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

the blackened frs, or sent its wailings
down the broad mud chimney, driving
mud and SCOT into the faces Of the boys
and girls, who were brought thus early
to realize that the problem Of "what We
shall eat, and what ye shall drink, and
wherewithal We shall be clothed" was
indeed hard to solve at the present
crisis.
al have 1t, by thunderv said Henry,
impetuonsly. "When was in Ports
mouth, had chance to see how some
men make money. I met one man,
who told me that whisky was ahead in
this country, and that all any man
needed to get start in the world, was a
growing town, a very little stock in trade,
and money enough advanced by some
soalEer, who'll be willin' to take il out
in drinks, TO pay the first quarters Ii
eense. A little brass an chin-music II
do the rest.n a -sI.
81 should think you sOOaIld be strongly
moved to go into the saloon businessw
was Amie's quick reply. 81 think it
would be splendid to have such a drunk
ard as father on your conscience, and
feel that you had gotten a mortgage
upon somebody's farm after the mother
had been murdered by rum, and then,
when the father got in jail, think it
would be grand to sell the roof from
over the heads Of the children. Yes,
Henry, go into the saloon business by
all means. And I'll go and be waiter
girl you know. Rich young men will
come and buy my liquors, and I'll drink
and get bloated and ugly like poor
father, and have a strawberry nose; and
when have family, and my children
fail to accomplish such tasks as were
once given to Henry Lee, Pll tie them
TO the ceiling aud whip them"
''Till Melvin Hastings interferes," in
terrupted Jim, and in spite Of Amie's
serious earnestness, the brothers and
sisters laughed heartily. sr..ra-
The flexible spirits of the young are
a constant escape-pipe for all sorrow,
and it is well that they can laugh as
easily as they can weep. Their tender
hearts would often break if this were
not the case. m .r ...
"Well, Anne, guess I'll abandon the
saloon business. The picture doesn't
quite please me, as you paint it, and
I'll be excused"
"But what shaH We do?n queried
Fanny, with look OF anguish, as tears
gave place to laughter.
'TIl go back to Portsmouth and 60 to
work." said Henry. "You know can
get twenty dollars a month"
"We couldn't live on that, brother -
Annie replied. "You know that the
farm, and the cows, and everything will
be sold away from US, and Tot, and the
twins, and the baby are to be supported.
We are almost destitute Of clothes. I
haven't had a decent shoe this winter,
and Fanny wouldn't have had dress II
it hadn't been that mother left the one
she's now wearing"
'T don't like to have you come TO it,
Sis, but you can get fair wages in the
city as a servant, and if the worst comes,
you'll have to do it." .f-
"But what will be done with the little
ones? Remember am as badly tied q.
our poor mother was" Xxx. e
The problem was indeed hard one
and it was no wonder that they could
not solve it.
The embers slowly died in the un
calmly fireplace; the rain fell fast anC
faster; and the wind, as II to mock thI
children in their loneliness and destitu
ton, ratified the window, shook th'
ereAking door-hinges, howled down thu
chimney, whistled in the loft, anC
screached through the blackened forest
"What was tbat?" said Henry, as I
groan, deep, agonizing and sonorous
was distinctly heard during lull in TIN
tempest Ll
"If it's anybody more in need thar
4 we, 1 pity them," said Fannie.
Suppose we all kneel down and asl
our Father to protect us,' suggested
/ Annie. rFYou know that prayer wa
mothers only solace in her creates
trials"
''Much good it did herw said Henry
between his teeth.
"He feedeth even the young raveni
when they cry"
"But we're not ravens. -
'Won't you kneel with us?'' anC
Annie laid her hand upon her brother'i
arm beseechingly. -..
) ITO please you I'll kneel, but blastet
If b'lieve one word o such nonsense ,
Reverently, earnestly, beseechinel,
did Annie lift her voice to Heaven. an,
a it seemed to her that the warning ele
ments stopped to listen, so sharply di,
5 her voice ring out upon the atmosphere
"GOd Of our mother, enable US to trus
: Thee,n was the burden Of her petition
and who shall say that listening angel
F. did not catch the plea and bear !
heavenward to the eternal throne {
God? .-
? The supplicants arose from thei
! knees and resumed their seats arouu
the dying fire.
Again they heard an agonizing groar
"Henry,n said Annie, taking down th
tallow dip that had sputtered all th
; evening on the rough board mante
1--WE must go and see where that groa
! came from. It won't do for us to 60
sleep and allow fellow-being to lie ou
] in such q storm as this"
"Tbe wind will blow your candle OF