The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-09-03
girls talk about necessary mental exer-

cleVer-and what schoolgirl doesn't p
be as modest about it as possible, but
cease making yourselves ridiculous with
these silly exaggerations.
"What do you think of our coming
exhibition, Effie?" asked Carrie Win
ters, at noontime, when they were all
dissertating upon their coming troubles.
81 think those who complain least
and work most will gain the greatest
victories"
"Don't you dread the exhibition?"
'I can't say that do"
Servants don't often mind showing
up what little they know" said Del
phine haughtily.
"When will you learn to treat Effie as
you should?" said Winnie, as she kissed
her friends burning cheek.
"Girls," said Effie, "will you sit down
upon these rocks and hear my story ?"
Her eyes were humid and her voice
faltered.
"Oh, certainly we'll hear it, if you've
anything to TELL" said Augusta.
1.-TWO years ago, when my mother
was alive, and 1 and my two brothers
were her pride and joy, we lived in a
sweet, rustic, vine-clad cottage. We
were not wealthy, but we were what is
better, comfortable and contented. My
mother had been left a widow when
was small, but had spared no pains to
refine and instruct me. My brother
Herbert LoUed his lessons; I thought
that science was useless. He profited
by the example and instruction my
mother was able to give; out I, though
l could not help learning many useful
things, took but little heart-interest in
my studies.
''Times changed. We were expelled
from our home by the villainous acts OF
man who was aided in his scheme by
our country's laws. We were homeless,
and with the exception of some nova
BILE property and a few valuable family
relics, were penniless. We started with
coarse but kind companions to come to
Oregon, where we were told we would
be able to regain more than we had lost.
We journeyed many miles, and my
mother, who had toiled and suffered
and struggled for the benefit of her faith
erless ones, was called to the skies.
"Girls, you all have living mothers.
You know little about an orphans lone
illness. Little brother Willie was also
called away, and Herbert and I were
left alone. We journeyed on, and when
we reached this Oregon City, this goal
which we had struggled through so
many privations to reach, we were
without money, without property, and
without friends who were able to assist
US. There was but one honest way for
me to make a living. 1 must work,
must hire out as servant. For nearly
eighteen months have toiled for food
and clothing. My former neglect OF
lessons, when the opportunity for further
improvement was gone, appeared to me
as almost criminal, and I resolved to
lay aside every penny could spare, fol
the purpose of defrayiDg schoolexpenses.
Yesterday received a letter from
Herbert, stating that he is coming home
with plenty of funds for us to live upon.
One thing I have to rejoice over-I
have learned to love and prize my stud
les and am going to live for some useful
purpose. I want, if again stricken by
adversity or loss of friends, to be quail.
fed to fill some useful and worthy sta
ton. Here is a locket containing the
miniatures of the loved members of my
family"
There was not dry eye among the
assembled group of listeners, when the
artless narration was finished. Those
who had been the most sarcastic and
unfeeling toward her humbly asked
forgiveness. Augusta and Delphine
sobbed, and as they received her kiss oi
forgiveness, their hearts were bowed in
contritlon. Their unkindness had moi
been so much the result of of'ill-nature as
of thoughtlessness and education.
Effie Goodwin, the unfortunate, the
prosecuted, was now their firm friend
and they tacitly acknowledged her a:
their superior.
Two prize books, match volumes o.
Shakespeare and Byron, were to be
awarded to the writer of the best orig.
inal composition, either poetry or prose
A committee of the most eminent Ter.
ritorial officials were to be the judges
and the spirit of competition ran high
Herbert reached the city in time tc
spend month in the school before the
grand show of school-day genius was tC
come off, and judging from his weekly
original speeches, the professor was con
fident that he would win the laurels
Time sped on, and the morning of the
exhibition had dawned. People focket
in crowds to the Institute, evincing 6
laudable zeal in the great work of men.
tai improvement.
The competitors had given up theil
productions the week before, for the IN.
spection of the committee of critics, but
none knew who was the successful as
pirant. The dignifed principal haC
deigned to tell his anxious scholars tha
the masterpiece would be the last on,
called for, but further than this the,
knew nothing, and when the reading
time arrived, there were many hutter