The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-12-31

! hOlu your tongue! JnatS all ~
'But I can't, for my hands are both
occupied"
"Children, for heavens sake don't
quarrel when your father is dyingW
exclaimed Mrs. Morrison, in a smoth-
cred voice, as the sound of wrangling
smote her ear.
The admonition had the desired eff
feet. Alice selfishly addressed herself
to sleep, and Madge, stiff and weary
from toll and loss of sleep, sat for a long
time before the fire in the falling mist,
tightly holding the now sleeping babe
well covered by blanket-from the
storm, herself half-oblivious to time
and sense.
1t must have been past midnight, al
though no time-piece belonged to the
band of pioneers, and they could only
guess the hour under the darkling sky,
when startling cry broke from the
sick mans tent, and reused Madge from
her slumbers by the fire.
"Whaps the matter, mother ?" she
cried, starting up, and still holding the
sleeping babe.
~ can't arouse your father, child.
Pm certain that he's dying"
And SO it proved. The modification
in the injured limb, which had been
feared from the first, and had doubtless
been hastened by unsatisfactory food
from the family's meager store, had
taken possession of his vitals, and the
stupor that beclouded his senses was
only a precursor of dissolution.
Madge carried the baby to its parents,
and returning, put her arms lovingly
around her mothers neck.
"You're a comfort to me, darling"
whispered the mother, softly.
"AmI?"
The question was asked in tone of
glad surprise, and followed by de-
lighted little chuckle that smote the
maternal conscience with a twinge of
keen remorse.
YOU'RE my stay and dependence
now, my pet. Forgive me if some
times speak cross, won't you? Your
father always loved you"
"Dear father" cried the poor child,
kneeling beside him, and bathing his
face in her tears, 81 might have set
that broken bone, only they wouldn't
let me-"
But nobody needed the strange con-
ceit. The dying man moaned and
threw his hands wildly.
"Speak to Madge, won't you, dear
father? Your little girl would die to
save you"
"'Tisn't necessary, Madge," he NUT
tered, opening his eyes with a CLASSY
stare. "Where's your mother?"
"Here, Mark. Haven't you mes
sage for me, husband ?" cried the poor
woman, kneeling beside him. "Can't
you tell me what to do with the chill
dren ?'
'Do the best you can, Nancy. I've
had a vision of the other side, and Pm
all right. You must stay right here,
and hold your land The country will
settle up some day. The people will
come, and the railroads and steamboats,.
But it's nothing to the glories over
Here.n
''Shall I call the children, Mark ?"
"No, Nancy. Let 'em sleep. They'll
remember me all the same. 1t rains,
and they ought to remain where they
are"
80, fatherw
Eyes, Madge. knew you'd stay by
me to the last minute. You're pure
gold, Madge. Look just like my mother
who is waiting for me on the other
side. Pm hungry"
"Irs the death hunger" whispered
Mrs. Morrison, to herself. Then aloud,
"Alas, we've nothing to give him but
sea-bread and bacon"
The dying man ate voraciously of the
soaked ea-biscuit for a moment, and
then the death-rattle rose in his throat,
and the mystery of another life was
solved.
Mother and daughter Strengthened the
stiffening form upon the litter, and ly-
ing down close to the inanimate re-
mains, with the babe hugged to her
bosom, and Madge's hand clasped in her
own, Mrs. Morrison fell away into a
peaceful sleep, in which she dreamed
that angels hovered near, and ministered
unto her troubled soul with sweet as
surances of sympathy and love.
To her surprise the widow awoke in
the morning refreshed, and, in degree,
hopeful, despite her great bereavement.
1t is said that the threatenings of imme-
diate or presence of actual danger al
ways stupefies the animal senses, and
enables both brutes and human beings
to endure that which otherwise would
be unbearable. Whether this theory be
correct or not, it is quite certain that
men and women often rise suddenly
above the most dire calamities, and
with a resignation and fortitude of
which nobody would have thought
them capable, astonish all who witness
their heroism.
1t was broad day when the tired new
conner, with the sick wife and restless
children, was awakened by the widow