The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-04-12


drunken man, for love or money, lest
harm might come to her; aud it is well
that this is true. Yet who thinks Of the
awful iuiquity Of compelling such girls,
because not unmarried, to remain in the
house alone with one whom the law has
made her husband, subject TO all the
possibilities aud probabilities Of his un-
bridled power? In the name Of poster
ity, I protest against the legality Of such
wrongs.
For several days Gerald, my husband,
bad been too stupid to pay heed TO Ger
aid, my baby. But be had finally al
lowed the heaviest Of his potstious to so
far exhaust his vitality that he was
compelled to begin to sober up. OF
course he was miserable, and his mind
was under a cloud But he ought not TO
have been allowed his liberty, since he
was not competent TO exercise IL. Had
he been clothed in his right mind, 1
know he would not have been so cruel
as 20 MAIN our child.
An, mel
After a night Of such torment as can
never be realized except through bitter
personal experience, had risen early,
to prepare our meal as best could, and
was having the difficulty with my hus-
bands favorite dish Of oat meal porridge
which untaught beginners are very apt
10 encounter fn their first attempts, be-
cause I had failed to stir il properly;
and il had burned fast to the edges aud
bottom Of the kettle, and filled the air
with a sitting odor against which my
rebellious stomach revolted until felt
sick unto death. / was engaged in
retching and gasping, and certainly
needed nurse, of whom it was sheer
barbarism 10 deprive me, when sud
denly I heard a terrified baby wall,
sharp and staccato, like explosive and
expiring agony.
rushed TO the parlor IN alarm, and
Instantly forgot my ailments in the
prospect before me. My baby had risen
from his bed, and had been pattering
with bis chubby, naked feet about the
floor. Ny husband, in watching him,
had noticed his likeness TO the man ]
loathed, and i'm his frenzy be bad dealt
him a dreadful blow. And there he lay,
my precious baby, quiveriug in every
nerve, while a pool OF blood was gather
ing from bis broken nose upon the floor.
"Gerald, what have you done -
walled, as in my trembling hands I
seized my quivering child.
"Beat the Chalmers complexion out
Of the bratr' was the awful response,
accompanied by an oath that was in it,
self blood curdling.
] thought our child was murdered out
right For a long time be showed no
signs Of life, and I washed the red life
blood from his wounded face in speech
less anguish.
Think my husband was shocked and
sobered by his cruel conduct. He aros'
from his bed, half dressed himself anC
started for Dr. Suydenbam, who, as
knew, lad spent the night at the par
souage with his son.
In little while the grand old docto
was bending with me over my poo
MANNED infant, applying restoratives Il
. his broken features, and assisting m
/ with words of consolation inexpressibl.
valuable to my stricken spirit.
Societies for the prevention Of eruelt
to animals have long been justly re
garded as Of exceeding importance i
the advancement OF human civilization
hut a society for the prevention Of posi-
ble cruelty TO the wives and children q
the enraged inebriate has yet 20 be iu
augurated.
Had Mrs. Motley been permitted
act according 20 the dictates Of her ow
conscience, she would not have permit
ted me TO he left alone with my child i
such a situation. But alas for the gent
iue liberty Of the average woman, on
thus free, and yet married, is an anon
. ally indeed
For long time ! watched the doctC
with almost breathless interest. Icoul
not weep or lament. was stuune,
and almost paralyzed.
"WiH he live ." 1 asked, at last, 9
my baby gasped and gave utterance to
feeble moan.
Dr. Suydenham shook his head.
"Then Gerald is a murderer Of tl
blacklist dyew 1 said, my voice haI
and cold, aud my frame all a-trem'
with grief, anger, excitement, and il
: jury.
''No, little one; not quite so bad
= that" replied the doctor, signing al
o still shaking his head ''The child vi
. always be disfgured somewhat, but .
r will not die, neither will be be a hop
D less idiot. But his reason is impair,
lin some degree. Too bad too bad %
e I sat as one tuEned TO stone. Width
o could go, or what might l do? Cou
y I possibly remain longer under the 70
u where there was no protection for me
,, my child? Could 1 serve and suffer 8
= my life, unable to help myself and a
ways doomed TO a lot like this?
T. All, met
u / could not help myself.
e. What could do, IL should attem
= to go out to service, with my delica
C condition aud brief experience, and e
$ numbered with this helpless babe ?i'
y said, aloud, when the doctors back v
to turned TO mix a lotion for the bah,
ID wounds.