The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-05

both rue it, il he did,"
A surly fire was smoking and smoul-
dering in the chimney, successfully re-
sisting Fans awkward attempts to coax
il into a steady flame. The drIzzling
rain without, and the cherries air
within, out-vied each other in attempts
to excel in augmenting the general dis
comfort. The younger children, in un-
dress, were scampering over the floor,
and baby was crying and shivering in
the cold. Mrs. Lee had not yet risen,
but lay moaning as in pain.
Henry and Jim were scolding at Fan
because Of her awkWardness, tug
ging the while at their ugly boots,
which the mud had rendered as hard
and horny as raw-hide-
Annie almost flew in her efforts to
bring comfort and order out Of the
reigning confusion, and Melvin Hast
ings, hazarding the respect Of the
younger Lees by his dexterity in assist
ing about women's work, proved so
valuable an aid, that the fire soon roared
and sparkled as If in glee, sending a
cheering warmth through the apart
meut.
"Ame, you'd better dress Tot" sug-
gested Henry.
"Ame's got enough to do; make Fan
do it," was Jim's command.
'Tve got the 'taters to peel while
Anne makes the biscuits. Sues been
picking away at them pheasants for the
last hour" retorted Fan.
Meanwhile Tot stood in the corner
screaming degree louder than the rest
were talking.
80, dear!" said Annie, hopelessly.
"Does everybody's young ones act like
these, 1 wonder? Henry, please put
Tots clothes on and get his face washed,
won't you ?"
mot If know myself" balancing the
tongs in his brawny hands, and snap
ping them viciously at the bare legs Of
Dan, who Justify yelled for mother, as Is
the wont of children when imposed
upon.
The stranger coaxed Tot into a
friendly acquaintance, and soon had
him dressed and comfortable.
In an hour the apartment was thor
oughly warm. A well-cooked break
fast an epicure might appreciate, al
though served on cracked and un-
matched crockery, smoked temptingly
upon the table, and all were ready to do
ample justice to the immense platter
of fried pheasants and the quart bowl Of
brown gravy.
Selecting some of the choicest NOR
sells, Annie put them by for her mother,
knowing well that no matter whether
there were five pheasants or a dozen,
none would be left after her hungry
horde had been sated.
The meal, with its noisy accompani-
mentof nonsense, was over at last, and
the table cleared. Still the stranger
seemed in no hurry to depart. A few
words of careless conversation with the
sick woman had given him a mental
excuse for tarrying near the habitation
for the day, and bidding Annie good
J morning, with directions to blow the
family dinner horn in case her mother
! should grow so i'll as to need medical
assistance, he took his gun and started
J for the woods.
After while the boys left the house
to amuse themselves as fancy dictated
the girls divided their work somewhat
/ systematically, and soon the house
grew strangely quiet.
: Mrs. Lee became frightfully i'll. Ma
r ture had failed in her last and tenth at
tempt to draw sufficient vitality from
2 her over-taxed system wherewith t.
q perpetuate an embryo life-germ, anC
p but for the skill and assiduity Of Annie
r her life would have wandered into thu
d unknown realms of the Beyond, in com
pany with the tiny waif whose wee
3 wee form the daughter buried under he
! favorite rose-bush, consecrating the &C
! with tears aud blessings.
e The children, awed by their mother
} sudden illness, were kept out in tn
D fields all day, and it was refreshing +
I see the spark of good that shoulders II
, every breast, burn and glow in thel
1 turbulent bosoms, and quiet them to
{ calm docility at sight Of her claspe'
. hands and pinched, white face, whe
. evening came, and they were allowed
s come in.
Z The evening brought John Lee, tn
I husband and father, home from tn
election. AS usual, for him, upon occa
sions involving the grave and weight
affairs of State, he had found it necei
: sary to get very drunk, and, after rt
o naming away over night, had com
e home to exhibit the authority and cor
F. sequence Of family head, imbued wit
that sense Of his own dignity which
IS so often the result Of intoxication.
4 'sDear mepi said Annie, with q sigf
lie "father is in his cups again. o, 1 d
m tOish he'd stay away till mother gel
better"
ID HELL behave himself civilly enoug
he while | am here, never fear" said tn
stranger, cheerfully, as he came in fror
'' n days successful hunting.
But the man Lee had redness ,
n eyes, and was afflicted with much bal
at bling. Going to the bedside Of his wifi
whom the days suffering had left pa
n and almost pulseless after the reaction
s. he began to caress her coarsely.
re "John,n said the wife, in a whispe
IN fU came yery near diving to-dav- ar