The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-07-06
CHAPTER II.

- ACAaO. "a ~ SANENL AACAA VIZ VI VIZ
Middle Western States a quarter of a
century ago was as momentous an event
in the estimation of everybody who
could not go, and was consequently
compelled to be content with seeing
Others off, as an expedition of families
in search of the open Polar sea would be
to the masses of to-day.
There were visitiDgs and partings in
Vulnerable; there were forebodings and
conjectures without limit.
Mrs. Marblehead, dear, patient, sweet
tempered and long-suffering soul, went
about her daily duties with the charac-
teristic meekness of her life, working
diligently at the double burdens the
prospective removal added to her al
ready too numerous cares, and never
openly opposing her husbands fiat,
though she often carried her grievances
to the solitude of her chamber and laid
them, baptized in tears, at the feet of
the Crucifed. To say that she shrank
from possible encounters with wild buff
faloes and wilder Indians, through
whose almost undisputed realm their
long route lay, would be to very feebly
express the truth.
But the will of Major Marblehead was
law which she did not dream of openly
disputing, so she smiled at the expressed
fears for the safety of herself and family
that greeted her daily, and bowed to
what she deemed the will of Omnipo-
tence with weak though constantly
abiding faith in the God of her hus-
band.
While everybody else in Galestown
was sad and excited over the Prospective
departure of the Marbleheads, Kingston
GreensborOugh, and Martha, his affi-
anced, were as serene as a summer
morning.
Had each known more of the world,
and consequently less OF unsullied hu-
man nature, both would have been be-
set by doubts innumerable, for the time
of their prospective union was so far
distant that it had not yet been limited
at; indeed, it had been scarcely thought
of.
Both were young; too young to think
of love, if only love had kept away from
their hearts and left them free to think
of something else. But of all the guests
that are wont to come unbidden, this
white-winged Cupid who continually
disturbs, blesses and distresses human
ity is the most untiring.
Men and women who have been dis
appointed by his arch-impudence, and
failing to capture him in a way to suit
their own fancy, have declared him a
nuisance or fraud on general princi-
Piles; men and women who have out
grown the tender emotions of the fresh
young life, and drifted upon the barren
rocks of a loveless and barely endurable
existence; men and women whose nat
ural fOunts of sweetness have run dry
these be they who scoff at love; who
would fain compel the faithful chroni-
cler of important facts to ignore the
presence and eschew the power of the
wee, winged potentate who has, some
time, blessed or blighted every body; but
know ye, gentle readers of this history,
that pen of mine will never wander into
realms where love is taboOed, unless it
be to puncture the objectionable ascot
icism that would pretend to ignore the
little rascaps power, which all would
own, were they to admit the truth.
Woe to the marriageableso son or daugh-
ter whose parents scoff at love. The in
nocent must suffer for the guilty then.
But, if the young, whose untried hearts
are running over with the effect of Gu
pid's wounds, and are denied the natu-
raj vent of honest expression, must suf-
fer, thrice miserable are they whose
fountains of affection are turned into
stagnant pools of bitterness, which exu-
date the slime of suspicion and unholy
intrigue, instead of radiating, as a happy
and pure fountain should, the sunlight
of blest hallueination, to beam upon
every victim of the winged messenger
with whom he comes in contact.
Major Marblehead would have been
pleased to see Kingston Greensborough
marry his daughter if the young man
had only been wise enough or crafty
enough to have failed to displease him,
that he might have thereby become q
member of his own household of faith
But the suitor of his daughter had beer
SO irreverent in the house of God that
he had laughed at the Majors singing
therefore he was not fit candidate fol
glory, and could not be one of the elect
The Major would not permit him tc
unite with his church, and would moi
permit him to marry Martha because be
was not member of the same. How
he could thereby shirk the responsible.
ity of separating the young couple was
more than the two most deeply inter.
ested could understand; but with tht
Major power was everything. Ethic,
disturbed him not. Accustomed from
childhood to believing himself one O.
the elect, and feeling that he had riC