Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-09-03
4 Woman nj thc BolIom MIt.


as he threw aside his evening paper and
faced the little group in the parlor, " am
fast growing out Of patience with ibis text
a woman at the bottom Of IT, lt would
be strange in this world, made up, as far MS
We are aware, Of nothing but the two sexes
If woman would not occasionally be at the
bottom Of something goodi It is the iu-
justice Of the thing rhat makes me angry
Now there are hundreds 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 gentlemans face was flushed, and he
spoke very warmly and teelingly-so much
so that his wife, rocking her baby to sleep
in the farther corner Of the room, in-
quired
But why should you care. John2 It
has always been so We don't think much
about il now, because we have been taught
to expect it.
But you should care, aad you should
fight for each other more than yop DO.
There is enc chapter 20 my lifes history
that | have kept locked ig my heart but
tonight l feel as if it we're my duty to
open il for your inspection; and do it for
the love of woman--ior the love OF one
woman who made me what am worthy to
be-, the husband Of good woman"
Why, John :" said Mrs Hayiand,
softly approachiug--baby still held tight
to her bosom-"you absolutely Tighten
me-"
Let's have the story" said the rest Of
the group, certain that something good
might be anticipated, and John commenced,
at first a little timid, but gaining confidence
as be proceeded
"Whon first came to New York, at
the age Of twelve years, 70 seek my for.
tune | can call myself q precocious chap
without danger Of being accused Of an uu-
usual degree Of solfappreciation. l was
quick to learn everything, the bad as we'll
as the good My employer used profane
language. picked up the oaths that he
dropped with a naturalness that surprised
myself The boys in the office all chewed
tobacco. This was little the hardest Job
that | ever undertook, but after two weeks
ofnausea and indescribable stomach wrench.
ings, came of victorious, and could get
away with my paper a day with the best
Of 'em.
True, every word ofit,' continued the
speaker.
One afternoon | was sent with note
from my employer to a house in the upper
part Of the city. ! hadn't anything to read,
but | had plenty of tobacco, and with that
proposed to entertain myself during the
two or three hours must spend in the pas
sage. For some distance l did not notice
who was beside me- and by and by a lady
said, very softly and pleasantly Would
you please, little boy, be more careful |
am going to a party this afternoon, and !
should hate to have my dress spoiled.
g. looked into her face 1t was the
sweetest face | ever saw. Pale, earnest
and loving; to my boyish heart, it was the
face Of an angel"
"What in the world did you say2" in,
terruptcd Mrs. Hayiland her bright eyes
filed with tears as she saw how the memory
ofthis beautiful woman affected her husband
Say There was very little that ]
could say. | think all did for some time
was to look. | managed to dispose Of tn,
tobacco, however, and wiped my mouth
very carefully, all of which felt certair
she saw and mentally commented upon"
" Have you a mother, little boy 2' sh,
next asked in the same tone
" No maam,n answered, and felt nj
throat filling up, and knew | must swal
low mighty fast to keep from sobbing.
You have a father then, l suppose +?
she kept on
No ma'am, no father
Brothers and sistc.sl'
Neither, ma'am."
Then the little boy Is all alone in tn
world ?"
All alone, ma'am."
.'' How long has his mother been dead ?
and the dear woman looked away from m
face, and waited till l could speak
, Two years" answered.
And you loved her ?" came next.
, " Dearly" was all | could say.
She was silent for moment, and the
: said so swoetly-oh | shall never forge
it;
And what do you think your dear moth
er would say-how do you think she woul
Q feel--to know that her little boy was guilt
, of such a disgusting habit as this ?n point
ing to my cheek where the tel-tale cud ha
J vainly tried to stand its ground.
al must leave you now, she continued
D " but here is my card, and il you will com
!, to me most any evening, | shall be glad t
g see you, and perhaps We can be Of seryic
to each other"
+. She gave me her little goved hand, an
c to my dying day | shall never forget th
r sensation Of that moment. | could nc
c bear to part with her. without her felt
c could do nothing-with her | could gro
I to a mans estate--a man in the truest sens
D Of the word. From that moment tobacc
r never passed my lips.
e As soon as | could summon courage
called upon that lady, Well do | remeu
g Der how my heart beat as waited in th
; elegant parlor for her to como down; an
g how awkward | felt as followed my guid
}. to her private sitting room. Here she g
f at every point Of my life, aud before bad
i her goodbye, it was arranged that shoul
o spend two evenings of each week at hC
D house, and study on these occasions wh'
t she thought best.
D "No lover ever looked forward to th
y meetings with the mistress of his heart an
e more ardently than l did to these meeting
r with my friend.
!, al grew careful Of my personal appear
n ance-cnreful ofmy conversation, and stroY
n in every way to be worthy Of this mob
i friendship. Two years passed in this d.
!. lightiul manner-two years that made m
n My friend not only attended to my studio
striving also all the while to SOW the rigl
l. kind of spiritual seed, but she procured
:. business situation with friend Of her
where l remain to this day. Nobody b.
God knows what owe this woman. Du
n ing the last three months of those years,
o noticed that she grew pale and thin; 81
d never was betrayed into speaking Of hersel
o Sometimes when | would ask her if 81
felt worse than usual, she would reply;