The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-05-29

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git 'em all up"
'Maybe Annie and Fan can help you
some tomorrow, son. But it's awful
that you should strike your brother.
You have no excuse for the act only that
you are larger than he and hold him
at disadvantage"
''Thats the only excuse John Lee has
for foggin' me, mother, exceptin' al
ways that other more plausible one
that he's drunk"
"Oh, Henry, how can you ?" was the
weak mothers only comment, as she
mended Tots broken reins and rubbed
his smarting shins.
The supper, plain, substantial meal
of biscuit, butter and molasses, was now
upon the table, and the seven unruly
children, with Annie at the head, where
she presided with rare rustic grace over
the lacteal contents of large earthen
pitcher, proceeded at once to do ample
justice to the petite sisters culinary
skill.
Mother, come and eat at my place.
The milk is all poured now and PIl keep
baby quiet" said the daughter, kindly,
as soon as she had filled each waiting
plate with biscuits and molasses, which
sufiiced to keep them quiet for the
nonce.
mo, darling" was the sad reply.
"Nour mothers heart is too fllI for food
tonight"
Annie opened her large black eyes as
if in astonishment. "What's the mat
ter now ?" she asked, earnestly.
"Oh, children, it does seem that you
are all going to endless ruin. When
think of the injunction to honor thy
father and thy mother and Of the curse
that naturally follows disobedience, I"
Clang, clang, clatter, clatter, came
down the knives and spoons upon the
table, making din which drowned the
mothers voice, while divers and sundry
chuckles from various seats at table
showed well-laid plan to prevent ma
ternal admonitions from having oppor-
tunity to take effect.
Throwing herself upon bed, the
mother continued her silent weeping,
while the children cast mischievous
glances at each other, ehuckling some
times, and again giving vent to uproar-
ious laughter, not forgetting to do ample
justice to Amie's biscuit, and the ac-
milk and molasses.
Once, when the din was at its height, |
the elder sister feebly demonstrated, but
her attempted show of authority only
exasperated the children, so the weary
girl, her nerves all unstrung from the
effect of close confinement at uneon-
genial toll, wisely deemed discretion the |
better part Of valor, and abstained from
further expostulation.
There were the dishes to wash, the
pigs to feed, water to be brought from
the spring, night wood to be prepared,
the children to be washed and un-
dressed and churning to do.
Henry" said Annie, in a faltering
tone, "are you too tired to milk to-
night?"
81 should say I was" was the gruff
reply.
"Well, if Fan and Sue will wash the
dishes, and Jim will bring the water for
morning, won't you get the night wood
for me ?"
Gruffly the boy replied: "pll not do
anything of the kind. Blast me il do
another hands turn till after I've had
that floggin'."
"And Ill not bring a drop o. water,
either" said Jim. "Girls have nothing
to do but the chores around the house,
and rve been plowin', and my feets
tired" scraping the mud from his boots
upon the andirons, which Annie had
oiled till they were black, and almost
glossy.
"Sue an gathered huckleberries all
day." said Fanny.
'sPshaw! What if you did? There's
no work about that! But know you
didn't, for you've been playin' school all
the afternoon" said the ineorrigible
Jim.
Finding further argument useless,
Annie gathered up the pals and started
for the coraH The cows were late in
coming home, for it was near the au-
tumn, and the grass was dry, so they
wandered far in quest of food.
A hoot-owl sat upon the denuded
branch. Of a tree above her head. and
gave forth its ominous notes unon the
misty air. Blackened stumps arose in
the clearing like 50 many eharred grave.
stones, and skeleton trees held aloft
their ghostly arms, as il in mute but
eloquent appeal to her for succor from
the final fiery fate she knew to be 80
near them.
''Brindle," and "Suke," and "star -
and "Pet," and MOLLY" were waiting
patiently outside the bars, while their
children, ''Tom," and GERRY" and
Gill;" and "Swan," were standing as
impatiently on the inside, bleating al
intervals for their forthcoming supper
"Molly's" baby calf had months
since gone for food for the carniyorous
Lees, but the poor brute made the best
Of her bereavement.
To milk the five cows, including the
'stripper," was no light task for the
tired, dispirited girl; but she perseyeredi
and soon four happy calves were chas-
ing each other through the yard, and
two foaming pals Of milk, q monster