The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-07-25

] lAstlis
How 1 recovered from that cruel
shock l really cannot tell. Sometimes
think women possess more than the
nine lives attributed to domestic cats.
My children helped me, as best they
could, TO take refuge in another bed,
where 1 lay for weeks in a weary, en-
feebled state, from which at last l rose,
the mere wreck of even the miserable
hack had been.
Then came another trial. In my
English simplicity, 1 had not deemed it
worth my while to pay any attention to
such division of our landed domain as
would or could have placed me in meas
urably independent circumstances.
Gerald and / owned each the half Of a
square mile Of land in fee simple, and it
so happened, 1 suppose because it was
my lot, that the crude improvements
had been able to make were upon that
portion which was allotted to my hus-
band.
After a while a COW was missing, and
then again another, and learned that
both had been seized by the proprietor
of the village store in payment for rum.
Then the love for Gerald that had
hitherto galvanized into intervals Of
spasmodic life, in spite of his cruelty,
died out because Of the threatened absO-
Lutte destitution of my children.
But again, as had a thousand times
before asked myself, came up the old
question, What shall do ? and whittier
shall go from his presence?
Had not repeatedly, when my life
was young, and my strength aud ambi-
tion in full play, essayed to steal away
from him and engage in business for
myself? And had he not always found
me and broken up my plans? What,
then, could 1 now do, with half-dozen
children, all girls-for Gerald, my son,
was not? How was l to keep my fam
lily together, except under my roof,
which, poor as it was, still offered us an
apology for shelter from the storms?
So l redoubled my weak exertions,
and managed in every possible way to
exc out an income. To wash and iron,
and cook, and milk, and churn; to make
garden, gather berries, dry fruit, and
raise chickens; to wash dishes, do cham
ber-wOrk, nurse babies, and bear chill
dren, would certainly seem to be WORK
enough for one woman, and could give
reasonable excuse for the employment
of half-a-dozen; but all this work was
accomplished daily and weekly, year by
year, by my own efforts, and is being
performed TO this day by a million Of
so-called protected wives and mothers
in the land. Yet, in addition to the
work above named, which is indispens-
able in every farmhouse, did all the
plain sewing for men. that I could pro-
cure. l made miners shirts, drawers,
and overalls for good round prices, and
sold pies and cold lunches to passing
teamsters, thereby earning enough to
keep my children fed, clothed, and pro-
vided with books.
As long as my poor home was spared
to me, we did not suffer; but one after
noon when, after an extremely hard
days work, was sitting on the door
step nursing my babe upon the over
heated milk that ] knew was a slow
| poison to its constitution, a bevy Of men
came over from the adjacent town and
wandered about the town, while Gerald
looked on uneasily.
"What in the world are those fellows
searching for?'' asked, with a strange
sense Of apprehension, as inexplicable
as unexpected.
"What dye want to know for ?' wa;
the curt reply.
was so thoroughly accustomed tC
Gerald's way Of addressing me that bis
answer did not stir ripple, even Of dis
gust, in my tired breast. He was lying
on a settle outside the door, resting, a
was his habit whenever the weather wa.
warm. Indeed, I often envied him th,
rest he vas able to take while and tht
little girls were struggling for bread.
"See," said 1. "They're examining
the fences and the orchard and th'
spring and the garden, and everything
Gerald, what does It mean ?'' I added
with my heart in my throat.
81 s'pose il means that they want 4
see what kind of property they're abou
to possess" was the careless reply.
A pang like the sudden thrust an
twist Of a poniard darted through m.
breast, and gasped for breath.
"Gerald, are you proposing to sell th
home ~ I asked, as soon as 1 could speak
"My creditors have kindly relieve
me Of the trouble" be ans wered, wit
an oath.
40, Gerald"
"Stop your pussy-cat whining oil
woman, or I'll shut up your head wit
my doubled fist. You needn't %, Gel
aid me %
"But are we to have no home at all 2
, "Nogi with another fearful oatt
"You've made me what l am by you
> want Of respect, and your general mis-
conduct. The sheriff has levied on th
rancho, and it's to be hidden of to-mol
row by the men who are now examir
T. ing their property. Don't be foo
D There'll be some way provided. We'v
> never gone hungry yet; though il I onl
: bad the proper sort of wife I'd not
z heren
u lhis was another remark l was o.
customed TO, and so did not mind it.
Nhnl Earall L.