The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-07-03
A WOMAN AT THE norTon OF II

It Hayilsnd, as be threw aside bis pa
a per and faced the little group in the
2. parlor, IL an growing out OF patience
r, with the text-'A woman at the
Ie bottom of it, 1t would be strange
J. in this world, made up, es far as We
II are aware. of nothing but the two
'e sexes, If q woman would occasional.
ly be found at the bottom Of any
l. thing good. II is the injustice OF the
II thing that makes me angry. Now
e there are hundreds Of US poor fellows
a who owe all We are, aud all we have,
and all we can hope to become, 10
: this world or the next 20 tire unself-
: ish love of wUman.
!, The gentleman's face was flushed,
: and be spoke very warmly and feel
D ingly, so much so that his wife rock
ing her baby to sleep il the further
: corner of the room, inquired:
"But why should you care, John !?
: 1t has always been 50, and always
will be SO. We don't think much
about it nov, because we have been
taught 70 expect IT,
"But you should carel And you
: should fight for each other more than
J you do. There is one chapter in my
, life's history that | have always kept
locked in my heart; but tonight /
feel as if il were my duty to open IL
for your inspection, and | do ii for
the love Of womsn-for the love Of
one woman who made me what |
an, worthy to be the husband of
| good woman"
"Why, John, - said Mrs Hayilsnd,
softly approaching, with baby still
held tightly to her bosom, you alb
solutely frighten me-"
"Let's have the story" said the
rest Of the group, certain tha. some
thing good might be expected {; and 4
John commenced, at first little /
timid, but gaining confidence as he
proceeded:
"When | first came 10 New York,
at the age Of twelve years, 10 seek
my fortune, can call myself pre-
cocious chap, without danger Of be-
ing accused of an unusual degree of
selfappreciation, was quick to learn
everything, the bad as well "a the
good. My employer used profsne
language / picked up the oath he
dropped with naturalness that sur
prised even myself The boys in the
Office all ebewed tobacco. This was
little the hardest job | ever at
tempted, but after two weeks Of
nausea and stomache wrenebing, |
came off victorious and could get
away with my paper day with the
best Of them. True every word Of !
it. continued the speaker Zone
afternoon | was sent with a note
from my employer to a houce in the
upper p.rt of the city. | hadn't
anytbirs 10 read, but | had plenty OF |
tobaec and with that proposed to
entertain myself during the two or
three hours | must spend in the pas
sage For some distance did not
notice who were beside me, bat by :
and by lady said, softly and pleas ,,
antly:
Would YOU pie ase, little boy, be
more careful, for | am going to a
party, and | should hate to have my I,
dress spoiled"
| looked into her face. 1t was the
sweetest face | ever saw. Pale, '
earnest and loving, to my boyisb hear. l
ii was the e0untenance Of an angel :
what in the world did you say ~
interrupted Mrs. Hayiland, her bright L
eyes filling with tears, as she saw
how the memory Of this beautiful !
woman affected her husband. !,
Say There was very little | could
say | think all | did was to look {,
l managed to dispose of tobacco,
however, and wiped my mouth very
carefully, all of which | felt certain
she saw and mentally commented
upon.
'Have you a mother, little boy :"
she next asked in the same tone
"No ma'am," | answered, and felt
my throat filling up, and knew | n
must swallow mighty fast to keep
from sobbing. Fl
"You Eave father, then, | sup u
pose ?" she kept on a
"No ma'am, no father" n
Brothers and sisters ?" 5
Neither, ma'am.n 8
Then the little boy is all alone 10 t
the world ?"
"All alone, ma'smn a
How long has your mother been
dead 2" and the dear woman waited Q
till | could speak. 8
Two years." | answered.
She was silent for moment, and D
then said, so sweetly-oh | never fl
shall forget it: And what do you g
think your dear mother would say
how do you think she would feel r,
to know that her little boy was guilty D
of such q disgusting habit as this ?'' Il
pointing to my cheek where the tell Il
tale cud had vainly tried to stand its c
ground. Il
81 must leave now" she contin- o
ued, but here is my card; if yeu f
come to see me almost any evening "
shall be glad to see you, and per- =
haps We can be of service to each f
otber." Il
She gave me her little gloved hand, e'
and to my dying day | shall never a
'orget the sensa ton Of that moment. o.
could not bear to part with her n
without her | could do nothing G.
with her I could grow to mans es- c.
.ate-a man in the truest sense Of CT
he word. From that moment tobac. b.
% never crossed my lips W
As soon as | could summon cour- II
lge. | called upon the lady Well u
10 | remember how my heart beat as &C
waited in the elegant parlor for her 81
% come down; and how awkward | o. o.
elt as l followed nv guide to her u
private sitting room. Here she got u
1t every point of my life, aud, before
bade her goodbye, it was arranged
hat / should spend two evenings
week at her house, and study on ,
hese occasions just what she thought r. r.
best.
No lover ever looked forward 10 4,
meeting with the mistress Of his &c
heart, any more than did to those n,
meetings with my friend al
/ grew careful Of my personal ap. tb
,earance. careful of nv orversatiop ii,