Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-02-12
"WHAT A WOMAN DID FOR ME-

"To tell the truth" said John Havi-
land, as ho threw aside his evening paper
and faced the grOupin the parlor II 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
50 far as we are aware, of nothing but the
two seXes--it a woman would not oCca-
siona,y he found at the bottom of any
thing good ICis 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, and all we can
hope to become, in this world or henext,
TO the unselish love Of woman"
The gentleman s face was flushed and
he spoke warmly and teelngly, so much
so that his wife, rocking her baby to
sleep in the farther 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,
because we have been taught to expect
it,"
"But you should carel and you should
fight for each other more than Won do
There is one chapter in my life's history
that have always kept locked in my
heart, but tonight feel as if it were my
duty to open it for your inspection; and
| do it for The love of one woman who
made me what am worthy to be, the
husband of good woman"
why, John" said Mrs. Haviland,
softly approaching-baby still held tight
to her bosom-'you absolutely trighten
me"
Let's have the story" said the rest of
the group, certain that something good
might be anticipates; and John COM
menced, at FIST a little timid, but gaining
confidence as he proceeded.
when first came to New ork, at the
age OF twelve years, to seek my fortune, |
could call myself precocious chap, with
ont danger of being accused of an una.
sual degree Of self-appreciation, | 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 surprised
even myself. The boys in the office all
chewed tobacco. This was little the
hardest job ever attempted, but after
TWO weeks nausea and indie
scrlbable stomach retchings, | came
oil victorious, and could get away with
my paper day with the best of them.
True, every word of it," continued the
speaker
"One afternoon | was sent with a note
from my employer to q house in the up
per part of the city. | hadn't anything to
read, bat | had plenty of tobacco, and
with that proposed to entertain myself
curing the two or three hours | must
spend in the passage.
For some distance ! did not no
ucc who were beside me, and byand-by
Lady said very softly and pleasantly:
Would you please, little boy, be more
careful. | am going to party this al
ternoon, and should hate to have my dress
spoiled
u looked into her face 1t was the
sweetest face ever saw. Pale, earnest
ana loving TO my boyish heart, il was the
countenance Of an angel"
What in the world did you say?" in
corrupted Mrs. Haviland, her bright eyes
ming with tears as she saw how the
memory OF this beautiful woman affected
her huS )and
Say! There was little more | could
say. | think all did for some time was
p look. | managed to dispose of the to-
u'cGo, however and wiped my mouth
very carefully all of which felt certain
sue saw and mentally commented upon.
Have yoa q mother, little boye" she
asked IN the same low tone.
No, ma'am,' | answered, and ! fell
0ay throat filling up, and ! knew | must
'"aioW mighty fast to keep from sob
You have father, then, suppose"
No, ma'am, no father
Brothers and sisters~
Neither, ma'am.'