The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-01
AN DER TRUE TALE.

tanning the curtains through the nan
open shutters, and playing upon our
forehead in a cool, delicious way that
served to augment the glare OF sunshine
on the street, making an agreeable con-
trast between without and within, a
modest-looking little woman with a
Fhuge basket upon her arm, appeared
upon the pOrtico, and peeping in through
the partly open door, said timidly,
"Would you like some blaekberries,
ma'am?"
This question had been asked q dozen
times within the hour by white men,
Cinnamon and boys, and biackberries
had become drug in our kitchen; so we
said "nO," as usual, and were going on
with our work, when something in the
tired little woman's face arrested our
attention, and we invited her in.
Dropping herself wearily upon a chair,
she said timidly:
'Tve five miles TO walk to get home,
ma'am, and my husbands sick and the
five children"
/ w nat Is the IndlleI
"My husband has the erysipelas, and
the children the ague," still looking
down in timid way that won our sym
pathy at once.
"You don't look strong enough TO be
trudging through town with black
berries, poor child. Why don't you APP
ply to the authorities for relief"
81 belong without the county limits,
ma'am. We got along well enough till
my husband got sick, and now its very
hard"
"what is your dependence for a live
lihood ?'
Nothing, ma'am. Mrs. Atkinson
has helped me, or suppose we should
have starved; but she can't do all, and
as live out of the county the authori-
ties won't do anything"
"But try the Ladies' Relief Society
They have funds on hand, and will re-
lieve any worthy applicant"
"Airs. Atkinson tried for me, ma'am,
but failed to get anything because my
family's out of the city limits"
"Do you belong to the Church ?"
"Yes, ma'am; the Catholic Church;
but Father Fierens, to whom told my
story, says the Church is too poor to
help us.'
"He looks fat and sleek enough him
self" we said, involuntarily.
ayes, yes" was the despairing COM
ment, "but the priests must be fed if the
mothers starve."
"Why not go to Hillsboro, the county
seat of your county, and apply for relief
TO the authorities there ~
Because, ma'am, can't leave my
family over night to walk the distance,
and Pve no money to pay my fare"
"Come with me to the ticket office.
know the President Of the railroad.
He is a charitable gentleman, and Pm
sure will give you a pass"
The little woman covered her poor,
wearied face with her blackberry stained
hands, partly concealed in her tattered
+ shawl, and wept tears of silent graft
tude. Together we went, past the
, crowds of curious lookers-on, to the
Central Railroad office, where the Pres
! ident, Mr.. CASTOR, in response TO oar
+ explanation OF the case, gave the poor,
suffering child Of toll and poverty the
+ needed pass, which she received in a
shrinking, modest way, far more vel
come to the courteous President than
, ostentatious thanks.
, Finally, she asked 'if her baby could
l 90 with her on the same pass to Hills
= boro."
/ Certainly" was the Presidents kind
reply, andwe came back again together
| as we went, with kindly eyes greeting
; us inquiringly, and the little woman,
/ with her head bowed, taking note OF
t nothing save the pass she was uncon-
{ sciously caressing In her soiled, toll.
/ worn fingers. Reloading herself with
I her remaining stock of berries, she
e trudged wearily OH in the broiling sun
shine.
q o, men, how great is the mistake you
e make when you imagine that you are
6 women's sole protectors, and they
{ have no need to protect themselves
' Many of you are kind and grand and
: noble, doing your whole duty by YOU
{ own wives, but your legislation fails tC
| protect those women whose husband.
have not your ability or disposition tC
protect the suffering creatures who have
no representatives of their own sex tC
assist you to make such laws and regu-
l. lations as shall place every poor, down.
y trodden woman who is "bringing forth
/ children in sorrow" above the addi.
: tional curse of man who was told to ''eat
r bread in the sweat of his face"
4 o, men and brethren, could you once
realize the weakness and agony of WON.
h an totally unprovided for in these try
$ ing conditions, you would be ashamed
+ of your boasted "protection." You
= have done what you could in the way
= Of legislation TO relieve the needy anC
Q suffering; but women, with your power
y to enact laws, could do vastly more tC
h aid you in these matters than you can
o do without their help. 1t is a crying
Q shame TO our civilization that a woman
5 should ever be compelled, in the weak
a ness and suffering attendant upon ma
= ternity, to toll like a beast of burden
j. Yet thousands and tens of thousands dc
s thus toll and drudge, not only for them
- selves but those who are dependent