The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-10
Bessie Grey's Trouble.
by cRAYOS.

''How ridiculousri was my Indignant
rejoinder, as Mrs. Grey wiped her eyes,
at the close of her explanation Of her
trouble"
She was a widow, and little mite Of
q woman-poor thing. Had been made
so ia widow, mean) by sudden acci-
dent. Her husband bad fallen over
board and was drowned. He left her
without penny in the world, and two
little boys to care for, and this she
straightway endeavored to do, never
once giving up hopelessly and ''taking
to drink" as fathers sometimes do, but,
wOman-like, struggling manfully, and,
mOther-like, succeeding.
To be sure, she felt timid at first; she
was such child, you see-only nine
teen-had been petted and caressed,
with never thought of being left alone,
with her babies to care for.
But "where there's a will, there's g
way" as We shall all find out when the
cause Of woman triumphs. / told her
then, as | say to you now, sisters in this
glorious reform, ''there will be no trouble
if you won't give up"
Mrs. Grey thought SO too, and said II
/ would advise her, she would begin
forthwith.
"Well, then" said I, '1Istenl Your
taste Is excellent-you use your needle
well, and you have untiring energy.
Nothing more is necessary. | will 90
round for you and get twelve of our Ia
dies TO advance the money for their
spring bonnets. will give you letter
OF introduction TO a wholesale merchant
in Keokuk, who am sure will let you
have bill OF goods on thirty days time,
il you pay him down for the amount
you take with you. Buy a large pack
Ing trunk, bring your goods with you,
and once started, your success is sure"
It was all easy enough to do; yet the
grateful little woman always gave me
undue credit for advising her. In three
months she had the best run of custom
in town; she hired an expert bleacber
and presser, and was carrying on largely
in her line.
went from home on a visit and was
gone several weeks. On my return,
Mrs. Grey met me with tears in her
eyes.
"OhW she said, despairingly, az have
done something dreadfully imprudent.
The whole town,i is talking about me,
and am afraid they will turn me out
of churchm
"Why, what in the world ?'' I asked
in utter amaZement.
"Well, you see, my hair was long and
stantly, and thought il il were cut of,
il would save me much suffering, beside
the half hour consumed each morning
in dressing il. IL is my busy season
now, you know, and / must improve
every moment.) There is a barber shop,
II you remember, next door to my
rooms, and not wishing to spoil my
hair i'm the cutting, took one of my
shop girls, went in early, before his
morning shaving began, and had the
barber cut it,"
"Well ?n
Well, the door was open, and some
people passing saw me in the chair, and
II set them to talking, and my girls tell
me that old Deacon Straight you know
how strong his influence is herel said
that 1t was such bold aud unwomanly
conduct as brought disgrace upon the
Church, and that it should not be al
lowed"
''And this is all-the extent of your
imprudence, Mrs. Grey ?U
"All! is il not enough? IL NAV ruin
my business. Besides, the old Deacon
will have it in the paper next week.
You know what scathing, personal arti-
cles he writes-never just mentioning
the name, but referring to the incident
so plainly that every one knows what
nc iIcdiS. uIFdu LulS most OF all.
Even if the editor were at home, he
would scarcely dare refuse an article
from him.u
Bear in mind, Mrs. Grey, that the
elltor Is my brother, and / have some
influence with him. You Just continue
f,s Hour business quietly as heretofore. and
1ue Deacons should send for Won and
49,, " nlghten you into an apology. tell
lem you have none 10 n,ako iaos,a
the rest TO me- ~ tnaAe' Leave
Aiter she had gone raFao,a5
1.-THE paper would ba S,tou,.A., q nv ..
likelv The 'IP9~ihg living morning-it was not
Dara3 tnY peaeon's article was Vet ~
P-;eoi ioI ne was slow an5 :. Pfe,
EIIIer. snatehing up NV u ho careful
hurried over TO the printiy, oSsaIhet,
examined the hook-no StCsst,rnce oince ana
HAIR Cutting" hung thsreg1caism on
sought the foreman. i
did my brother leave a eao,,,-.
me 70 furnish an article for ,,1e uesS ior
this week ?' / asked. NetoS
THAT was his desire, in case -vo,
turned in time" ''u re-
"And it is my desire to write one. svar
at this late hour. I'll pay one OF tba
cOmpositors IL they viii return in an
hour and set IL up, aud shall be under
immense obligations to you, Mr. White,
Il, In the morning, before the paper goes
10 press, you remove some copied arti-
Gle and Insert mine instead. know Il