New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-01-23
in the care Of 50 good and kind a

in the care of SO good and kind a
woman as Nettie ThWait. "a
pictured to myself the little girls
as young women teachers or writ
ers, cashiers or bookkeepers, taking
the burden from her shoulders, and
{ saw her in my minds eye, passing a
peaceful and intellectual old age,
happy and beloved
Isaid somet thing ofthe kind toJ ohm,
but he only smiled. (Whenhe doesn't
think as lido 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 flu
ture of Nettie Thwait, wife,"
ssOf course, John; how could it be
otherwise?''
The burden of self-support will con
quer herl" he declared positively.
20, John, how can you think such
cruel things?" / asked sharply.
Then he turned and faced me and
put his hands upon my shoulders and
ordered me to look in his face, and
when he had forced me to do that he
said: "Now truly, love, do you think
she is con tented?"
n Yes,that is, as contented as she
can be, having been bereft of the one
she loved" answered.
s'Do you think she will go on keep
ing ababies' school for fifteen years?o
why, yes, of course, unless some.
thing better OFFERS I said.
Something easier-for a woman
will offer" he said, letting me go.
Then Iopened the walls ofmy wrath
upon him:
s'You cannot deceive me, John" 1
said, with intense scorn; "I know
what you've been thinking of all this
time. I wonder if you picked out a
husband for her before poor Clarence
was buried. But you are mistaken!
Nettie is far above thinking of such
things. She is a noble woman and
she would never marry unless her
whole heart was given to
Nonsense! She must live, and her
children must liveE'
"What a trivial thing marriage r.
to men!'' exclaimed with great
dignity.
Women should have a business or
profession the same as men, and thel,
there would not be the need of mar
rage unless the whole heart was il,
it, he said ssBut Nettie was not
brought up Or taught to labor either
with hand or brain and so it is an
awful burden upon her. l wondes
you have not noticed her tired, de
jected look; it is very pitiful to me-
/ 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 had been so devoted.
| believe [ should have resented it for
him if she had looked blooming and
happy. ] encouraged her all could
and went away quite satisfied that
Johns very worldly 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.
If ever a Woman's heart was in the
grave with her dead husband Nettie's
is" ! said very emphatically one
morning.
"Nevertheless-she is married." he
replied, looking up from the paper on
his knee.
Married. ! screamed.
''Yes-poor girl, he said choking
y, "the burden of self-support has
proved too great for her. We ought
to toll knell now in reality, wife,
but it's very common case-here is
the paper. read it for yourself
just then a letter was brought to
me from Nettie- 1t merely said:
DEAREST OF ALL MY KIND FRIENDs-What
can say to you now? The simple truth is
best. With such ignorant hands, such an
ignorant mind, life was too difficult for me-
work too dreary to one who had never learn
ed to love it. I Thought could bear up, be
independent, aud resist, but could not An
easier, pleasanter life is promised mel hope
it may come.
Always your loving and grateful
NETT1E.
"She does not love him." l said
bitterly, passing the note to John,
"and how could she marry him?"
1t is sad, he replied comfortingly,
"but it is very common case, my
dear"
Fiddled from One Church into Another.
Singular as the statement may