Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-02-25
a. Story of Real Life.

MRS. CLEMMER, IN one OF nor 1eIIeTS 10
the New York Independent, tells this
touching story of life at the capital-a
strange contrast to the busy Screenings
of place-seekers and lobbyists:
| attended the other Sabbath the I'M
noted funeral of woman who, lying
there alone and almost kinless in death,
forced upon my thoughts the keenly-
contrasting light and shade of personal
fortune in this capitolian city. Her
grandfather was a member from Yer
mont of the first Congress held in Phila-
delphia. He was a grand gentleman of
that day, who went and came followed
and served by his colored body-servant.
Her grandmother (married at fifteen)
was fine, helpless lady, who did not
dress or undress herself, and whose hus-
band did not allow her to know what she
was to have for her dinner until she was
ready to eat it. She lived and died help
less, rich sand honored. Her son, the
father of the lovely dead women, was
also member of Congress. He served
long and brilliantly for consecutive terms
in Washington. His children grew up
at the capital, surrounded by servants,
commanding luxury and all the pleas
ant honors of official position. There
was no political gift in the keeping of
his native State that their father might
not have commanded had he not been
hopelessly overtaken at last with the
curse of the love of strong drink. He
died poor. When his body was laid
away in the Congressional Cemetery his
family came back to find themselves on
the populous plateau of working peo-
pie" From that hour began the life
conservation Of sister to a brother.
That brother never rose to his fathers
or grandfather's position. With many
of their gifts, he inherited the weakness
of his father He filled place of trust
amid the clerkships of the capital; but
he filed it and kept it only through the
never-ceasing watchfulness and care of
the sister who gave her life to him. He
personal virtues, but he only kept his
official position through the love and
care of his sister. Two years ago he
died, leaving the ministering angel of his
Hfe--past youth, poor and alone In
time place in the Treasury was given
to her-a place SO poor that it subjected
her to the most uncongenial associates,
while the stipend received for her labor
was barely sufficient to pay for her food
and shelter. This very winter Senator
Morrill,, of Vermont, was able to procure
her a more congenial position, with in
creased pay. She had scarcely entered
upon it, scarcely written to her coed
friend a note of warm thanks for it, when,
alone in the night, in a boarding house
on Pennsylvania avenue, the final sum-
mons came. She called woman friend
in the next room and in half an hour was
dead Her coffin was covered and hung
lands brought by friends who honored
her; yet in all the company who gath
cred III that lonely clearinghouse there
was not one who really needed her or to
whom she belonged. Tears were shed,
but they were tears of human tender
ness that woman SO loving and I'M
selfish should have died at last unheeded
and alone. Through that gray wintry
Sabbath sympathlzing men and women
went with her as far as they could go
to the dreary Congressional cemetery
where they laid her beside the brother,
with whose final passing the supreme OBJ
iect of her own life went out. Few knew
of her dying. Her death and burial were
barely noted. She was not a member of
Congress; not man great upon the
earth. She was only woman who had
given her whole life in love and sacrifice
to man and that man was her brother.
Surely we know not who our angels are.
They look into our eyes; they go in and
out of our doors; they serve us, they love
US, they die for US; and we see them
not till we perceive them by spiritual
sight, beyond the clasp of hand or the
reach of our mortal arms.