The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-08-03

also, in teaching her younger brothers
and sisters, labor of love in which she
was assisted by their stepmother, for
Mrs. Marblehead had no idea of allow
ing the crop of children that had fallen
to her lot to grow up beset with the
brambles of ignorance. If ambition for
her own future promotion had prompted
her in her matrimonial scheming, she
was just enough to feel determination
to do her whole duty to the children of
her husband, Notwithstanding they
failed to appreciate her motives, and
felt in their hearts that she was in some
way ausurper of their own prerogatives.
Of all the thankless tasks ever yet
undertaken by mortal woman, that of
stepmother is the most so.
Ones own children, for whom all the
allowances and apologies are made that
mother love can suggest, are oftentimes
so uugrateful as to almost drive the
mother distraught; and this, too, when
the world recognizes them as better than
average, and when they are indeed bet
ter and more bidable and loving than
many others around them. But when
the stepmother, whose only motive for
doing well by her wards is the prompt
ing of duty, finds her best efforts unap-
preciated and her hardest tasks un-
gratefully unacknowledged, her lines
are indeed cast in unpleasant places and
her life is to be commiserated by an
gels.
Martha had spent the afternoon at her
fathers house, engaged in assisting Mrs.
Marblehead with the children's lessons
during the absence of the Major and her
husband, who had been absent all day
at a preliminary political meeting.
az am happier than L have been for
MONTHS" thought the young wife, on
her way back to her little home. "I've
been a real comfort to my stepmother
to-day, and there's no denying that she
has trial with those children. But,
somehow, Pve premonition of ap-
preaching trouble. l wonder what it
means ?"
An ominous sound startled her; and
well it might. In the path before her
lay an enormous rattlesnake darting its
forked tongue and shaking its rattles
furiously.
Martha uttered low, wild cry, and
the reptile crossed the path at her feet
and hurried out of sight.
The frightened girl ran breathlessly
toward her little home.
"What a narrow escapev' she ex-
claimed aloud. "Pve been dreaming of
snakes for month past. Mother says
it's sign of jealousy"
Reaching her home, Martha was as
tonished to find the door ajar.
81 surely left it fastened" she ex-
claimed, "and now Pm afraid to enter
for fear the snakes are there"
But she did enter, aud her heart stood
still.
Upon one of the rustic seats made by
her husband in his hours of idleness sat
Kingston Greensborough
so, Marthaw
80, Kingm
That was all. The wretched girl wife
/ tainted in his arms.
King had not thought of this. He
had never before seen a woman in q
faint, and he was sorely troubled.
"Speak to me, my lamb ~ he walled
''Pray tell me that my coming has not
killed youw
There was no response. The young
man chafed her temples and continued
to call her by endearing names.
"WeU! Here's a go" exclaimed the
husband, who happened at this instant
upon the scene.
allow do you do, and who are you p
asked King.
81 am Thomas Jones, and this WON
ans husband! And you area miserable
miscreant, without honor or principle
and Pll thrash you within an inch o
your life if you don't leave my hous,
this instant, sir ~
SIS Martha married ?" cried th,
young man, in agony. "Magried, dix
you say?"
"Yes, married.! And if you eve
cross my path again I'll kill you!
thought my wife was the soul of honor
To think that should see her come t.
this ~
"She IS the soul of honor, sir, and is
or was, my affianced bride, cried King
~ was told that this was her father
: house, and came here, and finding tn
door ajar, entered to await her coming
> She saw me and tainted, as you see
Appearances are against US, but she
not to blame. Oh, sir, if you are he
- husband, will you treat her tenderly q
ITO be continued
- Tuu POUEP OF NTAnADA EATrS