The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-02
NUMBER go.

I but she thought now much better II
would have seemed to count the money
from her own little purse, as she used to
! do. 1t WAS very natural, under the cir
cumstauces, for Nellie to wish that she
could do something in addition to her
daily duties that should bring the
1 longed-for "pin-mOhey," but not until
the following May was there an oppor-
tunity. Then, as she was passing his
house one afternoon, old Mr.. Stanley
accosted her. 'Mrs. POmeroy,n said
/ he, "if you was not married woman, I
should be after you to-teach our district
school this summer. We have got some
good-sized girls that would go, if l
could find the right kind of q teacher"
"How much will you give me is will
/ take the school ?'i asked Nellie, trying
to conceal her delight at the pFOposi-
| tion.
"WouIdn't take it, would you, now ?p
said the old man. "I'd give you-well,
/ I'd give y0a fifty dollars. You'd board
10 home, of course"
'I will let you know my decision to-
morrow morning, Mr.. Stanley, but
please don't mention that | think of
teaching"
That night Chester was informed of
her splendid plan" "You see, the
schoOl-house is so near us, and nice
long time before and after each session
4 to do my work; and | am so strong.
/ Please say yes, Chester she pleaded,
and so he at last consented, and the
school was engaged.
With unfaltering courage, and feel
I ing of her old independence, Nellie COM
menced her work; busy from morning
until night, and happier than ever, until
at the end of the fourth week, Chester
I foil frQp1 fhn haar Cf Tho hsar a nj
broke his leg. Then she wanted to give
it up; but after few days interruption,
I he insisted upon her resuming it. Then,
| poor fellOwl he had nothing to do but
I lie on the parlor sofa and watch the
road TO the school-hOuse door, aud the
/ hands of the clock creeping around at 4
snaips pace, measuring of the time for
/ her return. Yes, he had his farm to
worry about, also; and the ''help," and
Mr.. GOldthwaits next payment. He
knew that everything was being neg
I leeted, and oh, how he longed for the use
of his helpless limb once more! But one
day, as he was trying to plan and ealcu-
late for the payment, he happened to
think of Nellie's fifty dollars; and then
his mind was at rest, for he felt sure it
would be sufficient to make up all de-
ficiences. The school was finished at
last, and Mr.. Stanley promptly gave
Nellie the promised wages, saying as he
did so that she had earned double the
sum, which was sweet music in her ears.
Tears of gratitude filled her eyes, and as
she hurried home, she felt at least an
inch taller than usual Chester began
to hobble about on crutches during the
harvest season, only to find, as lie had
feared, that the farm had been neg
lected, and was not going to meet his
expectations of the spring. He could
not complain of Nellie's work, however,
for she had not let the dairy suffer; so
that from that and the other sources, he
could nearly meet the five hundred dol
lar payment "'Nellie's money would
just make it out, / think,n said he to
himself, but although he limited again
and again of the lack and her ability to
meet it, she was strangely slow TO un-
derstand, and would innooentiy inquire,
"What can you do, Chester ?r
He was too proud to ask her outright
for her hard-earned money, but he
thought half angrily, "Why doesn't she
offer it? she-Ought TO know | need it,"
But he did not know how often she
lOnged to do it, only being restrained by
her determination that he should ask
and find out how good it seemed.
One day peremptOry note from Mr..
Goldthwait, saying that the payment
was due, and must be made before night,
brought matters to a crisis.
Nellie saw the messenger who brought
the unwelcome note, and saw her hus-
band rs he leaned against the garden
fence to read il, and pitied him so much
that she wanted to rush out with her of
fering ut once; but he turned toward the
house, and she sat down quietly to her
sewing; not looking up even when she
heard his cruteh coming thump, thump,
thump across the floor.
"Nellie, it's just as / feared. Hear
this" and then he read the missive
with its cruel threat, that unless the
money was brought that night Mr..
Goldthwait would take the place. 'l
'Isn't that too bad? ? What will you
%" asked Nellie, sympathetically.
al can't make up the five hundred I'M
less you let me have your money, now
that is a fact" was the desperate an
swer..
"Well, PIl see what I can do" said
Nellie, coolly, as she brought forth her
treasure.
There is ten, that will buy new
dress; and ten, a cloak; and five, hat
or bonnet; and ten-I shall need that
for boots, gloves, and other little things.
L think | can let you have fifteen dol
lars" looking up innocently. a grieved
look spread all over Chester's face; the
corners of his mouth began to twitch,
and if he had not been a man, and six
feet high, he would have cried.
"Nellie"' that was all he could say.
"What? ?" and then Nellie had both
|. arms around his neck, and the bills
were all thrust into his hand. "I
meant you should have them all" she
sobbed.
'What made you act so, then ? how
could you be $3.50 provoking 81 said
Chester. q ...rr-.... =
, Then Mrs. Nellie sat up very straight,
and said, "Did you hate to ask me for
} that money, Chester?n
''You kHO,C did" was the answer.
"Well, why haven't you asked for it
before?"
sBecause you kneIg wanted it days
; and days ago; and thought you ought
= to Offer it. OF course / didn't want to
come to you like some old beggar,' said
! Chester.
| Nellie clapped her hands. ~ want to
tell YOU little story nowjs said she.
. "There was once q girl who had always
! earned her money, and fought her way
; in the world alone, aud succeeded well
too. f.frr r,s
"But she was foolish enough to get
t married; and then she had to work
| twice as hard as ever before, and have
double the care; but for all that, she
never received q single penny without
4 asking her husband for IL; nor did She
= spend one without his knowing what
4 she received in return.lg rs ~ ~
F., Now this was very humiliating: and
sometimes she would think She never
J could ask again; and then she would cry
? anil erv anil obf Tthaefa, 80, .l1,fi