Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-04-24
Selected Story.
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. Il 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
would not occasionally be found at the
bottom of anything good. 1t is the in
justice of the thing that makes me an
gray. Now there are hundreds of us
poor fellows who owe all we are, all we
have, and all we can hope 10 become in
this world or the next, to Tie unselfish
love of woman"
The gentleman's face was flushed, and
he spoke very warmly and fttlingly, 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
had 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 carel and you should
fight for each other more than you do.
There is one chapter in my life's history
that I have always kept locked in my
heart, but tonight feel as if it were my
duty to open it for your inspection; and
1 do it for the love of wOman-fOr the
love of woman who made me what /
am worthy to be, the husband of good
woman"
why, John" said Mrs. Haviland,
softly approaching-babe still held tight
70 har sSxrnr nh Inf f1.ior for1
me-"
Lets have the story" said the rest of
the group, certain that something good
might be anticipated; and John COM
menced, at first little timid, but gain
ing confidence as he proceeded:
when first came to New York, at
the age of II years, to seek my fortune,
1 can call myself precocious chap
without danger of being accused of an
unusual degree of self-appreciation. l
was quick to learn everything, the bad
as well as the good. My employer used
profane language. picked up the oaths
the he dropped with a naturalness that
surprised even myself. The boys in the
office all chewed tobacco. This was a
little the hardest job l ever attempted,
but, after two weeks of nausea and in
describable stomach wrenchings, came
off victorious, and could get away with
my paper day with the best of 'em.
"True, every word of it," said the
speaker.
''One afternoon / was sent with note
from my employer to house in the up
per part of the city. l hadn't anything
to read, but had plenty of tobacco, and
wit haf N rfafr sol
during the two or three hours l must
spend in the passage. For some distance
did not notice who were beside me,
but by-and-by, a lady said, very softly
and pleasantly: Would you please, little
boy, be more careful. l am going to a
party this afternoon and should hate
to have my dress spoiled
81 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 i'll 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 affect
ed her husband.
"Say! There was very little / could
say. 1 think all l did for sometime was
to look.
Il managed to dispose of the tobacco,
however, and wiped my mouth very
all of which felt certain she
saw and mentally commented upon.
"'Haye you mother, little boy?' she
next asked, in the same low tone.
"'No, ma 'am,' answered, and l felt
my throat filling up, and / knew must
swallow mighty fast to keep from sob
bing.
"You have father, then, 1 suppose ?
she kept on.
"'No, ma'am; no father
"'Brother and sistersT
"'Neither, ma'am.'
"'Then the little boy is alone In the
worldY'
"'All alone, ma'am.'
"'How long has his mother been dead |?
and the dear woman looked away from
my face, and waited till could speak.
"'Two years. answered.
"'And you loved her 2 came next.
dearly was all could say.