West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-05-19
= pROLIrIC MOTHER.

Efer Husband Dies.
\ NEST extraordinary a.maL in her
peculiar line, and one who Is largely re-
sponsible Tor the repid increase in the
population of Philadelphia within tie pas,
half century, Is u old laly living in Co
Ia nbiI avenue en- the northern pac; Of
that city. The New York Mercury saws
she ia the mother 81 no less than twenty.
one chillren, the most OF whom are liv-
log. a representative If the Mercury re-
Gently visite this wholesale mo her. TIE
reporter was ushcred into ,hc sittinc
room OF her residence one evening, aud a,
first he was doubtful whether he had
dropped in on Snliiy school in session
or miscellaneous party. Thcrc wae
certainly enough human material present
to make either or both. The old lady
consented TO give full particular, ''pro
viiing,' she said, 'you do not publish my
name. | wouldn't like TO have 1t spread
all over creation tha. baye had so many
children"
The required promise being freely Civ
e., she said "Yes John aud | were mar
riod when ! was t6. John, he was Just
20, and handsomer man could not be
found in PhiladolphIa e7cn if do saw II
myself, About q year and a half after
our marriage astonisbed John by pre-
sentipg him with iripets. wen saws
lac, Mary, this is good beginning. any.
how John was only a poor shoemaker
-
then, and three added to family all al
olcc cid make greet difference. but
three lovolier btbiss couil't be found i'm
Philadelphia, even If do say it myself.
and so we thought we'd get along. Two
years after became the mother of twins.
lcould see that John felt little blue oy. r
this. But he would have this little i,kr.
would John. We'll, Mary says he.
you're not doing any worse, anyhow. I.
was little better thank Cod + f,ecn
months after that bore one chGa only. a
ueal5 little boy. AMI then we had q
grand glorious family i1lifiration. j hn
for the first time in his life got tight as O.
lord. An, sis said he, we've got down
to proper economical basis a, lasl.' a,
tnat time | was only twenty one years
old, and tell you what, TO be the mother
of six children at that age seemed very
queer, but still thought the worst was
over. Many woman at double tina, ape
do not have larger families than mine
was hen. Two years pissed by, and
again became mother THIS time. 10
our astonishment, 1t proved 20 be another
pair OF twins. John got tight again, but
this time from sorrow and not from ioy.
Mother, says he this is awful.
You're right John, says 1. But these
two were lovely little boy and girl. and
their cute little ways and beauty soon pnt
fresh hope and courage in our hearts
John openeo a little shop, work was
brisk, and all went smoothly along until a
year and half afterward, when we had
smother psir of twins.
This broke Joba I'll ~, and he went
on spree for three weeks. old wcm-
an says he. Il can't support a whole
country Well, sooihed and sobered
him up, and got him 20 working again,
for the Lord knows there was need for it
then. During the next ten years | had
only six children, being single births only.
John and began 10 feel very much en-
couraged. 'Ah, sis, says he, we won't
have so much of a family after all
Three years pass, d away without any i'd
clifton to my family, wool in my Thirty
eighth year ! presented my amsz,d bus
band with another pair Of twins 'Mother.
says ne this is sstOuishing.' They could
Lot have come in a worse time, Tor John,
who had for number of years done very
well IL bis business, had just uale q bad
failure. but il3 elder children we're
working, and ne put The best face we
could Oh the matter Two wears after,
and when was in my fortieth year. h.
on: bot nded So se, bore another ct
Of tnplets. This, I think, killed poor
John. Yes, sir, he's dca3-disd tn
years ago this coming Juuc. Mother.
says he, think I've lived long enough. -
This remarkable voua" is 30 ycars q
age, bale, hesrly cnd wdl pres, ryed.
Her parents came from Scotland. marry
ing and settling 10 tLis coul.ry early i'm
life. Her husbsnd wgs Of Ifi.h descent
His parents also euigralcd 10 the Uni
ted States when quite young. YES"
tue old LADY gaii. Eve did after u an D.
have trouble to fnd the right kind Of
names for tie babies. First II was ea-y
enough but when We bad used up on ne