The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-11-27

sought her chamber and retired TO rest
but not to sleep.
"I was boorish and ungracious to.
night know was" she soliloquized
"And then made consummate fool oil
myself by exposing more than my real
Ignorance when he quoted Ovid. But
it's all for the best. Were he to marry
me as am, he'd never look upon me as
his equal, and I've been lorded over by
Isaac Armstrong and Sally, his wife, a:
much as l feel capable of peacefully en-.
during. But oh, dear % and Matte
broke into a violent fit of weeping
which would have gladdened the appro-
bativeness of Amos Harding, could he
have known it; "Oh, dear Life will be
sodreary for me henceforth Why have
these strong affections, and why this
longing desire for all that is grand and
beautiful p? Why does Isaac Arm.
strong's daughter aspire to any other
sphere than that in which her lot has
cast her? Ziek Woodwork is my proper
mate. He's ungainly and tall and ignor-
ant, but he can raise pigs and cows, and
can feed the one and milk the other.
What will he care if don't understand
old authors? 4? Hero and Leander will be
as much like Greek to him as to myself
But ugh! 1 can't marry him, and 1 won't
stay herer'
Thus musing, Matte eArmstrong tossed
upon her pillow till the gray dawn Of
twilight admonished her that breakfast
time was fast approaching. She arose
from her couch, unrested and feverish.
The dingy curtain of faded calico-part
Of an old and well-worn dress skirt-that
partly shaded her solitary window, was
drawn aside, revealing the frost-cov-
cred door-yard in its severely bare un-
sightliness. The cows, in cOrrdH not
far distant, were already astir, driving
each other about with their horns.
The feeble wall of the youngest Arm
strong arose upon the atmosphere sharp
and painful, like the cry of an infant in
death agony.
''I wonder what ails that brat this
morning" ?" queried Matte to herself
as she hastily threw on a mueh-soiIed
dress and proceeded to the kitchen.
'Hdttie? Mdt-t-i-e 9i called the step
mother in a high, inquiring tone of
terror. "Do come and see what ails the
baby I! Pm afraid he's going to die %
No such good luck as that is likely
to befall this household ~ exclaimed
the ungracious girl as she took her own
time light the fire and put the kettle on.
"Why don't you call the old man if
you're frightened about the young one ?"
she queried presently, peepiug with her
frowning face into the family living
room, where bed and trundle bed stood,
each filled with Armstrong occupants.
"Your fathers asleep!" was the terri
fed answer. 1--WE must rouse somebody
and send for the doctor"
Matte was not as bad at heart as she
had seemed. The sight of the suffering
baby in a strong convulsion, its tongue
protruding through its purple lips aud
the pale blue eyes rolled back in their
sockets, aroused her dormant sympathy.
Vigorously shaking her sleeping father,
she soon aroused and started him for
the physician, scolding him soundly
for his tardiness, and otherwise evinc-
ing a capacity for firmness and prompt
ness in action Of which no one would
have thought her capable.
The mother was utterly unnerved by
the trying situation. Her health had
been completely broken by excessive
maternity and overwork in u home
where she had expected only wealth and
ease. Twice before had her little ones
been taken from her by the Death
Angel, and now in her sore dilemma
she bent over the little rigid form, the
personifieation of helpless terror.
"Save my precious baby! Matte, do ~
she walled, rocking'her body to and fro,
and moaning as only an anguish.
stricken mother can.
"Give him to me ~ said Matte with
authority.
The mother mechanically obeyed the
order.
"Now get me q tub of warm water
q'tickr' and Matte proceeded to re-
move the child's night dress, vigorously
rubbing the rigid limbs the while.
The water was brought and the form
of the infant Immediately submerged in
it. The rigid muscles were soon re-
laxed the blackened and protruding
tongue was withdrawn and the eyes re-
turned to their natural position. The
infant again began its feeble wall, and
the poor mother, the first terror being
over, went helplessly to bed, leaving
Matte with the child in her arms,
tucked snugly in white flannel blanket
and cooling in a tender voice to soothe
the little sufferer, as a capable and vigor-
ous-minded mother might.
Children of various ages were by this
time up, some of them dressed, Others
not, and all cross and cold and quarrel
some.
"The DOCTORS come |" yelled little
Fred, going to the door in semi-nudC
condition.
'Ifs MATS beau ;" exclaimed hope.
ful John, standing barefoot in the open
door and adjusting his solitary suspen.
der.
Before Matte had time TO recover
from her confusion, the doctor was kneel.
ing at her feet feeling the pulse of the
exhausted babe, and looking searchingly
! r A.