The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-07-13
don't you ever marry! You'll regret it

don't you ever marry! You'll regret it
If you do"
Martha thought regretfully of King.
"Will you promise, daughter m
1t was a cruel request for even dy-
ing mother to make, and an unnatural
one as well.
Martha burst into tears and did not
answer.
"For shame! child" exclaimed the
Major, soIemnly. "Could you refuse to
grant your assent to any request from
your mother at a time like this?"
The wife's face kindled with a new
light.
"Thsn, Major, you won't refuse to
grant assent to my request, either, will
you?"
The hard lines in Major Marblehead's
countenance relaxed little.
"What would you have me to do,
mother 2" he asked, huskily.
"Never whip the children again, and
always be cheerful with them, that's
ALL"
"But you wouldn't have me disobey
the Bible, would you ? and thereby per-
jure my own and my children's saliva
tion? Solomon says, Spare the Iod
and spoil the child you know"
"I don't believe that's in the Bible,
John. If it is, it oughtn't to be-"
"Let us pray" said the Major, SOL
emnly.
All heads were bowed, and all eyes
closed, the dying woman's among the
rest.
The prayer of Major Marblehead was
characteristic of the man. 1t smelt of
birthstone and eternal burnings, and
sought to appease an avenging Deity by
profuse reminders of the sacrificial
! blood.
When the long supplication was over
the tired spirit of the worn wife and
mother had departed. But a radiant
smile wreathed the pinched, white face,
as though the last thought of the de-
parting intelligence had been a mute
desire to enstamp upon the features the
assurance that all was well.
Martha was overcome with grief.
Trained from her infancy to look upon
the natural transition, by men called
death, as an end of the merciful prOba-
ton which accompanies physical exist
ence, and the stern idea of Calvinistic
chance to enter the portals of heaven
to which none but the elect were to be
admitted, she looked upon the demise OF
the veriest stranger with a shudder; and
when to her superstitious dread of death
was added the natural affection for her
mother that even the ascetie customs OF
her fathers household could never
wholly stif1e, her grief was uncOntrolla-
BILE.
The Indians that had already begun
the usual annual assembling together
upon the neutral ground of the beautiful
valley, were encamped in squads here
and there, and the news of a death in
the immigrant family inspired them
with fear for the safety of themselves
and other tribes yet to meet them
which kept them all aIoof from the
scene of bereavement.
Among the members Of the new fam
lily which the Marbleheads had JOINED
in their hour of sorrow was an uncouth
unprOmising boy of about Martha's age
who rendered efficient service in per
forming the last sad duties of the burial
} Casket and priest were alike wanting
! A grave was made upon a gentle knoll
!, in the heart of the valley, which is nov
a corn field, and here, wrapped in I
winding sheet of the bed quilts her owl
worn fingers had deity fashioned in tn
bygone years, the remains of Mrs. Mar
blehead were laid to await the trump o
the Archangel.
: "The Lord gave, and the Lord hatl
: taken away. Blessed be the name o
Lord" said the Major, beginning tn
, articulation away down in his thros
! and ending with sonorous, explosiv
finale through the spacious chambers @
= his long, thin nose.
] hope, good reader, that / am misin
] formed concerning the alleged suthen
f ticity of the bit of gossip which follows
+ and, if so, would humbly beg the Ms
D jOr's pardon for admitting it here; bu
a the ubiquitous Mr.. Grundy has alread
: informed the world that, even as th
e widower made the above exemplary as
= sertiOn, he looked lOngingly at the ere
= let" of Mr.. Jonas Jones, who was wit
# the other party of immigrants, with
J, view to possible matrimony.
y Thomas Jones, nephew of the sal
d ''relict," and subsequent suitor to tn
II Majors daughter, is my authority, goo
l. reader, and for further information col
d cerning this important topic, you al
O. respectfully referred to him.
But, after all, why is it any worse
r. begin to think of future matrimonii
,f prospects Immediately after bereav
ment than to begin to think of thel
after such an event at all? OF what a
count are few days, or months,
Ie even year in the great ocean of Time
= infinitude?
,e "Father, let US remain in this vale
Ie always" said Martha, through b.
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