Morris tribune., 1880-11-18
THE WIDOW CUMMIsKEY:

~~@SS~
Deretained.
THE WIDOW CUMMISKEY:
The widow Cummiskey was standing
at the door of her little millinery store
on Newark avenue the other evening, as
Mr.. Costello came along. Mr.. Costello
stopped.
''Good evenin' to you, ma'am, said he.
"Good evenin' to you, Mr.. Costello"
answered the widow.
"It's fine weather we're havin, ma'a
said MIR. Costello.
at is that, thank Godr' replied the
widow; shut the winters a-comin' at
last, and it comes to all both great and
small"
''AhP' said Mr.. Costello. "But for al
that it doesn't come to US all alike. Now.
here are you, ma'am, fat, rosy and good
lookin', equally swate as summer green
in a tall pippin or winter russell"
"Arrah, hould yer whist, now," inter-
rupted the widow, laughing. "Much an
olld bachelor like you knows about ap.
Piles or women. But come in, Mr.. Cos
tello, and take a cup y tay with me; for
1 was only standin' be the doore loekin'
at the people passin', for company sake,
like, an I'm sure the kettle must have
sung itself hoarse."
Mr.. Costello needed no second invita-
ton, and he followed mis- hostess into the
snug little back room. There was nice
bright fire burning in the little stove, the
tea kettle was sending forth cloud of
steam that ook ruddy glow from the
fire, the shaded lamp on the table, gave a
mellow, subdued light to the room, and
it was all very suggestive of comfort.
"1t's very cosy We are here, Mrs. Cum
miskey," said Mr.. Costello, casting look
OF appreciation around the apartment.
eyes," replied the widow, as she laid
the supper, sit is that, whin do be
havin' company"
"Ah," said Mr.. Costello, sit must be
lonesome for you with only the cat and
yer cup O. tay."
''Sure 1t is" answered the widow
"Cum take q safe, and set down, Mr.. Cos,
tello. Help yourself to this fish, an
don't forget the purtaties. Look at them
they're splittin' their sides with laugh
IN"
Mr.. Costello helped himself and
paused. He looked at the plump widow
with her arm in that graceful position as
sumed in pouring out OF tea, and re-
marked. "l'm sinsible of the comforts
of home, Mrs. Cummiskey, though I've
none myself. Mind, now, the difference
between the taste o. tay made and sarveG
that way and the tay they gives you il
an 'ating house."
"Sure," said the widow, ''there's moth
in like little homo o'y yer own. wond
er yer never got marrit, Mr.. Costello"
81 was about to make the same remark
in reference to yourself, ma'am," answer
ed Mr.. Costello.
"God keep u.s. exclaimed Mrs. Cum
miskey, FAINT I wilder woman TIL
seven years."
"Ah," reioined Mr.. Costello, ''but it,
thinkln' l was why ye didn't get mari
again"
Is Well, it's sure am" said the wild
ow, thoughtfully. setting down her tea
cup and raising her hand by way of EN-
phasls, there never was better hus
band to any woman than him that's dea
an gone, Heaven save an rest his SOW
He was that aisv child could do any
thin with him, and he was as hand
some as monkey. You favor hsm YER
much, Mr.. Costello. He was about you
height, and Completed like you"
"Ahp' exclaimed Mr.. Costello.
HE often used to say to me In his bar
term way, Sure, Nora, what's the worl
to man whin his wife is widder,' mar
In you know, that all the temptation
an luxuries of this life can never folly
man beyant the grave. Sure, Nora say
he whats the worruld to man whe
his wife's widder9' All, poor John y
"It was sinsible sayin', that" n
marked Mr.. Costello, as he helped HIN
self to more fish.
II mind the day John died, continue
the widow. he knew every thing u
the last, and about four in the atternoo
he says to me, Nora says he. 'you'v
been good wife, says he, land I've bee
good husband says he, 'ans I coul
give you good carackthur any plac
says he,' an wish you could the san
for me where I'm goin',' says he, 'b1
it's case equal says he, every dog has
cay, and some has day and half say
he. 'Ah' says he, 'I1l know NOR
in bit than Father Corriga
himself says he, 'but I'll say now,' say
: he, that I've always been a true son {
the church, says he, $50 I'll not both,
me brains about it, and he says, says b
7 1 lave you in good hands, Nora, for
lave you in your own hands, says b
D 'and ii at any time you see any man J
t like better nor me, marry him, says b
e tAh, Nora says he. for the first tin
spanking in solemn like, 'Ah, Nora, VIII,
It Is the world to man when his wife is
s widder9' and says he, 4 lave $50 fl
masses, and the rest I lave 10 yourself
r said he, sand I needn't tell ye to be
e good mother to the children says b
+ for we'll we know there are none A
: poor John. Will ye have another cup
tay, Mr.. Costello9'
s "It must have been very hard on ye
a said Mr.. Costello. "Thank ye, ma ar
l. no more"
It at was hard" said Mrs. Con
miskey; shut time will tell. I mu
g cast about me for our own livin'; an 1
I got on Until this place, and here 1 Al
to-day"
"Ah," said Mr.. Costello, as they ro
F. from the table and seated themselves b
e fore the fire, "and here we are both OF +,
n this evenin.'"
e "Here we are, sure enough rejoine
r the widow"
e Gan SO l mind ye of-of him, do Il
b asked Mr.. Costello, after pause, durir
z which he had gazed contemplatively in
d the fire.
l. "That We do" answered the wido'
8, "Ye favor him greatly. Dark compiled
l. ed and the same pleasant smile."
s- "Now, with me sittin' here and "
d sitting there toreninst me, We might q