The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-04-19

L
mon washerwomsn. Alas, | had not
then the experience | have acquired
since. of what vell-reared women may
be reduced TO by distress, when eXiles
i'm foreign country. The porch door
opened into the parlor, and we went in,
1t was tidily, nay, lastly furnished, with
such articles as sojourners in San Fran
cisco would most readily procure. A
fresh mating covered the floor. Some
cane-seated chairs, and round table,
stood about the room. Beside, there
was "a set of hanging shelves, trimmed
with fringe, and plenty of little orna'
ments and souvenirs, bespeaking home
friendship and loving parting gifts from
the other side of the continent. All
this, and the woman's gentle manner
and really pretty face, seemed more and
more at variance with her hard calling,
but one sees these anomalies in a new
country, as California was then. | came
to the conclusion that, whatever circum
stances had rendered it necessary tol
Mrs. Adds to work in the way she did
they had no power to destroy her natu-
raj refinement of mind with its old as
sociations.
"You must excuse my little people
if you please" she went on to say
They are like frightened hares, and
fly for shelter at the sight of a strange
face; indeed, we are none of US strong
just now, though we are gaining health
daily. All, except Nancy, my eldest
have had long, weakening fever"
panama? | suggested.
"No," she said, and shuddered little
speaking slowly; sit was a nervou.
fever. | am just recovering from it my
self, having had the most heightened
attack of the three
And then l remembered that Mr.
Evans had mentioned it-a nervou
fever.
"What caused il ?n | asked.
But to this question Mrs. Adds mad,
no answer. An unmstakabe shive
passed over her frame, and for the mo
ment thought she was going to faint
4" beg your pardon" she said. "
have been much shaken in the nerve
Jared and worried. do hope d,
trust that we shall all get well in time
now we are in this pleasant and peace
full house"
Perhaps the house you lived in be
fore was damp"
"No, don't think it was damp;
was not that she said sit was OF
Russian Hill"
Unhealthy, perhaps, in other ways.
Eyes. Unhealthy-ior us, an,
there ensued the SILVER again. "Abou
the work, maam, what is it you wis
, me 10 do?"
sat and told her. Ipartooll of som
reireshment that they offered me-
mouthful of lunch and some tea. An,
| came away strangely interested i
Mrs. Adds and her gentle children
and quite determined that that frs
visit should not be the last.
What is the mystery connected wit
her illness p | asked Mr. Evans when
next saw him. There seems to
one"
at certainly does seem to be my:
terry; one, believe, that nobody ca
explain, or account for was the repl
of Mr.. Evans. ~ dare say she wi
give you the history if you request it,"
And in due time obtained that his
tory, and transcribe it as it was told I
me- neither adding to it nor takin
from it.
In early times the means of transi
across the continent were so very dar
: gerous and cOmfortless that, like tn
man who had choice of two road.
travellers were sure to wish they ha
taken the contrary one. The length
ened horrors OF Cape Horn, the Indial
perils on the plains, and the fearful
| . Iuth
themes for sympathy, curiosity, an,
endless surmise. Mrs. Adds had com
10y the lsthmus, and her voyage wa
marked by an all-absorbing sorrow, tina
swallowed up every smaller considera
ton Of discomfort and annoyance-th
death OF her husband.
Mr.. Adds had been teacher all hi
life. Breaking down in health an,
spirits, as those who have much to d
with the young sometimes do, he ha'
undertaken the journey to California T.
recruit his strength, and also in tn
hope that he might find there SOM
more profitable and less mentally labor
Gus occupation. He died just as the
came in view Of Acapulco, and la
buried there, far from home am
| OOI Nils. ANlblS dsHOI
with an aching heart, but strong spirit
? resolved to labor for the living Of he
children, the youngest of them nearl
, an infant, rather than undertake tn
: voyage home again. Her father ha,
, been a poor clergyman; she had n
, friends in her native land capable of as
r sisting her, and would not 60 back /
be a burthen on them. When one ha
to lose caste and work for living, it
| less hard to the mind to do it in
strange place. She did not know tn
work would be quite so mental, but sh
had put her shoulder to the wheel an
r took what came.
: At first nothing offered perhaps he
visions were too high. She could onl
: clasp her three children to her hear
{ and pray to be helped to provide 70
, them, not to die of starvation. Nj
Evans, who had been one of her fellow
| passengers on board the Sierra Nevada
| that had brought them up from tn
| Pacific, and who had seen her husban
! laid to rest in Mexican soil, was yer
kind to her in her desolation.
Washing was paid for well in tn
! place, for washer-women were scarce
i a