The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-06-26

vulsiveiy. "a
The congregation was appropriately
shocked. Elderly mRtrons shook theil
heads and nudged each other in hOrror
A pious old father in Israel, With mar.
row face ard highly developed self-es-
TEEN, compressed his lips and gave
vent 10 a prolonged sonorous groan.
John Leo reached forth his trembling
hand, and selling Anlie by the wrist,
sought by this mute command to force
her TO her feet.
Then the preacher, in tones Of stern
rehuke, his oily features lighted by 4
siekening smile, said sepulchrally, "My
daughter, do you not wish to meet your
dear departed mother in Heaven 90
There was no response except fresh
outburst Of sobs; aud Bill Sykes, more
considerate than others of the many
well-meaning persons present, said to
his mother, "What a shame to torture
her sov'
"Let us prayw said the preacher, and
for full half hour, poor Annie, with her
sorrow and care and obstinacy, and sw-
ful danger of the yawning gulf, sat still
and listened to most powerful appeal,
denunciation and warming in her be-
half.
The prayer being over, she arose to
herfeet, her baby brother clinging closely
to her neck, and turning her flashing
eyes upon the multitude, said earnestly,
''God did not take my mother! 1 deny
the whole story. II l believed that He
willed that she should be taken from
these little ones, who have no protector
left, l should be tempted to curse Him
and die But I know better. Ny
mother had been dangerously i'll from
the effects Of hardship imposed upon
her by man-nOt God-and this man,
my father, IS her murderer! oh, my
Godi what have l said?" she exclaimed
and throwing up her hands,
she fell in a swoon upon the coffin, the
baby still elinging to her neck.
A scene ensued which beggars de-
1t was long before Annie was
restored to consciousness, and the belief
that the head had really murdered his
protected (2) charge grew SO strong
that the head was vigilantly watched,
lest he might attempt to escape.
A rude litter was made, upon which
the remains were placed, and, borne by
six strong men across the rayine 10 a
deeply shaded covert in the forest, they
were laid away, to bear privation and
suffering and sorrow nevermore.
Thank God for Death
After the last rites were over, the
neighbors betook themselves to their
homes and their business. They had
many cares and but little time to be-
stow upon the living outside of their
own homes, but death occurred in the
new settlement SO seldom that it was
not hard to give day occasionally to a
burial scene.
John Lee had been Mortified by what
his daughter had said at the funeral.
Remorse was tugging away at his con-
science, but he had no idea that any of his
neighbors would believe that he had
literally murdered the poor patient,
matrimonial martyr, who had borne the
burdens Of his weakness uncomplain-
lngly for fifth Of a century. But his
mind was now sorely troubled, and he
doubtless felt a selfish sorrow for his
bereayed condition, and some real So
licitude for his motherless family. But
his potations grew deeper than ever,
and delirium tremens, that horribly
real hallucination which so often at
taches itself to long continued debauch-
cries, marked him for its prey. 1t
filled his muddled brain with terrific
imaginings, set snakes to writhing in
his boots, made CHASTITY demons gnash
their teeth at him and fiery goblins
breathe sickening sulphur fumes into
his face, while pinioning his hands with
thongs like scorpions.
The children were often compelled to
flee from the house in terror. His un-
earthly yells were perfectly unbearable,
and Annie was the only living soul Of
whom he stood in awe.
The neighbors kept talking among
themselves over the strange conduct OF
Annie upon the day of the funeral. and
John Lee became the unsuspecting oh
Ject Of the Grand Jury's solicitude.
A bill Of indictment for murder was
found against him, and greatly To his
own CONSERVATION and the relief of tl,o
family, although the disgrace was pecu-
liarly trying to the older children. tho
family head was conveyed to the county
Jail to await his trial at the next term OF
the Circuit Court.
Annie entrusted the following n,issiye
to the care Of Bill Sykes. 1t was writ.
ten with kind Of "keel, - or chalk OF Z
pale red color, that abounded in th,
neighboriug broOklet, and the fiy-leavei
Of dog-eared spelling book Furnished
the paper.
'It is all over, dear brother Henry. Nothe
couldn't survive the shock OF your nogging an'
flight, and 20 she just folded her hands ans
went to sleep one night, in sleep that know
Mccarthy waking. The Reverend Mr.. wilkins
preached the funeral sermon. lie talked 81
long and boisterously about a visitation o
God" that 1 got mp in a frenzy and said som'
awful things l said God didn't XIII mother
but father did. Oh, Henry, was stark mad o
would have held my tongue But the people
and the preacher nagged me into saying t.
Father tAd tremens for several days. Oh
my never saw anything like It. and hope
never will again. Il was awful, The childroI
are all AFRAID 81 esfsoRI now, but they wsn