The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-26

shades.
Ellen greeted them at the cabin door
with a weary smile. Her face had been
so often blistered in her frantic attempts
TO cure toothache and neuralgia by ap-
plication Of cantharides that all traces
of its former beauty had vanished. She
YEARLY bore great child in her arms.
while its twin companion kicked and
crowed upon the cabin floor.
"Aunt Betsey, Doctor, Katy, Uncle
Jakey, Pm very glad TO see you aIl,1
she said, Frightening up. "This is
pleasure that feared would never be
mine again, dear A1ntie," smoothing
her snow-white hair and wrinkled face.
"You have a lovely situation here"
said DIR. Goff. "These are fine, rolliek-
ing babies, too. Quite an outcome in
them since saw them at birth. But
you look tired. The two babies are very
trying on your strength this balmy, lazy
weather"
"Iired! I haven't been rested for ten
years. Inever expect to rest again until
get into my coffin,' was the despairing
answer.
'rNonsense, Ellen! One would think
you hadn't great deal of work TO do.
You haven't a very large house to take
care of. But then, of course, the babies
are troublesome"
A bitter laugh betrayed prominent
eye teeth, between which the bright red
gums exhibited ragged row of rotten
roots, from which the thin lips rolled
away as if glad to retreat from the near
proximity of such repulsive decomposi-
ton. ''If the twins were my only care l
should think had very little work to
do indeed. But Peter keeps six hired
men, and cook and wash for them. l
make butter and cheese for market, and
for the house. do all the milking,
mOpping, washing, churning, cooking,
sewing, ironing and other drudgery my
self, in addition to caring for my family
of eleven children"
"But your older children are large
enough now TO assist you in household
duties"
''They must 60 to school; besides,
they are not strong; and whenever
they're about the house they have the
care of the twins on their hands. 1 want
to make their childhood as happy as
possible. They'll never have any enjoy
ment as women"
"But how do you accomplish 50
much? You look frail and weak. You
certainly need somebody to take care oi
you"
"Care Of me, indeed! If only were q
cow, or a sheep, or a mare, or a hog
somebody might reason thus; but I'm
nothing but woman-not considered
marketable, you see."
"But woman is the noblest work o.
God, my dear. You are not doing your
self justice in thus overworking you
body. Your children will reap the sac
results of your folly. Think of you
mother; of your sister Sarah; of Ziel
. Hamilton's scattered family; of you
own certain death if you persist in thii
course, and try to remember that you
first duty is to yourself" and DR.. Gof
/ looked almost sternly at her as he spoke
speaking of myself, sir, reminds m'
that / have not yet finished my wash
ing; and there is dinner TO get for TWEEN
, ty-four of us. So you will please excus
me-"
, "'Pears to me that Ellen has heal
harder time than Sarah had, said Aun
Betsey, sitting in her easy chair by tn
window and watching her as she re
treated. ~ don't see as property j
much help to anybody if it only make
, slaves of 'em."
"Its Ellen's fault as well as Peters,
: was Uncle Jacobs sensible comment
''She begun in as graspin' an avarieiou
manner as he did to save money; an,
jest as long as she aciU do all this work
jest that long she may. Peter dom
) consider. A heap o. men hainit no fac
ulty o. findin' out what's needed in
family; an Ellen's testy an snappish
t too. Think Peters kind o. reused like
t They don't get along together aecordin
a to my notion"
II should say they diolRtr' was Dr
u Goff's emphatic reply. "How in crea
ton is any woman going to be otherwis
n than snappish and testy with all thi
work on her hands, and half sick in III
le bargain. Thousands of women are eer
], sured for being ill-tempered when the
Of are only suffering from i'll health an
overwork. Uncle Jacob, it's very cas-
"a for you or me TO sit at our ease and Ia
" the blame of that poor chiId's unhapI
is lot upon herself, but reckon we'd ia
Of much farther short of state of plac
70 good nature than she does if we h;
re half her burdens to bear. We could
:. bear them at all; it would be impOss
lie ble."
Ie "But, Doctor, Ellen didn't sta
n right"
! frWhat if she didn't? She was your
le and inexperienced-at least ten yea
her husbands junior. If he should 5
n that one of his farm horses was too al
N bilious for his strength, he'd begin
" use a check rein at once. do wi
il men were but just half as wise about t
n- necessary care required by the mothe
in of their children to keep them in go
es condition as they are about the low
TX animals"
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