Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-01-22
What a Woman Did for
Me"

'IO tell the truth, said John
Haviland, as he threw aside his
evening paper, and faced the
group in tie parlor, 81 am fast
growing out of patience with the
teXt-'a woman at the bottom of
it. 1t would be strange in this
world made up SO far as we are
aware, of nothing but the two
sexes, if woman would not occa-
sionaliy be found at the bottom
of anything good. 1t is the in
justice of the thing that makes
me angry. Now there are hun
dreds 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 unself-
ish love of woman
The gentleman's face was flush
ed, and he spoke warmly and feel.
ingly. so much So that his vile,
rocking he: baby to sleep in the
farther corner Of the room, inqnir.
ed:
But why should you care,
John? 1t has always been so. and
always will be SO. We don't think
much ABOUT it now, because we
have been taught to expect ii"
"Bnt you shonld care! you
should fight for each other more
than you do. There is one chap
ter in my life's history that l
have always kept locked in my
heart, but tonight feel as if
it were my Guty to open il for
your inspection; and | do 1t for
the love of one woman who made
me what | am worthy to be, the
husband of good woman"
why, john said Mrs Havi-
land, softly aPproaching-baby
still held tight to her bosom
you absolutely lrighten Inc"
Lets have The story" said the
rest OF the group, certain that
something good might be anticipa,
ted, and John commenced, at first
IA little timid, but gaining conf
dence as he proceeded.
"When | first came to New
York at the age of twelve years,
l could call myself pIecocious
chap; without danger of being ac-
cused of an unusual degree, OF
self appreciation, | was quick to
learn everything, the bad as well
as the good. My employer used
profane language. l picked up
the oaths he dropped with natu-
ralness which surprised even my
self. The boys in the office all
chewed tobacco. This was a
little the hardest job | ever at
tempted, but after two weeks
nausea and indescribabIe stomache
wretchings, | came off victorious,
and could get away with my pa
per day with the best of them. v
"True every word Of it, contin.
ued the speaker.
"One afternoon | was sent with
a pote from my employer to Il
house in the upper part OF the
city. hadn't anything to read
but plenty of tobacco. and with
that | proposed to entertain my
self during the two or three hours
must spend in the passage.
"For some distance | did not
notice who was beside me, and by.
and-by IA lady said very softly
and pleasantly:
"WouId you please, little boy,
be more careful. | am going to
a party this afternoon, and should
hate to have my dress ~poiled." "
81 looked up into her face. 1t
was the sweetest fee | ever saw.
Pale, earnest and loving, to my
boyish heart it was the counte-
nance Of an angel"
"What in the world did you
say?" interrupted Mrs. HaviIand,
ber bright eyes filling with tears
As she saw how the memory OF
I this beautiful woman affected her
husband.
cay! There was very little more
could say. | think ali | did
for some time was to look. |
managed to dispose of the tobacco,
however, and wiped my mouth
very caref lily, all of which ! felt
certain she saw and mentally com-
mented upon"
"Haye you a mother, little boy?'
she asked in the same low tone.
mo ma am, | answered, and |
felt my throat filling up, and
knew | must swallow mighty fast
to keep from sobbing."
"You have a father, then, sup,
pose?" she kept on,
"No, ma'am, no father"
| brothers and sisterS?"
I "Neither, ma'am."
"Then the little boy is all a
Il lona IN tho UOrldI'