The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-08-27
THE WIDOWS CONGRATULA-
TONS.

She was bright little woman with
hazel eyes, perfect teeth, wavy hair
and when she wasn't worked to death,
delicate, rosy complexion. She had
married very young-her ideal-and
when few years later she could no
longer hider from herself what a poor,
weak bit of clay he really was, she
made no moan, but set about the hard
task of filling the places of both father
and mother to the three bright little
children that came to them in the first
four years. So we'll did she succeed
that the little ones thought papa was
the best and noblest man living. For
tunately he departed this life before
they discovered his frailties, leaving
his wife a multitude OF debts, and
only his life insurance to pay them
with.
She was quite aware that creditors
could not touch the money, but being
honest she paid every bill and then
deposited the balance IN the savings
bank. 1t was such small sum that
even with the most rigorous economy
it would scarcely give them daily bread,
let alone butter and meat occasionally,
fuel, clothes, school books and the
thousand necessary things which de.
cency requires. Sne had knack of
painting and embroidering and great
deal OF originality. She made dainty
trlfss for parlors and boudoirs, which
brought her pretty penny, and this
she augmented by making drawings of
the said trlfss and then writing the
descriptions, which she sold to
ladies' periodical, SO that altogether
her children had a comfortable and
even charming home.
1t is quite true that great deal OF
the tableware came from the five and
ten cent stores, but only those who
patronized such places would know it,
so chaste were the designs. The little
dresses mostly came from the remnant
counter. and Herbert's stylish clothes
were fashioned by her own fingers
from remnants of good quality. But
it was hard work, body and mind ever
so constantly employed that she be-
gan to think, as so many poor over
worked women before her, that the
sweetest promise IN the Bible was He
giveth His beloved sleep" She had
no rest, no recreation whatever, and
every day there was more need of
money and she seemed more tired
when her old school friend, Mary
Palmer, bought the corner house. All
the good things of life seemed to come
to Mary Palrcer he .-- - had been
brilliant One. 90 s. 5i511-'-..----....; 5i5u11-
of earth's best, the posse- I'll 'sareat'
wealth, devoted to his family, and
honored by all who knew him. Like
good husband, he was interested in
all his wite's. and though he would have
scorned the idea of being a match,
he certainly did bring his old comrade,
Captain Baker, to make fourth in the
game of euchre which his wife insisted
on twice week. For knowing how
restful to poor little Mrs. Joyce were
her spacious, flower scented rooms,
she would have her spend three even
ings out of week with them. To be
sure she brought along her embroidery
and worked steadily while Mr.. Palmer
read aloud from the last new magazine,
or rendered favorite piece of music
on the piano.
After nine O'Clock the work was laid
down for a game of cards, and then
the widow went home, for early hours
were a necessity to her.
Captain Baker was a large, solid
looking man. He was bald and a
little gray, man who paid little atten-
ton to womel, for in war times he had
been cruelty Tilted by gay coquette
some what older than himself. She
had fallen IN love quite as much with
his handsome uniform as with himself.
She vowed to be true to him even
though he came back armless and leg
less, and for two or three months wrote
him such letters as made him the hap
piest man in the regiment. All at once
they stopped, and his dear old mother
tried to console him by congratulatlng
him on his escape, for his hnancer had
married rich old man.
The old man was dead, and his
widow made practice Of calling at
the bank almost every day, for the
captain of long ago was bank presi-
dent now. Though she asked advice
frequently about the disposal of hel
property and smiled her sweetest on
her old lover, it only disgusted him the
more, and half score of mothers
every season figuratively flung thel
daughters at his head, for he was ;
rich man, and scandal had nevea point
er finger at him. But he quietly at
~dA1ka-his business. often sr.~d;~.
an evening with some o'd m
lrlends' never attending gay parties o,
accepting invitations to call. He had
been on speaking terms with NJ