The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-02-23
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
Preparations for a speedy removal
went forward. The spinning wheel and
cards, which had been borrowed from a
neighbOr on the prairie's edge about a
mile distant, would be no longer needed,
and, as there was nothing to spare of
any particular value in the cabin, it was
decided that nothing should be sold, but
that their little all should become the
property Of Ziek Hamilton, who accept
ed it all the more readily because one Of
the four young girls, who was known to
be in a decline, and who was at this
time visiting with another poverty
stricken sister in Cherry Grove, distant
SOL two days journey from her home,
was to return by autumn and take up
her abode with him and Sarah.
Ziek Hamilton hitched his yoke of
oxen to an ungainly sled-a wagon on
wheels was a luxury to which he did
not at all aspire-and repairing to the
orphans home, proceeded to load his
novel midsummer vehicle with a pot, a
kettle, saucepan, four clumsy, home
made chairs, Peter Dowd's rifle, a few
earthen dishes, two pewter bowls, six
pewter spoons, a shovel, broken mir
ror and two three-legged stools. The
bedsteads were not worth removing, but
the bedding was a welcome acquisition
TO Sarah's meagre store. The remains
Of one sack Of meal, half pint of salt, q
jar of maple sugar, piece Of bacon and
a few potatoes were the contents of the
family larder, and constituted more
than the usual supply Of food in store al
once. Ziek Hamilton threw the broom
behind the door for '1uck, /" and the girl:
went to work with heavy hearts to sweeT
the empty cabin.
1t was a hazy, glorious, delightful
day. a hickory tree that stood hard by
the chimney above BOuncer's kennel
waved its branches in the lazy breeze
and east its protecting shade over the
lowly roof. 1t was but a sapIing in FL
lens babyhood, but it had thrived and
flourished until now it stood a fine,
large, shapely shade tree, from whose
branches depended n substantial grape
vine swing. Ellen, who was as 1.-the
and nimble as a cat, climbed by the aid
of the grape vine into the branches OF
the tree, and seating herself against its
body, burst into an uncomfortable flood
of tears. A robin twittered in the ton
most branches, and some jay birds chat
tered close at hand. Old Bouncer whineS
pitifully at the foot of the tree, and
pair Of eaterpillars, swinging by diml,
visible threads, like cobwebs, almos
brushed her cheek. Bird and brute an
insect alike loved and trusted heI
Clasping her arms around the tree trun
and pressing her tear-stained face upo
its scaly sides, she gazed up into til
deep green foliage and said aloud:
80, tree! o, birds o, insects must
leave you? and forever? VIII you mis-
your boon companion, who so long ha
loved and trusted you ,"
The light breeze caused the silke
leaves TO rustic, but they gave no soun
save a sort Of gentle, murmuring sigh.
80, what care for fame, or wealth, Q
grandeur?' groaned the child. "T
rather have my native birds and tree
and flowers and You, dear, murmurin
Mackinaw, with mothers grave an
dear old Bouncer, than all the iewal
ever brought to light by famed Aladdin,
lamp"
"Ellen! Ellenw cried Kate. in an ON
cited tone, "the carriage is coming, w
mustn't keep the old folks waitingr,
'If there is anything on earth I 4
hate with my whole soul and BODY. if
them self-same old folksru was n
quick retort, as she descended from h
perch and ran to the pebble-strev
banks of the Mackinaw to wash n
face and eyes.
Her sisters re not particularly SC
row-strickeD er the proposed removi
Unlike they had formed no de
affection for the objects of nature, wi
which she had long held close eommu