Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-12
"WHAT A WOMAN DID FOR ME-"

"WHAT A WOMAN DID FOR NE. :"
"To tell the truth" said John Havi-
land, as he threw aside his evening paper,
and faced the group in the parlor, Il 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 tar as we are aware, of nothing but the
two sexes-if a woman would not occa-
sionaBy be found at the bottom of any
thing good 1t is 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 the next
to the unselfish love of woman"
The gentleman's face was flushed, and
he spoke warmly and feelingly, 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? It
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 care! and you should
fight for each other more than you 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, Johnp said Mrs. Haviland,
softly approaching baby still held tight
to her bosom-"you absolutely brighten
me-"
Lets have the story" said the rest of
the group, certain that something good
might be anticipated; and John COM
menced, at fiIst little timid, but gaining
confidence as he proceeded.
when | first came to New ork, ct the
age of twelve years, to seek my fortune, |
could call myself a precocious chap, with
out danger of being accused of an una
sual degree OF self-appreciation. | was
quick to learn everything, the bad as well
as the good. Ny employer used profane
language. | picked up the oaths he
dropped with a 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
scribable stomach retchings, / came
off victorious, and could get away with
my paper a day with the best of them.
True, every word of it." continued the
speaker.
Gone afternoon | was sent with note
from my employer to house in the up
per part of the city | hadn't anything to
read, but l had plenty of tobacco, and
with that | proposed to entertain myself
during the two or three hours | must
spend in the passage.
"For some distance 1 did not no.
tice who were beside me, and by-and-by
a lady said very softly and pleasantly:
Would you please, little boy, be more
careful | am going to party this at
ternoon, and should hate to have my dress
spoiled
Il looked into her face 1t was the
sweetest face l ever saw. Pale, earnest
and loving to my boyish heart, it was the
countenance of an angel"
"What in the world did you say?'' in
terrupted Mrs. Haviland, her bright eyes
filling with tears as she saw how the
memory of this beautiful woman affected
her huso
Say There was little more [ could
say. think all did for some time was
to look. managed to dispose of the to-
bacco, however, and wiped nv mouth
very carefully, all of which felt certain
she saw and mentally commented upon.
Have yo0 mother, little boy?'' she
asked in the same low tone
No, ma'am,' / answered, and [ fell
my throat filling up, and l knew | must
swallow mighty fast to keep from sob
bling
",You have father, then, suppose? p
she kept on.
Ono, ma'am, no father
/" Brothers and sisterS?'
Neither, ma'am
""Then me little boy is all alone in the
world?'
"'All alone, ma'am'
allow long has his mother been dead y
and the dear woman looked away from
my face, and waited till could speak.
1.-Two years. answered.
"'And you loved her?' came next.
"'Dearly,' was all I could say.
and what do you think your dear
mother would say-how do you think she
would feel-to know that her little bow
this?' pointing to my cheek where the
telI-tale quid had vainly tried to stand its
ground
q 4 must leave now she continued,
hut 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,
and to nv dying day shall never forget
the sensation of that moment. / could not
bear to part with her; without her | felt
that I could do nothing = with her |
could grow to a mans estate-a man in
the truest sense of the word. From that
moment tobacco never passed my lips.
Gas soon as / could summon courage
called upon that lady. Well do remem-
Der how my heart beat as L waited in the
elegant parIor for her to come down; and