Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-01-09

think woman left suddenly to provide
for hersel: and children very like ship
| without rudder, anchor or sail"
| eyes, she is, and [ wonder so now
| that | could have gone on year after
year without even thinking that this
might happen to me- she answered
sadly.
| ''Well, just try quietly now for a few
moments to tell me what you can do
best, for there must be something" Z.
20, can't do anything but just love
and take care of my babies" she burst
out impulsively, while the tears rained
down afresh.
"But that is just the thing p I cried,
| light suddenly dawning upon me. sTo
| love and take care of babies-what
sweeter occupation could any one want?
Now there are my fve-or no, Neddie
and Ella are too old. There are my
three, Mrs. Johnson's two, Mrs. Ed
wards little girl-O, we can easily find
fifteen or sixteen close around here,
and you can1love them and take care of
them. That is just splendid! I've
been longing for nice kindergarten
near by ~
She began to look interested and did
Of mine, SO went on to enlarge upon
my idea.
| After talking it over for an hour she
felt that at last something had been
found that she could do. She knew
nothing of kindergarten work, proper,
but as we were not particular about
that and as there were many things
that she could easily learn before the
time arrived to open, she consented to
try.
| op+1
and truth, at least, my love-" / said
kissing her, for she was very timid.
was conscientiousness, not cowardlce,
for she thought she ought to be thor
oughly competent for whatever she un-
dertook.
While John was having the cottage he
had found repaired for her, | went
among my near neigbbors. and found
them ready and glad to put their little
ones in her care.
Enough of her furniture had been
saved to furnish the little cottage pref
tily, and it was not long before she was
comfortably established with her sweet
babies.
The little school was opened and we
all telt SO glad to have the children in
the care of 80 good and kind a woman
as Nettie Thwait.
/ pictured to myself the littlesgirls as
young women-teachers or writer's,
cashiers or bookkeepers, taking the
burden rom her shoulders. and | saw
her, in my minds eye, passing a peace
full and intellectual old age, happy and
beloved.
/ said something OF the kind to John,
but he only smiled. (When he doesn't
! think as [ do he smiles. | wonder if
other men have that habit. At all
events it's better than contradicting,)
and said:
''Do you think that is to be the fut-
ure of Nettie Thwait, wife ?"
"Of course, John; how could it be
otherwise ?"
"The burden of self-support will con-
quer her ~ he declared positively.
80, John, how can you think such
cruel things?" l asked Sharply.
Then he turned and faced me and
put his hands upon my shoulders ana
ordered me to look in his face, and
when he bad forced me to do that he
said: Now, truly, love, do you think
she is contented?'
"Yes-that IL, as contented as she can
be, having been bereft of the one she
loved" [ answered.
''Do you think she will go on keeping
babies school for fifteen years ?''
tWhy, yes, of course, unless some
thing better OFFERS" | said.
Something easier-for woman-will
ofer," he said, letting me go.
Then I opened the Walls of my wrath
upon him:
"You cannot deceive, me, john" I
said, with intense scorn; II know what
!. you've been thinking of all this time.
!, wonder if you picked out husband
f But you are mistaken! Nettie is far
above thinking of such things. She is
noble woman and she would never
marry unless her whole heart was given
| to"
Nonsense She must live, and her
children must live !"
What trivial thing marriage is to
men," [ exclaimed with great dignity.
Women should have a business or
profession the same as men, and then
there would not be the need of mar
riage unless the whole heart was in it, )"
he said. "But Nettie was not brought
up or taught to labor either with hand
or brain and 80 it is an awful burden up
on her. wonder you have not noticed
her tired, detected look; it is very pitt
full to me-"
I forgave him then. and went to call
upon Nettie the next day. She did
look thin and tired, but it was only four
months since Clarence's death and they
|
should have resented it for him if she
had looked blooming and happy. en-
couraged her all could and went away
quite satisfied that Johns very world
; ly thoughts had no, foundation in truth.
, The winter wore on, Nettie still Kept
| the little school, but there was no
brightness in her face and her troubled
look seemed to deepen. She could just
keep the wolf from the door. We
would SO gladly have helped her in
many ways, but she was sensitive and
proud and would not let us.
often took occasion to remind John
of his foolish predictions.
eff ever woman's heart was in the
grave with her dead husband Nettie's
isl | said very emphatically one morn
ing.
''Nevertheless-she is married." he
replied, looking up from the paper on
his knee.
Married % / screamed.