Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-11-20

"there are other widows besides you,
Hattie"
Other widows? What did he mean?
A brand fell, blaZed up, and went out
She started up aud looked eagerly
about. The chair opposite hers was
empty. The clock on the mantel struck
nine. It had marked the half-hour,
she remembered, just as the first
brands fell together. It had been a
dream. then. She shivered and came
back to reality, lighted the lamp, fed
the dying fire. and returned to her
new grief. New, because that face had
been 50 real, her gladness SO deep, and
now it was lost once more, with a fresh
bereavement. But though the tears fell
hopelessly and fast from her eyes, and
her heart ached anew with rebellious
anguish. still his words kept recurring
to her. She had not thought of that be-
fore. There were other widows, no
doubt-others sorrowing with her sor-
row; in kind, if not in degree. She re-
membered several whom she had visit
ed in her charitable rounds, and was
startled to remember how she had
passed their sorrows by without any
real sympathy. A sense of companion
ship stole over her, as if, suddenly
wrecked on some desert shore, she
had met with beings of her own race af-
ter long, lonely weeks of silence and
despair.
Then the thought flashed across her
that these women must dread the re-
currence of Thanksgiving, just as she
to keep the day with her?
She fell asleep thinking the matter
over, and awoke in the morning with a
shamefaced sense OF some light and in
terest creeping into her life, hitherto SO
sacredly wretched. Then she remem-
bered her dream-her husbands sad +,
grave face. Perhaps she had done
wrong in mourning him so devotedly
that even her children had been set
aside from their place. Possibly it
would please him better If she carried
out her plan.
When the mornings duties were full
filled, she sat down again by the fire
not to dream now. but to plan for &C.
ton. But whom should she invite
For she began to see that Mrs. Broome,
who lived in the fourth story of tene-
ment house, and earned a precarious
living, would hardly be fit companion
at dinner for Mrs. Graves, whose hus-
band had lett her large fortune.
A text from the Bible flashed into
her mind "Wben thou makest feast,
call the poor, the manned, the lame,
the blind" With thrill in her dark
ened soul, she recognized the Masters
call. She was sincere Christian, but
her love and her great loss had come
between her and duty. The question
as to her guests was settled, and, in the
afternoon, she set out on her errand.
She selected six poor widows, who
would probably not have feested. but
tasted at their own homes. Mrs. Say
brook felt there was weight off her
mind, and felt also that she had been q
happier and better woman for the last
week. The children entered joyf1lly
into the idea of a Thanksgiving so
novel, and all the mere that their
mother told them with trembling lips:
"Papa would like it,
At last the festival day came. Mrs.
BrOome, IN her new cap, and Mrs. Per-
kins, trying to look blandly indifferent,
were the first to arrive. Then the car
rage made second trip, bringing lame
Mrs. Hutchins, very meek in her al
paca gown; Mrs. Peck, proudly STEP
ping along, and Aunt Hannah Brom-
field, as ''genteel" as she could make
herself in new muslin handkerchief.
"Widder Johnson" lived round the cor
ner, SO came on foot, entering with
radiant.
The dinner proved a great success.
The ''baby' of the house sat in his high
chair by mamma; but the elder boy and
girl waited on the guests, and enjoy.
their office.
'Them is sweet children of you'n,
Mis- Saybrook," sighed Mrs. Broome.
my if I'd had chick or child. 'twould
have been such blessin'."
"That's SO ~ chimed in Mrs. Perkins.
II had two on 'em, to be sure, who n
Perkins was took; but they wasn't no
comfort to speak of. for they went and
had diptheery inside of six months, and
one OF 'em died right off, Just as sud-
den. Tother one held by quite spell,
but she was the miserablest you ever
see. | couldn't feel to keep her here a
mite longer, [ wanted her to get rest
and easement So"
Mrs. Saybrook's arm stole about little
Willie, and Mrs. Hutchins said very
gently; 81 expect folks each has their
special troubles. I can't but remem-
bert when Josiah died and left me
nigh about helpless with hip trouble
and young babe, too. 1t did seem as
though nobody ever had, or could have,
no aft ction like mine; but somehow [
got along, and / found that there was
others quite as bad OFT as | was, and the
Lord helps the lame and the poor" and
a smile and tear together set their
bright seal to her con ession of faith.
"Well !' said Mrs. Peck, with an au-
dible sniff and hard voice. 81 didn't
think l was the worst off that ever was
when Peck died. He was a drinkin'
man. | didn't know nothin' of it when
We was married. He had the tremens
three times, and died ont; and I went
out a-sewin', to keep body and soul to.
sether. [ could have taken care of N.Y.
self eff my eyes hadn't ha' give out a
spell ago."
Mrs. Saybrook regarded her with in
finite pity.
"You don't none of We hev Jest nv
trial." said Aunt Hannah BromfelG.
''Tom Bromfeld was fust mate to a
whalin' ship when we were married.
My sakes how lively he was. He had
money. too. We was real well off.
Twas kinder harrowin' to hev him up
an off for three years voyage right
away, and then he didn't stay home no
time when he did come; but [ had
twins for to show him when he come
back fust, and you never see q man SO