The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-03-27
After the FLre.

red, the climax of series Of misfor-
tunes that hal teen falling for five
years upon our devoted heads.
First, We lost dear fsther, who left
the family already mentioned namely,
mamma. Meta, Freddie, and myself
Meta was bnt fourteen vixen father
died. twelve, and Freddy but three
years of age There was IA" money f.r
Us after the business was closed. all
mamma thankfully accepted an offer #
her Uncle Gordon's to he his house
keeper, aud so secure home for all Of
ia.
Such home Uncle Gordon Crofts
vas q man nearly seventy. strong and
vigorous, with most upgovernable
temper, miserly and suspicious. who
had lived alone for about forty years
What sudden spasm Of generosity made
him oren the doors Of his wretched,
tumble-down old house to us. We never
knew; but certainly he repented the
arrangement as soon as his proposal was
accepted.
Not one meal passed our lip. that we
were not reminded Of the cost ; not an
article of our poor cirthing was renewed
without deep groans over our extrava-
gance aud We were put out at once
Meta and myself-to learn trades. be
ing apprenticed to a milliner, Meto to q
book-binder.
know now that scant rs cur wages
were they really covered the expenses
Of our poor food and worse lodging
As for poor mamma with oil the house,
work. sewing. washing aud cooking
upon her hands. surely she earned the
little she spent.
But. in spite Of our poverty and hard
work. Meta blossousd into beautiful.
III dest and tender girl was never
even pretty.
When Brent Ellis discovered Meta 8
attractions. she was eighteen. still
working as book binder in a place Of
business hich Breut's father owned
Old John Ellis, after storming and rag
ing like maniac at the presumption Of
the "hands" daring to be Sufficiently
attractive to win tho love of the son
and heir Of his magnificence. dismissed
Meta at an hours notice.
AS he owned she only book binding
establishment in the town. and Meta
knew no other trade. affairs locked
black enough for rs.
Brent himself was as true $ steel
aud wanted Meta to marry him at once.
But. in spite of her gentleness, Meta
ha / some pride, and refused to enter q
family where she was not welcome
Mother. too. at this crisis, informed
Brent that his visits had better cease.
and Meta did not speak one word Of
dissent.
l stormed. of course I always did
storm when was angry. But mob, y
ever came round to my opinica no mat
ter how l raved, and John Ellis certain-
ly did not. To be sure. he did not hear
me, or that might have made some diff
ference.
Midwintcr found US in this strait.
Meta out Of employment. helping moth
er about the house, aud patiently bear
ing Uncle Gordon's protests against her
ideness and lady like airs; trimming
hats, and meekly handing my wsg
over to our uncle; Freddie still at tt1
town school. but with an apprentice
ship looming up IN the spring
In January Uncle Gordon was tlke.,
i'll the first serious sickness OF his life.
He would have no doctor until abso-
lutely forced 10 call one by incree ing
pain and weakness, aud when the long
delayed examination was over it proved
to have been too late.
In Just one month from his first pain
our uncle died, leaving brief will. con-
ferring all his prop erty, the houls in
Guided. upon our mother, his "well-be-
loved neice, Sarah Morton"
But where was the property Not
a shilling WAS depo,it ! ih the bank.
not an inch of real state WAS held in
his name. save the miserable piece of
land upon which the house stood, and
which barely yielded vegetables for the
table.
We turned the house upside down
and ,nside out. but not coin rewarded
our search
Finally. we sadly conolu .ei that the
misery We had seen. the iamentations
We had heard. were the result of real.
downright poverty. aud not the mere
pretenceS OF mtser.
Aud we struggled along somehow.
mother sewing little. Meta doing
house work, and l still At the milliner s..
We did not starve. That 10 the r cord
Of the next four mon;hs--a struggle for
nere bread. and the saving OF actual ex.
is,ence. nothing mere. And. to cap the
| climax, came the fire.
/, was q nigh. in June-a clear. star
| light nigh,-snd |. though weary
| enough. WAS sleepiess. Meta lay by
my side, wakefal as myself, and told
me. in soft wh,spcss, that she had met
/ her lover that day. when On some house
hold GRAND. and he had urged her sore
/ ~ 10 marry him, though his father had
, no, relen,ed
"l don't know hu, would" said,
( after all. he Is man and must he
/ able TO care for you somehow. THIS
life is killing you. -,
And. as spoke, Meta cried. l smell
/ smoke
! 'smsll IL" ! cried, starting up. Il
see II t''
There i, was, coming in ~ The cracks
# tho wcrn-oui deor. little threads NJ
frst. bat filling the r,som rapidly
We caught up some clothing. AMI
rushed ~ the door, As We Opened IL
the flames hurst oat ,'n the landing and
>..irras... fnrrtug as 10 retreat,
Mother aad Freddie slept IN ro"'a'
ts,,aui ,ats Oh the other ssde, and We