The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-01

mother in caring for the children and
keeping the wolf from the door?
'Please, sir, may we be excused-my
mother and II"
The question was asked as a timid
child might ask it of tyrannical, rod
applying schoolmaster. The Judge
looked at her enquiringly.
81 must go to my work." continued
Edna, cor shall have no means to sup
port the husband you have to-day de-
cided that must protect"
His Honor was puzzled. Was the
woman inpudent or crazy, that she
should thus pretend to occupy position
which God and nature had assigned to
man?
81 am afraid that some of the strong
minded fallacies that are disturbing the
elements of domestic life in the East
have made their appearance in Idaho
Flat ~ he said, solemnly.
MAY be excused2" repeated Edna,
her voice husky with smothered indig-
nation and sorrow.
"Yes, madam. Go home and get
your husbands dinner and make his
home happy. That is the duty of every
married woman. Your whole duty is in
the home, his out of it. He is to pro-
vide the comforts of life, you are to take
care of them. l trust that I shall hear
no more of your unreasonable repining.
The Court has been lenient with you,
and you have not been proven guilty as
charged in your husbands indictment
Always meet your husband with smile
and a word of encouragement, and
never let him see your brow clouded.
Nothing drives a man to ruin like
smothered tempests in his home. You
errors of the past, for you are young yet
Do your duty, and many sons and
daughters shall yet arise to call you
blessed. Nothing else in nature is so
beautiful as a well-Ordered, comfortable
home, with a dutiful wife and smiling
children to welcome the husband and
father from his labors at nightfall. A
contented mind is a continual feast. I
further advise you to request your pas
tor to discontinue his visits, seeing they
| give your husband trouble. l am aware
that Mr.. Smith has some unfortunate
habits, but l am unable to learn that
they have ever caused him to commit
personal violence upon you. And for
the rest, 1 feel assured that it lies in
your power to cure him of drunkenness
by wifely obedience and womanly thrift
GOod-day, madam"
How Edna reached the open air she
really never knew. 1t seemed to her
| that her heart was frozen.
Walking with firm step toward the
door, and staring with stony eyes into
vacancy, she needed notthe eager gazes
of the gaping crowd, nor paused an in
stant to contemplate the changes in her
situation. Everything seemed covered
as with an impenetrable pail of black
ness. 1t was as though a great gulf
yawned before her, upon the very brink
of which she paused, while behind her
stood bland-faced oracle, armed with
tmoes of sheepskin, with which he was
driving her forward to destruction.
The eye of many bronzed miner was
filled with tears, while murmurs of in
dignation filled the crowded room.
In one corner of the rude building,
and inside the bar sat a young lawyer
with medium proportions, broad fore
head, clear brown eyes, dark chestnut
hair, and tirm-set mouth. Nobody had
noticed him, as he was a new arrival
who had that day presented his creden-
tials and taken his seat among his fell
lows without clients and likely to re-
main so.
The stranger watched Edna till she
passed out of the house, and again
caught sight of her throught the win
dow, as she toiled up the hill to hel
wretched abode.
"May it please your Honor" he al
length exclaimed, rising to his feet
and breathing heavily, as though under
the impetus of some strange excitement
81 have request to make"
"Proceed," replied the Judge, as he
settled himself to look over the columns
of stale newspaper.
81 should be pleased to get the use o
this hall of justice for this evening, as
wish to deliver a lecture"
Certainly" said His Honor. "W,
shall be pleased to hear from you"
"Then, gentlemen, allow me to an
nounce that I shall be most happy t
give you an address this evening upor
the Rights of Women I shall no
ask a door fee. My object is not t.
make money, but to consider the claim
that mothers, wives, and daughter
ought to have under the laws of our so
called free country for their protection
This evening at eight o'clock 1 shall b.
here, and 1 hope to see you all as cage
to listen to my humble speech as vol
have been willing TO pay deferentia
heed to Judge Whites decision to-day.
His Honor called the next case, ant
Edna and John were soon forgotten il
the consideration of the rights of SOM
, disputants over a mining claim, VIII
had managed to get themselves entan
gled in a legal broil.