Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-09-16
Tte Repnblirau.
A WOMAN'S WORK.

fortune, cOuiu call III sell pTecOclOuS
chap without danger Of being accused
of an unusual degree of self-apprecia-
ton. [ was quick to learn everything,
the bad as we'll as the good. NV en-
ployer used profane language l pick
ed up the oaths he dropped with a
naturalness that surprised even NY
self. The boys in the Office all chew
ed tobacco. This was little the hard
est job | ever attempted, but after two
weeks of nausea and Undesirable
stomach-wrenchings, I came off victori,
Gus, and could get away with my paper
day with the best of them.
Que afternoon | was sent with note
from my employer to a house in the
upper part Of the city. [ hadn't any
thing to read, but I had plenty of
tobacco, and with that I proposed to
entertain myself during the two or
three hours | must spend in the pass
age. For some distance I did not no
tlce who were beside me, but by-and-
by lady said said, very softly and
pleasantly: Would you please, little
boy, be more careful? | am going to
party this afternoon, and | should
hate to have my dress spoiled"
L looked into her face. It was the
sweetest face [ ever saw. Pale, ear
nest aud loving, to my boyish heart it
was the countenance Of an angel
There was very little that I could
say. | think all | did for some time
was to look. I managed to dispose of
the tobacco, however, and wiped NV
mouth very carefully, all Of which |
felt certain she saw and mentally com
mented upon.
'Have you mother, little boy 2"
she next asked in the same tone.
mo, ma'am," | answered: and /
felt my throat filling up, and I knew
must swallow mighty fast to keep from
sobbing.
you have father, then, I sup
pose % she kept on.
No, Fam, no father"
S'Brothers and sisters 2"
Neither, ma am"
Then the little boy is all alone in
the world 2"
"All alone ma'am."
How long has bis mother been
dead p and the dear woman looked
away from my face, and waited till [
could speak.
Two years." [ answered.
And you loved herr" came next.
<'Dearly," was all | could say.
She was silent a moment. and then
said SO sweetly-oh, [ shall never for
get it,
And what do you think your dear
mother would say-how do you think
she would ieel-to know that her lit
tie boy was guilty of such disgust
ing habit as this? p pointing to my
cheek, where the tell-tale quid had
yainly tried to stand its ground. Il
must leave now" she continued, "but
here is my card, and if you come to
me most any evening [ shall be glad
to see you and perhaps we can be of SER
vice to each other"
She gave me her little gloved hand,
aud TO my dying day [ shall never for
get the sensation of that moment.
could not bear to part with her; with
out her [ felt that [ could do nothing;
with her | could grow to mans es-
tate-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 [
remember how my heart beat as | wait
ed IN the elegant parlor for her to
come down; and how awkward [ felt
as L followed my guide to her private
slttlng-room. Here she got at every
point of my life, and before [ babe her
good by it was arranged that [ should
spend TWO evenings Of each week at
her house, and study on these &C.
casions just what she thought best.
No lover ever looked forward to meet
ing vi h the mistress of his heart any
more ardently than [ did to these meet
lngs with my friend.
| grew careful Of my personal ap-
pearance, careful of my conversation,
and strove IN every way to be worthy
Of this noble friendship. Two years
passed in this delightful manner
two years that made me. My friend
not Only attended to my studies. striv-
lug also all the while to SOW the right
kind of spiritual seed, but ss5he pro-
cured me situation with a particular
friend OF hers, where | remain to this
day Nobody but God knows what |
owe this woman. During the last three
months OF those two years, [ noticed
that she grew constantly pale and thin /;
she never was betrayed into speaking
Of herself. Sometimes when / would
ask her If she felt worse than usual.
she would reply:
ooh, no | am only little tired
that is ALL"