The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-11-21
"A WOMAN In THE CASE"
A WOman's Influence Not Always
PerniciOuS.


~ am fast growing out of patience with
tbis text-iA woman at the bottom of it. ;
IT would be strange in this world, made
m 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. It 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 become in this world or the next,
to the unseIfsh love Of woman"
The gentlemans face was flushed, and
he spoke very warmly and feeingly SO
much so that his wife, rocking her baby to
sleep in the further corner of the room,
inquired:
But VIII aopld you care, John z
has always 5g=t ~; and always So
We don't think much about II now, be-
oanse we have been taught to expect it. ?"
"But yon should care and you should
fight for each other more than you do.
Thee is one chapter in my ife's history
that I have always kept locked in my
beart, but tonight feel as if it were my
duty to open it for your inspection and
I do it for the love of the woman--for the
love Of the woman who made me what
am VOL Thy to be, the husband Of a good
woman II
"Wby John +: said Mrs. Haviland, sof,-
Iy approaching-babe still held close 10
bosom-"you absolutely frighten me-"
"Let's 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 gaining
confidence as he proceeded.
"When [ first came to New York, at
the age Of II years, to seek my fortune, I
can call myself a precocious chap without
danger of being accused of an unusual
degree of self appreciation. [ was quick
to lea,0 everything, the bad as we'll as the
good. Ny employer used profane Ian
gaage, and picked up the oaths that he
dropped with naturalness that surprised
even myself The boys in the Office all
chewed tobacco. This was the hardest
lob | ever attempted, but, after two weeks
of nausea and indescribable stomach
wrenching, l came off victorious, and
could gel away with my paper day as
we'll as any of them.
"True, every word Of it," said the
speaker. zone afternoon | was sent with
a note from my employer to house in the
upper part Of the city. hadn't anything
to read, but 7 had plenty of tobacco, and
with that [ proposed to entertain myself
during the passage. For some distance I
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 party
this afternoon and should hate to have
my dress spoiled
II looked into her face. It was the
sweetes ,ee I ever saw Pale, earnest
and y my 6oyish ieaf1 1t was the
count 'p '@'# # an angel"
W. 5e world did you say ?" in
tertup;e Mrs. HaTiIand, her bright eyes
filing With tears, Us she saw how the
memory of this beautiful woman affected
her husband.
"Say! There. was very little I could
say. think all I did for some time was
to look. "
II managed to dispose Of the tobacco,
however, and wiped my mouth very care
fully, all of which I felt certain she saw
and mentally commented upon. y
"Haye you mother, little boy2' SheI
next asked, in the same low tone.
ANo, aam,' I answered, and I felt7I
my throat filling up, and I knew I must
swallow mighty fast to keep from sobbing
"You have father, then, / supposeP
"No, ma'am no father.
nBrothers and sisters?'
'"Neitber, ma'am.'
'"Then you are alone in the World?'
'"All alone, ma am
'"How long has your mother been
dead p and the dear woman looked away
from my face, and waited till I could
speak.
'"Tr years. ] answered,
aaa you loved her? came next.
Dearly, was all | could say.
lhe was silent for moment, and
r sid said SO sweetly-- oh! ! shall
er forget tt
Add what do you think your dear
mgshsr would saY--how do yon think she
.ald fzal--to know thather Little boy was
ailty j such a disgusting habit as this I
Pointing 10 my cheek, where the tell-tale
ouid Had vainlY tried to stand its ground.
eoI INST leave now she continued,
'bp ag eH& sa g9n come ~
me 1.47 eeea5a1. saail b glaa n
s5e \ -s-Htav-a 4sgs ra "a fFs OH some