The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-09-01

NOuiu never nave hiiOhu any lhlhE.
am certain that more than half
my children were the direct Off
spring of brutal state of intoxicatiOn."
"But I'd see man hanged before I'd
stand that so, therep' I said indig-
nantly.
"Ah, Judith! you don't know what
you'd dor' was the sorrowful reply.
"But 1 know what 1 didP
Then followed a racy recital of my
spirited and victorious struggle for the
ownership of my own body, of which
the sagacious reader already possesses
some knowledge.
''But, Judith, you were always firm,
self-willed and defiant"
''Not always, dear; but in that respect
1 wish 1 always had commanded obe-
dienee. My eldest born-my hearts
idol-would be living now but for her
fathers lust. And my first Wee dar-
ling, who never saw the light, was his
first victim. For many years l was his
body slave; but I conquered only
wish that you, long years ago, had done
the same"
"But you know, Judith, the Bible
says that wives must submit to the de-
sire Of their husbands. confess that
never could see why so many curses
must be heaped on women, but, as the
Bible says so, we cannot help ourselves" {"
''Tut, tut Nonsense! The Bible
teaches no such abominable doctrine.
If thought it did
'Hush, Judith Don't blaspheme F!
l cannot bear it! Our only hope is in
a better world. Let us prove worthy
of that hope"
"But declare that the Bible does not
teach such nonsense, Sarah! Temper
ance, reciprocity, forbearance, charity
these are Bible doctrines. The princi-
pies that you have submitted to are alb
jeet subjectiOn, inordinate indulgence,
misery, death. Don't call these Bible
doctrines, for l know they are no such
things"
"Oh, Judith / wish could have had
the benefit of your strong will and in
dependence long ago. Mother would
have been shocked beyond measure il
she had ever heard you talk like this.
But believe you're right, after all"
\ shrek in the back kitchen, accom-
panied by sounds as of some one strug-
Cling for life, attracted us to the spot
and there upon the floor, with his head
and heels drawn backward till they met,
his eyes protruding and his tongue al
most bitten through, lay my sister,
twelve year old epileptic boy, throw
, ing mis- arms, tearing his flesh and
= frothing at the mouth like victim OF
hydrOphobia. For an hour the con-
/ vulsion continued, taxing my poor sis.
. scr's strength in her efforts to keep hi,
, hands pinioned, until had no need Il
wonder that her elasticity of life anC
limb was gone.
Upon a sort of truckle bed lay lump o.
, half-inanimate Misunderstanding hel
: fat hand and rolling back her eyes il
, hideOus contemplation of vacancy.
/ My brOther-in-law had at lengtl
awakened from the drunkard's sleep
, He came tOttering into the kitchen
| where confusion reigned, and begar
f giving orders with the air of a sover
eign.
81 say, Sallie, you're anything but ;
! h-h-hospitable woman. No su-sup-pel
| yet, and this sister of ours come all tn,
way from the se-set-tin' sun to visi
r US? Ahl if l only h-had w-wif,
that h-had some snap about her. Xii
a chicken and fix up somethin' good t,
: eat, why don't ye?"
Sarah looked up from the floor wher,
the struggling sufferer lay with an ap
, pealing look that frOze my blood.
2 "Never mind, sister dear" l sal,
e soothingly. "Don't make extra trou
BILE on my account. Just make som,
, mush; you know like it,"
So the Inush was made, and ourselves
I and the children made hearty meal
the worthy head Of the family slippin;
4 OF to sleep, forgetful, for the nonce, o
I his high dignity.
The children milked the only COW AN,
finished up the necessary chores, and a
D soon as possible my sister and mysel
wearily settled ourselves for sleep
e locked in each others arms, Just as W,
; had done in childhood, before care o.
e real trouble came
e Itmust have been three O'Clock in tn,
- morning when became conscious tha
n my sister was gently pleading with thu
= brute who, claiming a husbands pre-
rogative, was expOstulating with her il
I subdued but angry voice. I was 5,
I terrified that j thought should faint
5 but l lay rigidly still until the fiend'i
. opportunities became unbearable.
q had noticed n broOm-stick on ledg,
behind the bedstead before going t,
: sleep, and remembering where it was,
' seized it and dealt blow upon tn,
drunkard's head that sent him reelinl
TO the floor. He staggered off, mutter
= ing vengeance, but l no longer felt any
I sense of fear.
: THAT'S the way to treat the drunkeI
5 dog so, there ~ / said vehemently.
v "DOn't, Judith, Don't! He's tn,
e father Of my children ~
Y "And such children ~ it was on my