The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-10-20

calmed its tumult, and said to turbulent
emotions, ''peace, be still"
Suddenly a mellow light illuminated
the apartment and settled over my SOM
bre garments as halo. Then dark
ness that could be felt enshrouded me for
amoment, which was gradually dispelied
by a limpid radiance, from which hazy
substance gathered form and features,
and the beaming eyes and long white
beard, for which | had learned to look
in eager expectation, appeared once
more upon an airy canvas. But the ex-
preston of the face was sad, and the
once sweet smile betokened bitterness.
80, William! William! will you not
forgive your waiting Judith ?" 1 ex-
claimed, aloud.
But while l spoke the vision vanished,
and 1 could not again recall it.
A domestic entered and, turning OH
the gas, busted herself a few moments
in rearranging the disordered books and
papers on the center table.
'Ma'am, Pm compelled TO give you
warnin'," said she, nervously.
"Why, Nanette? Haven't 1 always
been a kind, indulgent mistress?"
80, yes ma'am," and the bright quad
room laughed nevously, "but, you see,
b'leve this house is haunted"
Nonsense, NanetteI The spirits OF
the living may haunt the house some
times, but l have never yet been able to
call up the wraiths of any who are
dead"
swell, ma'am, it may or mayn't be
superstition, but I'll leave here this day
week. / thought it best TO give you
warmth"
"What have you seen, Nanette ?"
81 haven't seen nothin' partick'ler,
'cept your actin, ma'am; but 1 heard
you call mans name just now, and
when turned on the gas your eyes was
just startin' from their sockets. Don't
get angry, please, but Pm afraid you're
a witch"
/ could not restrain a hearty laugh.
cts no laughin' matter to me,
ma'am," and the girl beat a retreat to
the kitchen, muttering rs she went.
Presently Minnie came in, sobbing as
though her heart would break, while
Winnie and the boys remained in con-
sultation in the latticed porch, and I
could see that they We're all in trouble.
"What's the matter now, my dear ?''
asked, tenderly.
''Oh, mother! what do you ever do
that's wicked to make people talk about
you so?"
"Why, what are people saying about
me?p
"Oh! Nelly Brooks wouldn't play
with us, because she said you were q
bold, bad womanl She told Jim Hodge:
that you once married forger and got
divorce; and that you broke my faith,
er's heart, and broke him up in bust
ness, and oh don't know what all
And the girls slight us at school anC
say naughty things about us, and OH
dear! wish We were all deadv'
Poor children! How pitied them in
this trial, which was to them as rea
and biting, and consequently just a
hard to bear, as are the more weight,
tribulations of the children of a large
growth.
eve are going back to Oregon! That
flatw said master Ben, who was as i'm
petuous as his mother; and they al
came moodily into tie room and aequi
eseed in Ben's determination.
''But l have a situation here tina
brings us bread and butter. 1t is neces
, sary that / remain and attend to it.
could follow my own inclinations
would start for the Pacific coast mex
week.
Situation be blowed! Pll work a
any sort of menial employment you ca
find for me, if you will CO." said YOun
America.
"What, my child? Would you Civ
up a situation where you are learnin
an honorable profession for the sake {
getting out of the way of a few busy
bodied tattlers?n
The fine-looking boy dropped his eye
f in contemplation.
{ continued:
f "You know, my dears, that enviou
and ignorant people tried to injure you
mothers reputation in her far westeT
e home, where nothing but her faithfI
: toll saved you from suffering. If W
4 were to go back would matters be an
y better? Tattlers were powerless to hu
me there, and they will prove impOteI
t to harm me heren
II "But they harm u.s. You don't kno
V how hard it is, mother
u "My children badly mistake the
n mothers sensitive nature if they thin
, that these things do not trouble he
u But have learned through many yea
to cease murmuring at two classes
It grievances. One class consists of tho
d l can avoid, and the other of those that
d cannot avoid. This is the philosophic
l. way in which to treat these petty ma
tiers that are beneath or above our co
y troll. While / have the confidence al
n affection of such fine company of CHI
Is dreu have consolation in all my tria
Y But it is as well, perhaps, to tell "
le now that there is a mystery connect