The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-03-08
BY E. P. ".


Ernest Morton Ga rich young gentle
man were to be married in a week
when news came that Peter Drew, AL
ices step-father, was lying on his death
bed in Wisconsin, and would soon leave
her three little half-sisters orphans like
herself. Alice felt it her duty to 60 to
the help Of the afflicted ones; aud
Ernest, enraged at her action, bade her
goodbye for ever.
And so Alice Hall left the fairest
visions Of girlhood and the sunniest
hopes of life behind her, and went out
to the log farmhouse in Wisconsin,
where Peter Drew lay ON his death-bed
so you've come, Allie? ? said the
dying man, groping for her hand in the
shadows that were closing more darkly
over him than any twilight could have
done. Somehow, l felt it borne in me
you would come. And you won't let
the little ones starve-will you, Allie,
girl? You'll take care of 'em for the
sake of your dead mother?'
While l live they shall never want
for protector, she answered, in a
voice whose gentle firmness fell most
soothingly on the ear that was so fast
dulling to all mortal sounds.
Heaven bless you, Allie; and heaven
help you Now, l shall die, with my
mind at rest
Alice did not watch long. At mid
night, when the tempestuous winds were
wrestling with the tree-tops overhead,
and the great river rushed past with a
moaning sound, like the cry of a human
sufferer, Peter Drew driftel peacefully
out Of the life that had never been
aught but struggles and trial to him.
And Alice knew that she was left alone
to take care of the three little ones, the
oldest scarcely seven years old.
She knew that skillful seamstresses
were rare and difficult to be had in this
Western wilderness and she knew also
that she could easily obtain the situa-
ton Of teacher in the red-colored wood
en- school-house at the Cross Roads, two
miles beyond /; and insensibly she found
herself planning out the future lives
and destinies of herself and the three
helpless little girls who were sleeping
in their cribs upstairs.
we must live humbly and plainly,
said Alice to herself; but we need not
starve, while l am able to work.
Alas how different was the dull lead
color of this future to the roseate clouds
that had Hoated round her brain scarce.
ly more than week ago! She would
never be anybody's wife now; she
would settle quietly down into the OLD
maid elder sister of the three little
Drews. Had not this perturbing cross.
current flashed into the serene tide Of
her bygone happiness, to-day-the day
now dawning with sullen streaks Of lurid
red in the eastern sky-would have
been her marriage day.
Who could blame the girl for letting
her head droop on her hands, and shed
ding few quiet tears? Then she ross
up, resolved and firm, to face her duty
Yes, said old Squire Bean, swe'n bt
glad to pay you ten dollars month fol
teachin' deestrict school we ha'nt hat
no efficient schoolma am, not sine,
Abiah Smith married old Rogers
youngest boy. And as for the sewin'
why twas only yesterday Miss Bea,
was a-frettin' cause Melindy Steer
couldn't come to make up her nev
delaine. Melindy's mothers sick, an,
Miss Bean wouldn't grudge dollar t
have it made neat and ship-shape.'
A dollar! Alice felt that it woul,
be sometime before, at that rate, sh
lshould accumulate enough money t