The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-09-15
CHAPTER Xxx.


In the week that passed over my head
during this terrible ordeal l had appar-
entity forgotten my unhappy and help
less sister, but the sequel will prove that
l had not been idle. The Doctor an
nounced one morning that the day of
execution upon her home had come,
and offered to drive me out to the sale.
81 will go with your driver" 1 an
swered quickly; ''but my poor sister
must be spared needless humiliation,
and so my wealthy friend must not ac-
company me-"
Arraying myself in plain black mus
lin, early repaired to the scene of ac-
tiOn, and saw the little all that my sis
ter had struggled to save knocked down
under the auctioneers hammer. Even
the chickens and the children's pig
were sold, and still the prices brought
were not sufficient to pay the rum
sellers demand. My poor sister wan
dered aimlessly around the house. Her
strength and ambition had alike failed
under her protracted life struggle, and
her mind seemed turned to stone.
Finally the forced sale was over.
Every article of any intrinsic worth
was sold, leaving only the tattered
bedding and battered household furni-
ture, which defied a bidder at any
price.
Ny brother-in-law lay crouched in a
fence corner, with his head sunk upon
his shrunken breast and his purple
hands clasped rigidly around his trem-
bling knees. Wherewith TO buy an
other dram was gone, and the poor,
wretched mortal, faint from want of
stimulants, was struggling weakly with
his fate.
'0h, sister Judith, give me rum, or l
shall die ~ he walled, when 1 aroused
him.
II have no rum, my poor, sad broth
err" I replied, "but you will not die.
See, have ordered wagon, and shall
remove you and the family to the city.
Get up and come along"
For Gods sake, Judith, get me Just
little whisky! Itwon't cost you muchr'
The red eyes seemed starting from
Their lurid sockets; great drops of agony
stood on the carbuncled nose. and the
full veins upon the forehead throbbed
and surged, portraying the torture of
the thirsting blood.
found man in the crowd who had
a bottle of gin, which l bought. and
pouring the most Of it upon the ground.
brought a small quantity to the burn
ing wretch, which seemed to revive
and give him strength sufficient to ena-
bic him to aid us somewhat in our task
of removal.
BY this time the men who had at
tended the sale for the sole purpose OF
making a bargain began to discover
that my fallen brother had friend, and
straightway they would have piled him
with drinks enough to have brought
on delirium tremens, had permitted it.
"Who is she? Where did she come
from? Where's she going to remove
the family ?n We're the half-whispered
queries heard, but I answered no ques-
'iois' eohtenting myself with giving an
oruer mere and there, aAd, above all. COM
iii"l'ilhg the idle crowd to give nv moor
orother no more liquor or H. ,,.o,,I,l
be prosecuted. 'eS "ouiu
1t was four o'clock in the oftorno.,,
Wheh we drove ipto the city and LaItod
in front of an humble but con,fala,, nm, n.'i,e'
dweIling, which I had hired read ''soie s'
nished, for my relatives accon,,',I iI'-
ton. My poor sister laughed and va,
by turns. Il have been young and nj
now am old, yet / have never SOC, ~ ~
righteous forsaken or his seed beco,;,,'- :
bread" This was her only utterance
as with her arms around my neck sb,
held me fast, while her tears flowed lik,
rain.
''Nonsense, sister miner shaking
her of; you'll find everything here