The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-12


oozing at every stroke, the boy travely
endured the torture, giving vent to
neither tear nor groan. His poor
mother lay helplessly upon the bed,
screaming and shrinking as though every
bIow were sinking into her own quiver-
ing flesh, while the younger children
Ibnddled themselves in the corner, as il
seeking protection from the walls in
their terror.
"HeIloa! What does this mean?"
aueried Mr.. Hastings, selling the great
wbIp. and dealing hslf-dozen vigorous
blows upon the back of the brutal
father. Then, tossing the whip into the
fire. he snatched a carving knife from
the table, cut the thongs that bound the
boy. and released him from captivity.
John Lee was taken completely by sur
prise. Never before, in his own house,
where he was distinctly recognized as
the head Of the family, had any one
dared to question his authority. Drop
ping into chair, as if overcome by ex-
haustion, he apologeticaIly explained:
81 was just administerin' little needed
punishment for the brats laziness."
'T think little needed States prison
discipline is what you need for your
brutality" was the quick reply.
al didn't hurt him any to speak Of.
II his spirit amt broke, he'll go to ruin
shore. My daddy thrashed me reg
| lar"
"And that's why you're such a pat
tern man, eh?"
/ 4 feeble remembrance Of his own dig
nifty, and what was due to the head Of
the family, overcame the submissive
awe with which the sudden turn in af-
fairs had imbued him, and John Lee
ordered the "meddlin' upstart" to
"skeedaddle that minute"
''Pm in no hurry, Mr.. Lee" was the
quiet response. az shall stay awhile
and see if further brutalities are visited
upon this family while you are SOLDERING
off,
Poor Mrs. Lee lay in her sick-bed,
weeping silently. Henry had crawled
up the ladder to the loft, and was being
waited upon by Jim, whose lively recol-
lections Of similar scenes, in which he
had been the passive subject, imbued
him with sentiments OF tenderness quite
touching to behold.
az tell you, Hen, that city chaps n
brick,D he said, earnestly.
"Yes," said Henry, in a whisper,
''and when 1 run away, I'll see him in
, the city, and maybe he can get us both
something to do in some place where
nobody'll fog us"
"Do you really mean to run away
Hen?"
, n.Sh-sey OF course do! Dye 'sposC
a fellows got to endure the like o. thi:
> forever? John Lee'n never strike me
, again-that's fiatr'
"Oh, Hen, / can't bear TO have you e
of and leave u.s. Whapll become o
poor mother? Pears as il her face get
r more pinched and white all the time
S She'd die il you'd run away, Hen"
| can she'll die II she ever has to SCI
I me fiogged again. You won't tell thu
a old man that Pm going to run away
q will you, Jim ,"
ibid you ever ketch me peachin' oil
I ye, Hen ?"
II This conversation, which had beeI
+ carried on in whispers, was interrupte'
: by Amie's call to breakfast.
h Henry took his usual seat opposite hi
Y his father, and gazed defiantly into hi
7 eyes with stony stare. His welterin
flesh was still smarting with the cruC
n pain of his punishment, and in his hear
a hatred and contempt for his fathe
a ranked, which it was n pity that fathe
could not see and understand.
Annie waited upon the table, her fac
= crimson with bushes and modification
: and her heart full of a blissful, inexpressi
4 ble happiness.
V Melvin Hastings glanced meaningly a
o her sometimes, but she always avOide
his eyes, and while inwardly Thankful
n for his timely interference in Henry
a behalf, yet she longed for him 10 g
y away where he could see no more Of tn
lie skeleton in the Lee family.
L When breakfast was over, the head c
m the family ordered the donkey 10 b
saddled, and, without deigning TO motto
ce the sick woman upon the bed, whom h
he had vowed in his younger DAYS to Low
Ir. aud cherish till death should part then
y, and with deigning to bestow divers an
n sundry cuffs and kicks upon the small,
es children by way OF re-asserting his on
1T ragged authority, John Lee started f,
the nearest village, to be gone, as Ii
- wife supposed, for several days.
er 'rAr. Hastings said Annie, nervou
be ly, as soon as her father was well out
sight, az wish you'd go away from he
lis to-day"
So "Ah, indeed Why?"
n. because fathers gone off to swe
nd out a warrant and have you arrested
nd assaulting him."
er "What makes you think so, lit
ly one ?"
al "Oh, he's got lots O. political chun
,e. and they'll put him up to it. There's
"a brace of haiffIedged lawyers hangiI
around SbysterviIle, always ready for
"a job, and if you don't leave, they'll 81
Ter you a great deal o trouble"
rs, 81 never ran from justice yet, al
gs don't propose to begin to-day" cool
ad taking from his pocket volume