Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-04-17

IN our midst, too, proving not only the
strength of wlfelv devotion and cour
age, but that woman, when taught
can, under the most adverse circum
stances, as well steer a ship as ply the
needle. | refer to that bright girl Of
fortunes prosperous home il East Bos.
ton who married the gallant Captain
Patton. In the first days of their hon
eymoon he was offered magnificent
command, which being refused on the
plea of not wishing to leave his bride,
he received permission in years time
again to assume the position, his wife
having leave to accompany him, which
she did. From the outset she made her
selfth companion, helper and pupil of
her husband. She studied navigation, and
was soon enabled to take observations,
steer by the chart, and keep the ships
reckoning. The first mate was the
Captains enemy on board, who for
some reason of his own was bent on
carrying the ship into Valparaiso, which
would have been indirect disobedience
of orders, and have compromised the
honor of the Captain. Before reaching
Cape Horn, Captain Patton's health be-
gan TO decline, until he was taken down
with violent fever, which in a few
months ended in hopeless insanity.
Now was the opportunity for the mate
to achieve his purpose, and he COM
menced by trying to in.imidate the
heroic wife Of his Captain, threatening
her with the responsibility of every life
on board, her own included, if she pre-
sumed to interfere. She replied that
her husband had not trusted him while
he was well, and she would not trust
him now that he was i'll. She assembled
the crew, laid before them the facts,
asking them to accept her authority,
and save the honor Of their Captain
They unanimously agreed, regarding
almost with superstition the eloquent
appeal OF this loyal woman. They soon
learned to love and reverence her;
young wife, soon to be young mother,
alone with men, raving husband to
protect, crew to command, their lives
to preserve and an enemy to watch; she
had indeed herculean task before her.
Nightly she could be seen at her
studies, now among medical books
which could instruct her in her hus-
bands case, now keeping the reckoning
and making entries in the log. AT noon
and midnight on deck taking observa-
tons; she marked the charts without
mistakes, and carried the ship into port
in fine condition. The husband blind,
deaf, delirious and dying; the wife calm,
grave, careworn and resolute.
Another incident Of wifely considera-
ton and delicacy of feeling was that of
the young village belle in marrying the
honest but illiterate locksmith. The
latter was asked to sign his name,
whereupon ne made his cross, and the
maiden receiving the pen did the same,
to the expressed establishment of her
bridesmaids. Hush" the wife replied,
would you have me put my husband
to the blush? Tomorrow l will begin
to teach him writing" Love is said to
laugh at locksmiths; in this case he
seems to have given pity, his nearest
kin, instead Of mirth, his dearest foe.
1t was Aristotle who laughed at love to
Alexander, upon which the maiden of
Alexander's fancy revenged herself
upon the aged philosopher by so en-
chanting him with her loving arts and
wiles that he carried her on mis- back
and passed the Emperor's window, who,
seeing them, said: "Since love has
power to melt the frosts of age, it is not
surprising that it should kindle up the
fires of youth.