Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-16
An Extraordinary Woman.

An extraordinary Woman.
The back yard was square and
walled around with a high board
fence, painted brown. The small, in
closed space was a mat of green sod,
thick and padded. Around the edge
of the plot on three sides ran a border
bed Of rich, black earth, with pansies,
sweetWilliamS and a variety of foliage
plans in pots. Over the brown fence
there were cords fastened neatly, with
morning glories already half way to
the top. On the third side of the
yard, that towards the house, the
grass ran clear to the stone founda-
ton, except where broken into by the
protruding of the slanting cellarway
and the descent of the back steps.
Inside the door where the rays Of
the morning sun could not reach her,
sat Mrs. Smith. Her dress was of
simple calico stuff and she wore a big,
all-covered apron. Her hair Of black,
with one or two faint lines of gray,
was drawn back smoothly, yet withal
in a manner very becoming. Beside
her on the floor lay a gray sunbonnet
She was Smelling peas and singing
softly to herself Just an ordinary
woman, occupied in an ordinary man
ner, perfectly contented to sit and
shell the peas watching the morning
glories nod IN the sun and tic mas
turtiums unfolding their glowing red
yellow blossoms happy to be just an
ordinary woman.
For she had been extraordinary
Does it ever occur to people who
live most monotonous existence, ris-
ing and retiring with regularity, going
a routine of peaceful work day after
day, who are always longing secretly
for something unusual to happen, that
the extraordinary people have the
hardest time of life? That in IT,
midst of their romantic hustle and
confusion, toll and turmoil, these ex-
traordinary people would give all
their wonderful experience just to go
away and live in monotonous peace
for a few minutes?
Take, for example, Mrs. Smith Hav-
ing been an extraordinary woman she
was glad to sink into the name of
Smith. Having seen many and varied
experiences, she was glad 10 live in
one Of a row Of houses all exactly
alike, with back yard no different
from her nCighbOrs, except, perhaps,
that the grass was greener and the
flowers more fourishing because they
enjoyed better care, and to dress in
calico and sunbonnet. She handled
the pods of the peas lovingly, as
though happy to scent their greenness
and be close to natures simple beauty.
And, strange to say, this ordinary
form Of happiness had been her chief
ambition always.
She married the first time very
young, and for a while lived compare
lively contented, the darling of a rich
man much Ger than herself. But
as increasing age enfeebled him he
resorted more and more to the stimu-
lants to which he had all his life been
accustomed, until the habit of drink
almost overpowered him and made so
rapid inroads on his fortune that it be-
came a struggle to make both ends
meet and Mrs. Morrison, as she was
BILE occupation of dressmaking to gain
a livelihood for herself and her hus-
band. For several years she sup
ported herself and him and Frank,
their only child. But some judicious
friend suddenly put an idea into her
| head. Why bother caring for three
when the law would free her from the
burden of her husband and leave only
herself and her child? With the de-
termination which once or twice in a
lifetime nerves unassuming women to
do brave deeds, she took the step, and
Mr.. Morrison one day found himself
without a wife to care for him. To
lis credit be it said he did not annoy
9r much. He simply went to her
and told her that he would always
/ love her dearly; that he was sorry to
have been a burden to her. but, hav-
| ing been so, he would be so no longer.
! Then he dropped completely from her
Aorizon, and for years her world knew
him no more.
The little dressmaker came and
vent loving her boy and bringing him
up gently and quietly. Men saw and
! admired her, but thinking her bitter
/ experience would have soured her; on
their sex, left her unmolested, though
often thinking it was pity, for she
would make an ideal wife for some
one. And in her heart of hearts Mrs.
Morrison desired nothing so much as
/ a strong arm to lean on and loving
heart to be her anchor. Mr.. Smith
saw her and, seeing, said to himself
that there was the woman for him.
/ So he made his first advances by no
ticing little Frank and giving him so
7 generous quantities Of fruit and
flowers that there was always abun-
dance for mamma to share. By and
/ by it happened once or twice that he
walked home with her, and the course
! of true love was running smoothly
when Mr.. Goddering appeared upon
/ the scene
Mr.. Goddard might never have dis
covered the little widows attractions