The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-08-21
SYNOPSIS.

the Librarian Of Congress az Washington Cityl
SYNOPSIS.
I'm order to give our many new sub
serlbers the benefit Of the frst dozen
chapters of the serial story which has
awakened so much more public Interest
than We anticipated that shack num-
bers" are getting low, we have decided
to prefix The following synopsis to the
present chapter:
The story opens with an introduction
TO rude cabin In the wilderness, where
an invalid mother and her beautiful
daughter, Annie Lee, meet FACE 10 face
with grinding poverty and uncongenial
toll. The large family OF children are
noisy, ineonsiderate, and obstreperous,
aud the father, or legal head, drunken
spe1rclairit, who neglects his daily du-
ties, but exacts unreasonable toll from
the helpless subjects of his unlimited
authority.
Melvin Hastings, young man of
great expectations, accidentally finds
the family in their rustic home, and,
after few days sojourn on the farm,
surprises the head of the household by
interfering when Henry Lee, the eldest
son, was undergoing frightful punish
ment because unable or unwilling to
perform the tasks imposed upon him by
his father
Henry runs away and finds, after
many unpleasant and disheartening vi
cissitudes, an humble position in the
home of Melvin Hastings parents
His (Henry's) invalid mother dies, un-
der circumstances which lead to the ar
rest Of his father, and Henry's recall to
the home in the wilderness. Here the
family of worse than orphans spend the
winter in Loneliness, and the father, es-
Gaping from confinement while the au-
thorities are awaiting the time for his
trial, comes home to die with delirium
tremens.
The farm and its appurtenances are 1
sold to pay the deceased protectors liq- 1
nor bills, and Annie and Henry repair to |
the city with seven other orphans, /
younger than themselves, in search of 4
employment. Henry, being unincum- /
bered, is again installed in the Hastings /
family, and the remainder of the Lees |
procure a cheap tenement in which they
huddle themselves to tile best advan-
tage that their untoward circumstances
will allow.
Annie, in searching for work with her
baby brother in her arms, meets with
I
tian homes are closed against her be-
cause of the child, and in her despera-
tion she seeks an intelligence office,
where her beauty becomes an object of
interest to a member of the protecting
sex, who loans her a hundred dollars
upon condition that she accepts employ
ment at a palace of pleasure known as
the "Walk In and Welcome" Driven
to the verge of starvation, she accepts
the position, but rebels against selling
liquor, and is discharged the first even
ing.
A great scandal is raised against her
by the protecting sex, as is, of course,
proper and natural under the existing
conditions of the protecting class.
Melvin Hastings becomes disinherited
because he will not consent TO believe
her al outcast, and leaves home for the
purpose of relying upon himself.
Henry Lee becomes affected with sus-
picions against his sister, and an es-
arrangement follows which results in his
leaving her with the entire charge of
the family Of dependent ones, while he,
being untrammeled, gradually rises
from one position Of honor and emolu-
ment to another, and, in time, becomes
famous. Annie finds n friend in a
wholesale millinery dealer, who trusts
her with merchandise, and her skies
brighten. She gets a letter from Mel
win Hastings, which assures her of un-
dying affection, and this knowledge
gives her strength and determination
and joy.
The elder Hastings, being rich, and,
Of course, acquisitive, desires that his
family shall become matrimonially con-
nected with another rich, and conse-
0uently needy mortal, O'Toodles by
name, and has been disappointed in hi:
schemes, by the refusal of his son tC
ratify an engagement with the O'Too
dies daughter.
The chapter that follows will acquain
the reader with the result of a bargain
by which Hastings daughter was als'
expected TO become the bride of th'
O'TOodles son.
CHAPTER NH.