The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-06-23
John Browns W idow.
HEpNER. OREaoN. Nav IN. :

|
In a recent issue of the Blade noticed the
following item under the head OF Editorial
I Paragraphs y
| 1.-THE widow of John Brown-old John
Brown, whose soul began march at Harper's
Ferry, some score of years ago, to an eternal
and ever increasing glory-is now poor and
| in Washington, asking some little Office to
provide bread for her few declining years. 1t
is pitiful that she should even have to ask once
| for what should have been anticipated before
hand and provided for her"
Being in possession of information regard
ing the Widow Brown, that might be of inter
est to your readers and set Alright the mistaken
| ideas that so many people entertain, which
certainly does Mrs. Brown an injustice, name
| w. that she is in Washington, seeking Office,
will say this:
During recent visit to California l was
told that the widow of the immortal John
Brown was living near Saratoga in Santa Cla-
ra county, and / determined to make her
visit. Proceeding by rail to Losgatos about
four miles from the Widow Browns mountain
home, and from there on horseback we soon
stood face to face with that lady. About
mile on the road we stopped to enquire direc-
tions and was told to follow this road and
when you come to the end of it, about three
miles from here, and at the very ridge of the
mountain you will find the Widow Browns
place.
The road in question was found to be the
steepest, most winding, toughest and uncom-
promising mountain trail, broadened to admit
the passage of team, we have encountered.
Yet the work of ascent was a hundred times
repaid by the beauty of the Immediately sur
rounding scenery, and the marvellous view an
occasional opening in the forest permitted. The
air was soft and warm, the insects hummed
dreamily, lizards, summing themselves on the
rocks, darted beneath shelter at the sound OF
hoofs, the odor of wild flowers made the gentle
breeze heavy with sweetness. Three miles on
the road stood on end and zigzagged into eve
ry canyon and around every jutting spur, led
at last above the trees to the highest ridge,
sur1nounting which stood the cottage OF the
martyred patriots widow.
Mrs. Brown lives IN the cottage with her
two daughters, a son-in-laW and four grand
children. We were politely invited into the
parlor. From the parlOr window the view
was extensive and varied. Down at the foot
of the black-green mountain CLEANED the
white houses on either side of Saratoga's one
street. The foot hills we're laid out into rows
of orchard trees, bright green in their fresh
verdure. Beyond stretched away the level
plain of the rich Santa Clara Valley, and the
San Jose Court House dome, ID miles away,
was plainly visible.
said Mrs Browns son-in-law, Mr.. Pablin-
ger.
Your reporters attention was drawn from
the view by the entrance of Mrs. Brown, a
tall straight woman, apparently about fifty
years of age, though fifteen years older than
that. Her hair is only tinged with gray,
but her face is furrowed by lines sorrow
craven.
1--WE should like to sci the world right as to
your whereabouts, Mrs. Brown, and also give
any information concerning yourself you are
willing it should know"
Regarding my whereabouts-has there
been any dispute as to that?" replied the lady,
and then added, smiling Il have had to iden-
tify myself once or twice already, and may
have to again"
"rhen you are not and perhaps have not been
at Washington? A dispatch stated that you
were there"
"That is mistake. have never been there.
have no business there.
How long, Mrs. Brown, have you been liv-
ing hereG
ary;"
The ranch where Mrs Brown and family
live comprises $50 acres and was purchased
for 81 $50. Purchased but not paid for, as the
combined cash assets of the family allowed
only sufficient payment to close the bargain.
A second payment OF $500 falls due in Au-
gust, and after that there will he 81 900 to be
paid. After Mrs. Brown had stated these par
ticulars your reporter suggested as delicately
as he could that if the patriotic citizens OF the
State knew that the widow of John Brown,
the hero of Ossawattomie and Harper's Ferry,
was living on mortgaged ranch, they would
esteem it favor to be allowed to place the
widow in different circumstances.
II should willingly accept any such aid to
clear our home from debt, if it came only from
people who thought debt of gratitude was
due to the memory of John Brown" At this
point the unmarried daughter of Mrs. Brown
came into the room and Joined in the CONVEX
sltiln.
Miss Brown suggested by her conversation
the indomitable will OF her father. Speaking
of the talked-of subscription Tor the relief OF
her mother, she said:
"Of course should not oppose my moth
er's accepting any such aid offered to her as
the widow Of John Brown, but not to her fam
lily. am able to take care OF myself, and l
would die before | would accept penny,
which I had not earned, from any one.
Your reporter was inclined to accept this
literally when he afterwards learned that the
lady had walked to Saratoga, down that three
mile mountain trail and back to give one music
lesson.
MY mOtler, cOnLlnueQ tue liduSHICI, may
have earned the right to expect some such aid,
although she has meyer asked it. She sent
her husband and two sons to that hopeless in
surrectlon with her blessing and prayed for
them and the cause for which they gave up
their lives. She sympathized with every
thought of my father, and saw that the cause
of freedom required martyr, and when fate
decreed her husband to be that martyr, she
bowed her head submissively and prayed again
for his cause"
After a pleasant and lengthy conversation
in which your reporter CLEANED many interest
ing facts, we took our departure.
John Browns body lies Wondering in the grave,
But his soul goes marching on" "a
Does it? Well, if the soul in the hereafter
is capable of sympathies' with kindred souls
yet struggling in mortal casings that of John
Browns mnst occasionally halt to gently won
der that this Nation permits the widow of its
simplest, grandest, purest patriot to endure
the annoyances and hardships of almost pow
erty in her declining years.
WILL A. METTE.
milwaukee Evening Wisconsin,