The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-05-01
An Oft Repeated Story.

About fifty years ago, in q newly set
tied portion of New York, a young
farmer wooed and won pretty young
school teacher and established her as
mistress of his humble dwelling, which
consisted of living-room, bedroom and
pantry. What care she for carpets,
when viewing her snowy floor? Thrifty
and ambitious, everything glowed with
her touch. L seem to see her now, after
having arranged everything neatly
within, coming in from the woods near
by, her arms full of green boughs, and
proceeding to decorate the white-cur-
tained bed and windows, transforming
her home into a fairy bower, her bright
black eyes and red lips adding to the ra-
diant smile which spoke so plainly of the
loving heart within.
Her husband loved this inviting re-
treat all too well. Tilling the soil had no
charms for him, and so, hiring man
to do that, he stayed indoors with his
books.
-Four years passed in this way, and
three little ones were looking to him for
bread The wife had eeonomized and
struggled along as best she could, but
at last, in despair, she said to him, 'If
you must read, why don't you read
something that will support your FAM
lily ?"
AT this suggestion an inspiration
siezed him, and jumping to his feet, he
said:
"I Will I'll be n doctorr'
The patient wife was willing to strug-
gle on with this object in view. The
medical books were purchased, and he
commenced to study in earnest The
! little farm was sold in order to live and
pay college expenses. They removed
to town, and the wife boarded two stu
dents, to help along. She milked the
COW, brought in the wood and water,
prepared the meals, washed and ironed,
cleaned house, made the eclothing for the
whole family, and took care of the ba-
bies night and day, sick and well-in
fact, taking eUery care from her hus-
band, that he might study.
| In the meantime, fourth little one
was added to her care; but she struggled
on, and felt paid for all when her hus-
band stood before her, diploma in hand,
and announced that he stood first in his
class. But the end is not yet. Their
means are all gone, their wardrobes very
low, and they must seek home in some
country village, and trust a good Provi-
dence for practice that will support
them. But Hope, beautiful Hope,
lights the pathway of the courageous
wife!
They remove to their new home
where firth responsibility claims theil
love and care. But the husband sooT
gains fair practice, and being welded
to his profession, he still leaves all the
care of the family TO his wife.
At forty, they have a pleasant home
and the husband q lucrative practice
the elder children are educated anC
fitted for usefulness-the youngest car
not walk, but the mothers work is done
Her tired body is laid away in the
grave
Her.children mourn her, but her hus-
band is soon consOled. In few month:
another takes her place.
Has the father forgotten his oft-re-
peated assertion that 'His children
should have an education, II nothing
else ?" They are not now seen regu.
larly, neatly clad and with clean faces,
at the village school; but are permitted
TO grow up as best they may, till old
enough to "shift for themselves
After awhile the second family are
old enough to attend school, which they
do regularly. In due time they are ed
ucated and self-supporting. The father
dies, the will is opened, and it is found
that all their little fortune is bestowed
upon the second wife and her children
If mothers are accountable to the law
for the treatment of their children, why
should not fathers be? For the old
eOuplet is as true as ever
"a mothers a mother all the days OF her life
And fathers a father till he gets new wife .