Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-24
WITHIN THE FOLD.

"To tell the TRUTH" said John Havi-
land, as he threw aside the evening pa
per and faced the little group in the
parlor, 81 am fast growing out of pa
tience with this text-'A woman at the
bottom of it. 1t would be strange in
this world, made up as far as we are
aware of nothing but the two sexes, if a
woman should not occasionally be found
at the bottom of anything good! 1t is
the injustice of the thing that makes
me angry. Now there are hundred
Of us poor fellows who owe all we are,
all we have, and all we can hope to be-
come in this world or the next, to the
unselfish love of woman"
The gentlemans face was flushed,
and he spoke very warmly and feeling
ly, so much so that his wife, rocking
her baby to sleep in the further corner
of the room, inquired:
"But why should you care, John? 1t
has always been SO, and always will be
now, because We have been taught to
expect il"
"But you should care; and you should
fight for each other more than you do.
There is one chapter in my life's histo-
ry that | have always kept locked in
my heart, but tonight | feel as if it
were my duty to open it for your in
spection; and do it for the love of wo-
man-for the love of the woman who
made me what | am worthy to be, the
husba md of good woman"
"Why, john" said Mrs. Hsviland,
softly approaching-bab still held tight
~ to her bosom-''you absolutely fright.
en- me-"
Lets have the story" said the rest
of the group, certain that something
good might be anticipated; and John
commenced, at first little timidly, but
gaining confidence as he proceeded.
"When | first came to New York, at
the age of twelve years to seek my for
tune, | could call myself precocious
youth without danger of being accused
of an unusual degree of seli-apprecia-
ton. l was quick to learn everything,
the bad as we'll as the good. My en-
ployer used profane language. | picked
up the oaths that he dropped with a
naturalness that surprised even myself.
The boys in the Office all chewed tobac-
co. This was little the hardest job |
ever attempted, but, after two weeks Of
nausea and indescribable stomach
wrenchings, | came off victorious, and
could get away with my paper a day
with the best of 'em.
"True, every word of it, said the
speaker.
zone afternoon | was sent with note
from my employer TO q house in the
upper part of the city. | hadn't any
thing to read, but | had plenty of tobac-
co, and with that proposed to enter
tam myself during the two or three
hours must spend in the passage. For
some distance did not notice who were
beside me, but by and by lady said,
very softly and plea sanity: Would you
please, little boy, be more careful, am
going to party this afternoon, and l
should hate to have my dress spoiled
IL looked into her face. 1t was the
sweetest face 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
ter-upted Mrs. Haviand, her bright
eyes filling with tears, as she saw how
the memory of this beautiful woman
affected her husband.
"Say2 There WAS little ] could say.
think all did for some time was TO
look.
81 managed TO dispose OF the 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 low tone.
".No, ma'am,' | answered, and / felt
nv throat filling up, and / knew l must
swallow mighty fast to keep from sob
bling. :,
she kept on.
".No, ma am; no father
brothers and sisters?
"'Neither, ma'am.'
'''Then the little boy is all alone in
the world"
"'All alone, mann
How long has his mother been
dead?" and the dear woman looked
away from my face, and waited until
could speak.
Two years. | answered.
And you loved her? came next.
Dearly, was all could say.
She was silent for moment; and
then she said so sweetly-ohl shall
never forget it:
And what do you think your dear
mother vo.ld say-how do you think