The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-01-05

guard over that lowly cot, while the
poor patient writhed and raved by turns,
her one idea being a determination to
destroy the fragile bud which had so re-
Gently opened its tiny petals TO the blasts
of winter and the blights of earth.
Meanwhile the baby slept upon bed
of rags beside the mastiff, who guarded
it with a fitting sense of the dignity
and responsibility Of his important posi-
ton.
''Midnightr' said the Doctor, looking
at his watch. 'Tll know by one o'clock
whether we shall be able to save her or
nOtn
The baby wakened, and in real baby
language screamed out vigorously.
''POor creetur! It's hungry. ought
to have been prepared for this, but I've
been so taken-a-back by everything
that's happened that 1 couldn't think.
There's not drap o. milk in the house,
and of course the baby can't depend on
its mother. It's always seemed strange
to me, if the Lord sends children
which of course he does-why he don't
send more of 'em to the rich, that have
something to feed them on"
But Aunt Betsey was equal to the
emergency. A great haunch Of frozen
venison hung from peg by the bedside,
from which she hastily cut a few very
thin slices, and put them in a saucepan;
then, adding some water and salt, and
some crumbs of Indian bread, she put
the mixture upon a great bed of glow
ing Goals to stew.
4 nursing-bottle was next needed, but
there was no such useful article about
the house. A bottle half filled with
camphOr stood conspicuous among the
few dishes upon the dresser" Aunt
Betsey emptied the camphOr into pew
ter bowl, and, with the aid of lump OF
saleratus and some boiling water from
the huge iron kettle, she was soon able
to cleanse the bottle of everything but a
faint smell of the odoriferous gum.
Pouring the broth from the stew into a
pitcher, and adding n handful of snow
to hasten the necessary cooling process,
she proceeded to wrap short goose
quill with bit of rag, and was ready tC
feed the baby. The tiny, hungry waii
drank from this unique "feeder'' with q
relish which promised well for its future
ability to accept gratefully such fare a:
might be given it, a cheering OmeS tC
good Aunt Betsey, who judiciously adj
ministered no more food than she
thought it prudent to bestow.
"Zerer' said she, caressingly tuckinl
up the little intruder in its uncoutl
wrappings. 'Ips little and tiny anC
sect; an it mus s'eep-ens an be dood
ems, till muzzer dts 1eell-uns," and sh'
| hugged it gently to her motherly bosom
and went over to Bouncer's corner ant
placed the burden once more in his care
"Aunt Betsey," said the Doctor, hur
riedly, "the crisis has come. Here
quickp
Poor Ellen Dowd, the mother of seve
girls, whose husband had risked hi
life, and lost it, in his endeavor to reac
her couch of suffering, was sinking RAJ
idly.
''NIay I speak to her, Doctor" que
ried Aunt Betsey, in an awe-stricke
tone.
'Yes, arouse her, by all means, if yo
! can. | fear to speak to her, lest / avail
en- her frenzy about her husband"
"Ellen, Ellen Dowd; honey, won't yo
talk to poor Aunt Betsey ," and Il
nurse shook her tenderly.
There was no response.
"The campfire, Doctor. Bring Il
campfire"
The bowl containing the liquid soil
tion of camphor was brought, and Aul
/, Betsey bathed the sufferers face al
, filled her nostrils with the punge
q aroma of the one medicine which is 9
ways found in the houses of the poe
, A long, low moan gurgled up from Il
y patients throat. She opened her ey
: and, gazing eagerly into vacancy, sa
timidly, 'Peter, come"
Aunt Betsey's further efforts to bril-
= her back TO consciousness were unava
q ing.
The storm spirit was abroad, unf'
tered, and he howled and walled aroul
N the humble tenement as if in leag
i with Furies from the wierd Inferr
! who had sent him abroad with orders
y destroy the habitations Of the childr
! of earth.
re- Tenderly Aunt Betsey straighten
n the now lifeless limbs. With the ID
ne tors assistance the body was remoN
from the bed to blanket on the punC
y con floor, from between whose crevi
to the storm-fiend whistled forth kC
an defiance.
nd "IOu'll never feel the cold again, p
creetur," said the good nurse, in a co
nm passionate tone.
AT The soiled bedding was then careful
gathered up and packed into an emI
o5 barrel, which had held the famil
winter store of potatoes, but which '
40 now empty, as was indeed all other
ceptacles for food, with the exception
m one huge bag, half full of Indian M
80 which, with the frozen venison, con
: tuted the only visible means of subs
enee for the eight survivors Of this
in den and terrible calamity.
n TO be cOntinued.i
While woman with a sick chilli
'ee her arms was being tried In an Eng