and John commenced at FIRST a
little timd, but gaining confidence as he pro-
ceeded. ~
K. ."When first came to New York, a. the
age of twelve years, to seek my fortune can
call myself precious chap without danger of
being accused of an unusual degree of self
appreciation. was quick to learn everything.
the bad we'll the good. My employer
used pr"fane Ianeuage. I picked M the
osths he dropped with natnralness that sur,
prised even myself. The boys in the nfi,ce
all ohewcd tobacco. This was a little the
hardest job ever attempted, bu, after two
weeks of nausea and ipdiscrihahe stomach
wrenching, c"me off victorious, and could
get away with my paper a day with the best
of 'em srf ais
''True, every word Of it, continued the
speaker
''One afternoon l was sent with more from
nay employer to house in the nnrer part of
the city hndn'' anythirgto read. bnt had
plenty of tobacco. ard wirh Tint proposed to
entertain myself during the two or three hours
i must spend in the passage. For some dis
tance did not notice who were beside me-
bn' ty and by lady said very softly and
pleasantly: 'Wonld you please little hoy. he
more careful. 7 nm gnia, to party this af,
ternnon, and | should hute to have NV dress
spoiled" etr., o
Il looked into her f,ce 1t was tho sweet
est face ever saw. Pale, earnest mud loving
to my h'yish heart it was the countenance of
an angel" o.ydlittJ aI -.at=asJg5 la 4,,,.
~ 'aWhaf insthes world did ypu!say p: inter-
rup'ed lrs,o HayilaHpd her si Il bright eyes fi>
ling With tears. ss she spw how the memory
OF the hean'ifuf woman hfTec'ed her' linsbnnd
Say There was verv little I con'd say
think all [ did for. sometime was to look7 I
managed t, dispose of the .ohncco. however.
and wiped nv mouth very carefu'lv. all Of
which felt certain sho saw and mentally COM
mented upon +"
Have y"n a mother. little boy 7" she next
asked in the same low tone.
.'No ma'am." I answercd. and felt nv
throat filing mn. and I@knew | must swallow
mighty fast to knep from snhbine
''fou have father, then, I suppose z" slre
kert IN. ;aa
'.No Fam, no father"
"Bro'hers and sis,ers7'' -f
Neither ma'am."
tThen the little boy is all alone in the
world ?'
"All alone ma'am"
''How long has his mother been dead 2"
and the dear woman louked away from nv
face. and waited till I could speak
1.-TWO years." answered
And yon loved her 2" came next
Dearly" was all I could say. ~
'.She was silent for moment and then
said so sweetly-oh I shall never forget it.
'.'And what do you think your dear mother
would say-how do you think she world feel
,l..Il "a Il l.
such Disgusting hahi: this p printing to
my cheek where the tell-,ale cud had vainly
tried to stand It's ground. -,
Il must leave now" she continued "hut
here is nv card. and if you cIme 10 me must
any evening shall he glad tn see you, and
perhaps we can be of service to each orher.'
She gave me her little gloved hand. and to
my dying day / shall never forget the sensae
tinn of that moment [ could not hear to
part with her W thnnt her felt that could
do nothing-wish her could grow to mans
estate-a man in the truest sense Of the word
From that moment tobacco never passed my
lips. -
As soon as could summon courage called
upon that lady. Well do I remember how
nv heart beat as I waited in the elegant rarlor
ior her tn come down and how awkward
falt as followed nv guide to her private sit>
ting room Here she got at every point of
my life, and before bsda her good bye. It
was arranged that should spend two even
ings of each week a, her hnnse and s.udv on
these occasions JUST what she thought hest.
No lover ever looked forward to meetings
with the mistress of his heart any more ar.
IDENTIFY that did to these meetings with my
friend
grew careful of my personal appearance
careful of my conversation, and strove in
every way to be worthy Of this noble friend