The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-12-18
ONE OF LIFE'S PAGES.
BY ETNA.

Dead? Dead? Oh, it cannot be Am
I, indeed, left all alone In this wide
world? How can 1 ever brave tue
storms of this life that are sure to come?
My parents have both been laid low by
the great Destroyer. And last of all, he
lays hold of my dearest, my best be-
loved, my husband, whom for three
short months had looked up to with
such trustful feeling. And now he is
gOne-gone forever from me in this life.
1 almost feel that if God were merciful
He would let me die too. But death
will not always come at our bidding. /
must LiUe, and how? What little prop
erty my poor parents left must 20 to pay
doctors bills. My husbands salary,
which was all sufficient for our simple
wants, stopped, of course, when his
proud form was stricken down by that
merciless fever. And now that the
grave has closed above him, find that
have need of immediate action, II /
wish TO keep above want But where
fore go? what to do? are the questions
keep repeating, sleeping or waking.
called at the Employment Agency
yesterday and secured a situation. Away
out in the county, amidst fields of wav-
ing grain, I can go, they tell me, where
1 can breathe Gods own free air. /
hardly know what am expected to do,
but suppose they wish me TO assist the
farmers wife in cooking, washing dishes,
and other household duties. Oh, how
Ignorant they will find me! But il l
am willing, 1 suppose I can learn. My
salary is so meagre that it will do little
more than keep me in shoes and calico
dresses; but as my board is included, it
is better than starvation, o, George,
George! why did you die? But 1 have
no time for mourning. Life's stern du-
ties are before me, and 1 must bid adieu
to the past, and never give a backward
glance. Goodbye, goodbye.
have reached my destination at last,
very weary with the long journey. And
tears, bitter, agonizing tears, flow freely
tonight, in spite of my resolution not
to look backward. Oh, how my head
aches and throbs, and the remembrance
oil tender caresses from hands now cold
in death only increases the pain, and
my heart seems as If it will burst in its
loneliness.
Three months since / laid aside my
pen. 1 have been afraid to take IL nm
again, lest In giving expression to my
thoughts l should only add to nv mis-
cry, and unfit myself for my arduous
duties. Oh, how hard 1 have toiled
in these three monthsI And the worst
OF it is, that cannot take an interest in
such labors. While washing dishes, my
mind will fly off TO other and more con-
genial employments, until sometimes
am in danger Of forgetting my work en-
tirely. think could sooner forget my
great grief if 1 only knew how TO do
some kind Of work that would occupy
sy mind. o, my parents! why did you
not teach me how to do something that
would be pleasanter aud more remuner-
"'tre than my present employment?
DIX months have elapsed, dear diary,
SINCE l have told you of any Of INV
'iouoiesi and now, when again resume
my pen' 1t is to tell you something that
- at once trouble and a temptation
nir' burns has asked me to naarrv hin, ,
ana dear George dead only nine month";,
Does ne think my love for INV aaar
dead husband as short-lived as thai
"Dear Mrs. Carl" he said, ayop ara
utterly unfit to struggle on in this world
alone. / love you. Be my wife and
your troubles are ended.n
told him, please go away and think
no more Of such thing. 1t is Impossl-
ble."
"No," he said, ait is not impossible.
believe that all true women feel as YOU