The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-03

lOuely lhmliy at Black stump Farm.
Henry had changed materially from
the coarse, bOisterous boy whom the
reader first met, and was now wonder
fully thoughtful and considerate with
his brothers and sisters.
The children had always been SO well
accustomed to waiting upon themselves,
that they little missed the bodily ser
vices Of their feeble mother.
The religious admonitions which she
had always given them, and which had
been met by a spirit of ridicule, now
that she was gone from them in bodily
presence, were generally remembered.
And the law of love with which she had
been wont to rule them, was impressed
upon their consciences as though writ
ten with diamond points.
"You know that would have panied
mother,n or "You know mother begged
us not to do this" was argument so po-
tent in Amie's mouth, that little other
show Of authority was needed TO keep
the boisterous flock under a subsection,
which would have gladdened the poor
mothers heart, could she have realized
it, while living with them in the flesh.
The winter storm howled dismally
around the county Jail in Shysterville,
where John Lee lay imprisoned. Poor
fellow The sudden deprivation Of
stimulants, attended with the remorse
and disgrace attached to his unexpected
arrest and confinement, were telling
fearfully upon him, physically and men
tally. AS IL fate had decreed TO make
his prospects for aequittal so desperate
as to defy all attempts to prove his in
nocence, the man persisted in saying,
whenever visitors approached the cell,
''Itis Hucy true! true! have murdered
herl"
His eyes and cheeks grew sunken, and
his expression fierce and haggard. To
add to the poor mortars load of misery,
the debts that he had contracted in the
Shysterville saloons were long overdue,
and the creditors filed attachments upon
Black Stump Farm and its appurte-
nances.
When the news of this proceeding
reached the family Of worse than or
phaned ones, they realized the sense of
R new danger that nerved them TO des-
peration.
Henry compressed his jaws tightly,
and Missed between his teeth, This
comes of old Lees dogged drunkenness!
It's blessin' he's Off to jail"
"Oh, Henry! Think Of what mother
would say could she but hear you make
such a remark p said Annie, as she tried
TO rock the baby to sleep, toying the
while with his dimpled hands.
"Won't father ever come to tell US
more tories ?" questioned Tot, climbing
upon Fanny's knee, and gathering hel
long braids Of hair into his hands for 8
bride.
AZ hope he WON'T said Henry, firm
ly. 'Tf we could only hear that be wa
dead, it would be all the favor I'd wan
tonight"
Annie had laid the now sleeping bab,
upon the bed, and was busy with th,
ever-needed broom. .l
Raising her petite form TO its fUlles
height, she confronted her brother will
the uplifted woman's weapon, and ex
citedly exclaimed, ''Henry, I will no
allow you to speak in that way befor'
the children about our father and YOU
mothers husband ~
''Thats all pretty cool, - said Henry
considering you got the old reprobat'
in Jail by accusing him of murderr'
Annie became furiously excited. Tht
fact was, she had neser ceased to re.
proach herself for the dreadful ACCUSE.
tion that in her frenzy, had been wrunl
from her on the day Of her mothers
burial
Glaring at her brother, as though sh,
were q tiger, the furious girl, shakinl
from head to foot, came down upon hin
with the broom, dealing blow after blow
with the fury of a maniac.
Henry, becoming thoroughly mad
dened, snatched the weapon from he
grasp, and, raising it, was about t
strike, when Fanny, in a terrified voict
cried out, "F7or mothers sake, dora't!''
The combatants, seized with sudde
remorse, fell back from the contest, an
then, gazing into each others eyes for
moment, started forward with a ne
Impulse, and falling into each other
arms, burst into tears.
"Will you forgive me, Henry ~ que
ried the sister, through her sobs.
''For mothers sake, sister, 1 vii
And let this be our last quarrel"
"What is to become OF us ?' erie
Fanny. "Father will be hung, tn
farm will 90 TO pay whisky debts, an
We'll be left to starver'
The prospect was indeed gloom
one.
Harmony had been restored in tn
household, and with the absence of IN
younger children, who were now aslae,
came opportunity for the four olde.
members Of the family band TO dra,
themselves into a small circle aronn
the smouldering fire.
Wearily sighed the winter rain III,
low caves sent their dull and eeasalo,
drip, drip, drippings to the soddeu ssrtI