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

Great is the interest that is usual
taken by rural people in neighborhoo
funeral. No matter the sufferer, who's
lamp of material life has suddenl
ceased to blaze, had lain sick for months
almost wholly neglected by the hard
working neighbors, just as soon as it
known that the breath has left the body
the family aud the deceased become ob
jects Of deep and sudden interest. Tn
house is filed with the sad faces Of wear,
women and their numerous children
the yard is full Of men in holiday
clothes, lounging against the fences, o.
reclining on the grass in groups, while
teams by the dozen are hitched among
the bushes awaiting the commands o.
their owners.
The funeral of Mrs. Lee created even
more than the usual stir. 1t was vel
known that the head of the family, who
had been badly in his cups for weeks,
was but a broken reed upon which the
children might rely in vain for support
and protection; and ''what was to be.
come Of the children ?'' was the all-ab-
sorbinE theme of outdoor discussion
among the men, and the equally i'm
portant topic in the cabin among the
women, who spoke in whispers not
meant to reach the ears OF the bereaved
household, yet much more distinctly
heard and understood by them than or
binary conversation would have been.
Nothing will catch the ear and enlist
the hearty attention of children like
guarded whispers among adults.
'1f it had only pleased the Lord to
take the man." said Bill Sykes mother,
as she worried with the orphaned baby,
whose gums were badly swollen, her
own rollicking yearling having been dis
posed OF on the bed; "if It had only been
John Lee instead o. Sally, that woman
could a. kept the whole band together
easy enough"
"pd like to know how she'd a done
it 81 said Mrs. Green. "lf man dies,
the law ministers on the estate, an di-
vides it up. They've got big bill
agin' John Lee for liquor at more than
one den in Shysterville, an if he'd a
died they'd all a. got their money
There wouldn't a. been much LETT fol
the wife an young uns, reckon"
"Give the baby TO me" said Annie
taking the fretful, feverish child in he
tired arms, as, with aching heart ant
head and feet, she wandered down tn
hill and across the rivulet, her only ain
being to get away from her assiduou
neigbBors and be alone.
uOnly think, +" she soliloquized; 'the,
cannot wait till my poor mothers form
Is buried out Of sight, but they com
right here and discuss US all over he
dead body, and they talk about 'who'l
keep US, and 'wharll become Of US,
just as if hadn't arms and hands an,
head and willn'
Sitting down with her burden upol
the spot where she had last held an in
terview with Melvin Hastings, Ami
gave way to an uncomfortable fit o
weeping. The child looked wonder
ingly in her face, not comprehendinl
the trouble, and lisped in baby languag,
the endearing words, 81 love 'ou."
"Yes, darling, and your sister will b,
your mother from this momentr
straining the child to her breast in hel
sore bereavement, aud allowing him tc
caress her face with his dimpled, baby
hands.
A team was now coming with 4 plain
pine coffin, the undertakers family and
the minister.
With a fresh outburst of weeping,
Annie followed them TO the house, and
with all the children crying around her.
watched the transfer Of her mothers re-
mains from the rough board upon which
they had lain, to the rude casket. into
which they We're settled for the last,
long sleep.
The men from the outside detached
themselves, one by one, from the group,
Of gossipers, and with heads uncoveres
in the lowly cabin, listened to the omen
ing prayer. John Lee sat stupified will
his potations at the coffin head, hi
nerves all unstrung, his head bent for
ward, and his blOodshot eyes emitting
peculiar dullish CLEAN, as though b
were an idiot.
The minister dwelt long and earnestl
upon the mysterious providences Of Go
who had seen fit in His wisdom to re
move this mother from the bosom Of be
affectionate family to her Fathers man
% sion in the skies. He grew powerful.
pathetic over the sorrows and lonelines
OF the bereaved husband, to whom a
Omnipotent God had submitted, 70
safe keeping, this precious family O
immortal souls. He pictured in glow
ing colors the great need that a motbe
should be spared to bring up her chill
drenr but decided that, urgent as goo,
Sister Lees earthly duties were. Go,
knew best when He whispered softly /,
her ear, "come higher" He took occa
sion, also, TO picture, in its most glow
ing heat, the sulphurous fire of hell. an,
warned the husband and children :,
fee from the wrath to come, closing hi
Grafton by request that each membe
OF the family should arise 10 his fee,
and thus give promise that he woul
forsake the paths Of sin and strive I,