The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-12-25

Matte blushed and looked defiance at
the pert Young American.
''If you'll speak only when you are adj
dressed, you'll appear to better advan-
tage, BROTHER" she said, curling her lip
in disdain, and looking askance at the
doctor.
"Whose goin' TO milk tonight ?"
asked Dan, standing before the fire and
INDUCING freely in the scratching which
had become habitual and was evidently
necessary.
al don't know" said Matte. "Won't
you, John ~
"Not much! yer honor. You always
put on airs when you've only got one
beau an now you've got two, you're so
mortally stuck up that you've got en-
tirely above yer business. 1 remember
L did the milkin' once to give you n
chance to trollop off with Doc, and
blast me if 1 ever do again. Milkin' is
gals work." and the great uncouth boy
finished his speech by giving Pete a
vicious hick that sent him yelling to the
kitchen.
"Father, have you no desire to con-
troll that boy ?" asked Matte, as the
head of the family thus alluded to sat
smoking his pipe in the corner.
Isaac Armstrong lazily knocked the
ashes from his pipe against the chimney
jam-stone, aud began rubbing fresh
supply of tobacco in his weather-beaten
hands, but he answered not a word.
"The old man knows what's what, :"
said John. "Mat, you'd better skedad-
die TO the cow-pen. Suse says there's no
milk for supper"
Matte glanced at her light delaine
dress, her only presentable garment for
evening wear, and one certainly not
suited to the task before her. "WhO
wouldn't rather be the blackest slave
that ever picked cotton on southern
plantation than to be compelled to live
as L do ?' she said mentally.
But Matte was possessed OF wonderful
self-control.
Excuse me, gentlemen" she said
composedly. "John lcOH't milk and
father can't, so 1 must. Please try to
make yourselves comfortable" bringing
up a rickety stand, upon which sput-
tering tallOw dip revealed u couple of
dog-eared spelling books.
Running up stairs to her chamber in
a frame Of mind bordering on the furious,
Matte replaced her good clothes with
her old shabby ones, and tying up her
luxuriRnt hair in an old quilted hood,
proceeded to the cordu.
The cows were as fractions as herself.
The delay of half an hour beyond the
milking time, the deep mud of the pen
and Mattie's impatient manner had
tended TO produce a very inharmOnious
effect. The great calves were ravenous
and unruly, too, and Matte was tired
out. What wonder that she was cross 3?
''If Mat had a beau that was worth a
cent he'd go out and help her milk, +"
said sagaeious Susan, as she dished up
the bacon and potatoes, while Molly
sliced the bread.
The remark was pitched in a high key
and had the intended effect. Both visitors
heard it, and each looked askance at the
other.
DIR. Harding arose from his chair and
took his departure through the front
door.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish" said
hopeful John.
But the doctor had only gone to Mat
| ties relief. He reached the scene o
operations, just as Matte was belabor.
ing a yearling calf with great knotty
stick. The calf, intent upon securing
its supper, only shut its eyes and de,
voured the lacteal nourishment all the
more ravenously.
The doctor procured rope, made {
running moose which he slipped arounC
the neck of the cali, and made fast to Tia,
fence. a gentle slap upon the shoulders
Of the COW did the rest. She moved be
yond the reach OF the voracious year
ling, and allowed Matte TO secure the re
manning portion of milk with littl,
trouble.
"Give me the pail, Miss Armstrong
said the doctor, as he waded through thu
mud and filth of the pen with which
Mattie's skirts and shoes had becom,
thoroughly begrimed. "Milking is no
n woman's work." he continued, en-
deavoring TO get possession Of the pal
by gentle force.
"You're the first man ever hear
speak in that way" answered Matte
al know it isn't woman's work; but
wouldn't much mind it if we had an!
eonveniences. My father and the boy
might easily pave this pen with cObbll
) stones If they would"
al don't see how you live in this way
Matte"
al don't live, doctor. hardly exist
But we're in for it, and must stand /
till We can do better. / see no sucl
prospect ahead, however"
, The doctor thought of a certain "pros
, pect," but wisely refrained from intro
ducing il just then.
: Wasn't Ziek Woodworth in the hous
: at that moment on a like mission, am
r wouldn't it he very ungentlemanly il
: himself to try to interfere with hi
. rights? Besides, Matte had assures
: him, time and again, that she meant {
: marry Ziek, and he wouldn't oppose he
! lust now.