The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-12-11
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
"How' mother by this time ?" queried
Isaac Armstrong, as he came into the
kitchen with muddy boots and slOuch-
ing gait, followed by q hungry grey
hound which had been with him all day
in the chase. As he spoke he deposited
the trophy OF his days work upon the
kitchen table in the shape of half a
dozen bullet-riddled pheasants, which
Matte eyed with disgust.
s'You'd better ask her how she is your
SELF aud then you won't get your infor-
nation secondhand, - replied the daugh-
ter, turning the rusty bacon, from which
she was frying grease for shortening"
with a great, rusty flesh-fork.
"What time did the doctor leave ?'
asked the father, not noticing his daugh-
ter's retOrt.
'NOt till after dinner, of fcourse, and
had nothing decent to set the table with,
and nothing inviting to cook. His lady
mother came too, and / wish had been
in Halifax 20
whats the matter ?"
''Matter enough, I'd say And so
would you declare if you had had my
row to hoe. Peg and Jen have to mind
the young one, and the other gals aren't
worth an acre Of sage brush The doc
tor says that must spare Peg TO go 10
the Safes with the old woman; and pve
made up my mind to stand It if you'll
send her two young ones along. 1 want
TO get rid of the stock"
Alb, Matte Matte Armstrong You
have many n trying ordeal through
which to pass before the dross is removed
from the crude diamonds in your un-
polished nature. Will you go through
the fires unscathed ? Reader, we shall
see.
"NeHieg N-e-t-t-i-e! Oh, Net ~ called
Matte spitefully, but no answer came.
In great haste and with much show oi
temper, the tired girl rushed out of the
house and down the lawn to ledge in
the rough stone fence, where Nettie anc
Susan, who being older than Jenny anC
Margaret, and consequently less afraiC
of Matte than the smaller fry of ''littl'
gals" were engaged in lettering upon {
long and springy board. Their hair wa
flying in the wind in matted stringlets
and their torn calico dresses reveale
ragged stockings and unlaeed cow-hid
shoes.
"YOu good-for- -nothingt m-boys, com
to the house and 60 to work or I'll bes
you within an inch Of your lives
yelled Matte in fury.
"Ah! Button yOur lipr was the sauC
reply of Nettie, as she sprang into Il
air, while Susan sang in a straine
harsh mountain-tenor,t the old, old ditty
"Teter, totter milk and water,
You're a son and I'm daughter;
You go up and 90 down,
You fall of and crack your crown -
As she pronounced the last word, {
romping girl slipped deXtrously frC
her position upon the board, and Nett
being high in the air, fell suddenly
the earth, where she lay quivering a
silent.
'sYou've fixed things now you ron
ing hussy v' exclaimed Matte. %.
warrant you've killed her"
'You always say there's no danger
death coming to thin out this famil.
replied Susan, as she stopped to raise
sisters head.
Nettie was badly hurt. The bic
oozed slowly from her mouth and n
trils and her breath came in gasps.
Matte ran to call her father, W
finding that something serious was
matter, threw of his manner of habit
carelessness, and bore the insensi
girl to the house. To place her upon
trundle bed in the living room bes
the bed OF the invalid wife, was the W
Of moment.
somebody must go for the doctc
said Matte.
'Send john" replied the father.
'He's gone to play base ball and W,
be back for an hour,n exclaimed Peg,
ever-reliable " little gal,n who balar
the baby upon her hip.
"Mat, you must CO." said her fa
authoritatively.
''How can go 81 was the nervous
swer ''There are the pheasants to
pare for frying-and they're fearf
mangled. The supper's to get and
body but me to 90 anything"
'Let Suse and Mol get supper
can't leave the house or I'd CO."
Isaac Armstrong, bending low ovel
face of his inanimate daughter,
gently wiping the oozing blood I
her lips upon the corner Of the co.
unbleached muslin sheet.
The horse that her father had ri,
all day in the chase was in the sts
and Matte, with dexterity which
habit had perfected, proceeded to sa
and bride him. Then hurryinp
stairs to her bare and uneomfori
room, the girl speedily threw on a
ing habit Of navy-blue cotton o,
well Ornamented with cheap brass
tons. Her gauntlets had been mac
her own dextrous fingers, and the d.
riding cap was manufactured by he
at a cost not exceeding fifty cents
hurriedly as her toilet was made