The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-19


! 81 know Mr.. Melvin Hastings sir,
: whose father lives iu the city,
0 "Do you wish him summoned "a
I witness ?"
"Oh, please don't! don't want him
, to know that am here"
/ "But you see, my lad, as you Will
, give no satisfactory account of yourself,
it is our duty to hunt up your friends"
= 'sDon't betray ME ?n said the boy,
desperately, as Melvin entered the
T room.
A few words explained all that
, Henry's friend felt at liberty to tell.
r He knew the boy to be honest, but un-
fortunate, and if the Judge would re-
lease him, he would see that he was
given employment.
"What new ragamuffin has Melvin
fallen in with this time, l wonder ?"
queried his mother, looking over her
spectacles and down into the street.
'I expect its some country pumpkin
whom he desires to make man or"
said May.
] Il
to do is to make gentleman of himself
and abjure allsuch company" remarked
the mother warmly, as the two objects
, of their conversation walked up the
broad avenue in the shadows Of the
, cone-shaped evergreens.
Henry Lee looked ruefully upon his
! homemade clothes and stout brogans
Q His brawny hands had never, he
e thought, appeared so clumsy before, nor
his feet looked half SO awkward, as,
by contrast with the elegant door-yard,
their imperfections were all brought
; out with startling vividness of outline.
!, Nor was his self-esteem augmented
when, eneountering the critical stare of
Melvin's mother and sisters, he found
himself unable to reply to their interro-
cations in aught but monosyllables.
:, "Mother," said Melvin, desperately,
'fsn't there some kind of chores about
the house or stables that this young
{ friend of mine could do for a while till
\ he can find more congenial occupa-
: tion ?"
'Have you been in the city long, my
lad ?" was the cool query Of the mother.
"Only a few days" said Henry, des-
perately.
"Where have you been stopping !"
Henry looked imploringly at Melvin,
and made no answer.
"He hasn't had employment at all
yet, mother" said Melvin, coming to
the rescue. "He has come to the city to
get an education and livelihood; and,
as he is entirely without means, he
wants to be placed in a situation where
he can earn his personal expenses for a
few years while going to school,"
"Pd like to accommodate you, my
u son, but there is no vacancy about the
. house or grounds for your protege."
"Can't you dismiss All Hoo"
Henry's blood began to boil. The
u boy had been taught to consider himself
''above' all menial service, and the
= thought OF having the Chinaman dis
, missed to give him an opportunity to
> act as a sort of scullion, was to him g
- modification so deep that he repressed
indignant tears with difficulty.
~ "What can you do ?" queried Mrs
Hastings, coldly.
- almost anything" was. the quicI
: - reply. 81 can groom the horses anC
u u work in the.garden."
y "Can you milk the cows? We keel
u two, and that is part OF All Hos work. ,
le az can learn to milk, ma'am, but
II should prefer other work"
every well, then, we shan't wan
Z you; and now, you will excuse me 70
~ u desiring to end this Interview"
= "But won't you let him t-yF' sal,
,, D. Melvin. "Pm willing to teach hin
myself, till he is master of the situa
y tion."
~ "a capital Chinaman you'd make,
- said May, contemptuously.
Ut "At any rate / am willing TO try,
> was the ready response; and takin
u Henry to his room, where the privileg
< Of bath and some Of his own csst-o
hu clothing, sufficed to metamorphose hir
:" completely, the exhausted boy dispose
lie Of himself upon lounge and was 500
oy sleeping of the effects Of fatigue, di:
ng grace, and disappointment.
We His labors were to begin the follow
" ing morning, and Melvin was then
70 play tutor in initiating him into the
n mysteries.
u That night, with infinite labor, Henr
'e- Lee was enabled to write and, with Ne
vim Hasting' assistance, post the follow
Ial ing letter to his mother:
W. PORTSMOUTH october the Third.
Ell Ny dear mother / take my pen in hand
~ let you Know am well and wood be glad
for no that these few lines might md you snjoyir
a. the Same blessing have come to live as a so
ofkitchen or stable Boy at Mr.. hastings Not
ne ers. everything is nifty here tell you. b
IN. ime nothing but servant ihave to etc In Il
ere kitchen and take OF mi Hat TO the WINNIE
70 but It's better than bein' fogged. / get TWEEN
dollers month an will go to School when {
III some Close. Mother Chear up an get Well al
OF remember me as your dutiful son. Don't e
the OLD man you got This. l send Il und
md cover to BIZ sykes who will see that you get
Tell Afne TO rite 10 me and excuse bad Spellh
: This Is my first trial at letter wrItin.
lck HESRy Ir,
the Bill sykes, to whom the safe deliver
Of this precious missive was intruste
}, was chum Of Henry's, who, three da,
ger after il had been dispatched to the DOS
Office, called at the home Of the LIE
OF with his important trust.
ley The first fall rains were now over al
n u1rrn a l..