The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-12-04
CHATTER III.

CHATTER Ill
In the town of Stonehenge, high up in
little nook or corner, within ledge of
rocks, half hidden by shrubbery and
Towering plants, which were now
damaged by recent frosts, stood the cot
tage home Of DR.. Hardings widowed
mother.
The early call Of Isaac Armstrong at
the cottage upon the occasion of his
child's commissions had been noted with
deep apprehension by the benevolent
matron, Of whose large family only
Amos and his sister Ada were survivors.
Often during the forenoon the good
dame had stepped to the latticed por-
ticO and strained her eyes through the
autumn fog to ascertain if her son were
coming. 1t was a commonly accepted
fact in the community that aunt HUI
dah Harding was, par excellence, the
good Samaritan of Stonehenge, many of
her enthusiastic admirers going so far as
to declare that her nursing and prescrip-
tions were of far greater benefit to the
sick and hypochondriac than all the nos
trums ever prescribed by wise-looking
NJ. DPS, with ever so many diplomas.
The father Of Amos Harding had been
lawyer of some standing in his time;
and it had been the darling wish of his
heart that his son might follow in his
footsteps. To this end he had aecumu-
lated an extensive library of legal tones
of little use to any one not devoted to
the profession, but occupying a con-
spicuous and aristOcratic position in the
library end Of the little parlor, where q
three-ply carpet, a quaint, six-octave
melodeon, six polished oaken chairs,
an Old-fashioned clock, a high-backed
sofa and few choice pictures kept them
stately company.
Aunt Huldah was a well-preseryed
woman with a mellow voice, fresh COM
plexion, good proportions and ample
chin. Unlike most women of her tenn
permanent, she was generally in a blus-
ter of anxious concern about something
or somebody; and to-day, as she fidgeted
from the parlor to the portico and back
again to the little painted fireplace
where a cracking blaze from an oaken
fire sent out a ruddy glow into the
CHEEKY apartment, she seemed particu-
larly busy with the law books. Black
stone needed dusting; Kent was askew;
Greenleaf had fallen over and the dust
had covered and was badly dinging
something else.
81 think, mother" said Ada in de-
cided tone, "that those musty law books
give you far too much trouble. If they
were mine I'd use them to kindle fires"
Nonsense, child. Pm only sorry your
brother didn't conclude to follow in his
fathers footsteps. Then the books would
have been useful,n replied the mother,
unconsciously caressing a great volume
Of whose contents she was as ignorant as
though they had been Sanscrit. 81
never could understand why it was"
she continued, ''that Amos didn't take
to law. He was admitted to the bar,
too, and stood high in the examination;
but nothing would do him but medi-
cine"
"THstudy law, ifyou say so, mother" &"
was Ada's reply. " You know time
hangs dreadfully up here in this hum
drum corner of this stone-hedged town.
I'd like to vary the monotony with
something"
The mother laughed with low, nerv-
Gus chuckIe. She was not in the least
strong-minded, and had no idea that her
daughter was in earnest. "Well," she
presently exclaimed with a faint sigh,
''study law if you like. Anything 10
make you contented. But dear me /!
Why don't Amos come? Lunch is
ready and waiting. Pm afraid he won't
save the baby. And shall always feel
that the people who employ him will
hold him responsible for the death OF n
patient"
Mother ~ retorted the daughter
testify, you're a,yUE fussy. All doc
tors lose patients occasionally"
The clatter of horses hoofs was heard
and in a moment DR.. Harding alighted,
threw the reins over a hitehing post,
and hurried up the little garden, almost
forgetting to dry his feet upon the tidy
rug and scraper that always did sentinel
duty at the cottage door.
"How's the child, Amos ," and the
mother held her breath, expectantly.
Better! much better. He had the
proper attention before I reached him.
prescribed q soothing powder to keep
of the commissions. He'll rally. Lunch
ready? Pm hungry as a greyhound u
"There the similitude ceases. ,, laughed
his sister, as she gazed upon his square
proportions and led the way to the din
ing room.
Mother" continued the doctor. iTsao,
Armstrong; wife is very i'll. The daugb-
ter has her hands fearfully full with tho
care of the sick babe and equally boID-
less mother. Wouldn't you like TO ride
out there tomorrow ?p
"Let me see,' was the meditative an.
swer. ''Pm very busy cutting pumn.
kins to dry, but they can wait dav q,
two to be finished. There's a bushel O.
pears, too, that will spoil if they're no
Theoretically sealed. promised a loaf o