The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-01-07

store-room, made by the steep pitch of
the roof, which also served as a bed
chamber; for the two families were to
find shelter here till another cabin
could be built, and the closest economy
of all available space was rendered
doubly necessary.
The weather, which for many weeks
had been excessively lowering and
blustery, cleared off with the approach
of Christmas, and the air became as
balmy and the sunshine as beautiful
and invigorating as in early April.
Mrs. Morrison and Mr.. Andrews de-
cided to lay claim to certain lands, pre-
scribed by certain decided boundaries;
and it was thought best for the one
grown man in the community to turn
his attention to improving few acres,
with a view to providing for spring
time cultivation, before sparing time to
erect a second habitation.
Madge proved as ready in her concep-
tion of fence-building, and other farm
work as she had been adept in the
art of constructing a dwelling. She
and the twin boys became the constant
companions of Jason Andrews in his
labors, aud the work went on with dis
patch.
Luckily game was abundant in the
adjacent woods, and savory venison and
delicious wild birds graced their hum
BILE board daily, though the lack of
bread and vegetables, sugar, coffee, and
other luxuries, to which the immigrants
had always been accustomed, was es-
pecially trying to the invalid mother of
the Andrews family, who daily grew
weaker and more respondent and home
sick.
"Why under heaven any woman
can't be contented when she's got moth
ing to do but set in the corner and eat
her victuals when they're brought to
her is past my comprehension v' said
her tired husband, with the air of a
long-suffering martyr, as he saw her
turn, with a motion Of nausea, from a
savOry soup, and lean back against a
great dry-goods box which had been
stationed behind the hard stool upon
which she sat to form rest to her back,
and drop her thin hands listlessly upon
her lap, while great round tears rolled
down her sunken and transparent
cheeks.
81 didn't complain, JASON" said the
poor woman, striving hard to overcome
her falling tears.
'If you don't call it complainin' to
turn your nose up against such food as
the rest of us that work for it are glad
to get, and if it amt the very worst
kind of complainin', I've lost my reck-
onin'," was the querulous reply.
"Help me to bed, please" said the in
valid, in a choking voice, turning to
Mrs. Morrison as she spoke.
} "That's what's the matter. She lies
abed too much ~ growled the husband
''No woman ever gifts her strength til
she gifts about on her feet pretty con-
stant."
r "Don't scold me, Jason. can't beal
it," sobbed the wife. "Tt's only few
2 years since 1 ran away from my poo
, mother, to spend my life in your ser
vice. The task has been harder than
, bargained for, and I'm most dead, bu
: I don't complain. 1 only beg that yol
: won't scold me-"
''That's always the way. A woman
, always a martyr. No man ever has
hard time of it. No chance w grumbleC
3 the husband, as he strove to dry hi
water-soaked clothes before the grea
f fire, while his joints ached, and hi
r rough, ,weather-besten, and work-marret
] hands grew yet more rough and rudd,
= as he warmed and rubbed them in tn
roaring blaze.
: sits the women that do all the com
y planning" said Madge, as, coming il
from the milking pen, she sat her pal
y upon a shelf, and began a vigorou
g cleaning of her hands and face in th
O family washing bowl. "The fact is,
II she continued, while her fierce eye
d snapped, and her coarse, black tresse
d shook or seemed to shake themselve
n defiantly around her square, weather
v bronzed features, "the women ought a.
u to go dead. Think how they abuse th
l. poor men! Mrs. Andrews has had th
/. audscity to infiict sic children upon he
uncomplaining and meek-tongued hus
It band; and yet the poor man-marty
n doesn't say q word And she has th
. strange perversity, too, to get sick owe
u such trifle as a child or two, that tOi
10 come under difficulties. And then, it
such a sin when she can't eat, and max
!" herself well again Poor Mr.. Andrew
how he is to be pitiedw and Msde
W mischievously flashed her great eyes {
}" the crest-fallen grumbler, who merel
hung his head, and changed from rul
ys biug his rough, red hands to vigoroU
A attack upon his stiff, mud-soaked sock
!" that had become nearly dry in IL
10 ruddy heat.
N Mrs. Morrison tucked the inval
te snugly in the white, hand-wove
he blankets, brought from the far-of hon
It. of her childhood, and doubly cherisht
III because of both utility and olden ass
g Citations, and STOPPING, kissed her ia