The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-01

lily belongs Of right to your husband. II
you encroach upon his domain OF
money getting, he will eorrespondingly
lean, just as you will lean upon his en-
deavors, as of right you should, if you
depend upon him for the means Of sub
sistence. Il is the husbands province
to provide the raw material for your
family's domestic comfort. See TO IL
that you do not spoil him by furnishing
him with the support that nature in
tended him 20 supply for you and your
children" But it took long years Of
bitter experience to teach me this.
Let me see. Where was I? Oh, yes;
I was telling about my first quarrel.
"What do you intend to do now, Ger
aid Grey ?" 1 cried again, aud for the
moment I felt like Delaying him with
my rolling-pin.
"The first thing is to give possession,
of course" he answered, with a suiflie.
"And where shall We go?'
"You must decide, Ethel"
81 lcon'tr'
Gerald was astounded.
"What is the matter with you to-
day ?" he asked, bis voice betraying his
astonishment.
"Nothing is the matter, sir, except
that have made my last effort"
Wbatgr
AZ am resolved to let you earn the liv-
ing" said, condescendingly.
"Then, damn me, I'll go again and
get drlukg / resolved to-day that
would reform, aud 1 stayed at home on
purpose TO keep my pledge; but find
| I'm tied 10 such an abominable vixen
that must drink in self-defense. Re
member, Ethel, you have driven me to
the wall. 1t is the last feather that
breaks the camels back"
With this he started down the street,
the picture of selfjustified guilt aud
! self-complacent misery.
/ did not look for him to return for a
week. Indeed, be frequently remained
away for a fortnight. knew he was
going to the village to get drunk, but
was glad Of the release from his presence
that prolonged spree would bring me.
Good reader I know that you are
shocked; but never mind; so am I.
For while after his departure sat
/ perfectly apathetic and silent, not car
ing whether I lived or died. But the
clamor of my dependent little ones soon
brought me back to all the real miseries
Of my warped existence.
[ It was nearing my babies bedtime;
/ the cows were coming home, and the
older girls and were to do the milking,
as usual, aud two strangers called while
we were in the midst of it, to seek food
and lodging for the night.
Very mechanically I performed my
tasks, aud at a late hour retired to my
simple couch in the spirit Of calm indif-
ference induced by desperation. For d
J little while I slept from sheer exhaus.
] tion, and then awoke 70 ponder ovel
= the situation, aud found myself in fal
J different frame Of mind from that which
e had induced me to say such desperat,
D things as l had hurled at my poor hus
Q band.
e very well knew that Gerald was tn
helpless victim Of a fell disease that no
] only attacked his body, but blighted hi
spirit, and so blurred his natural sens
e Of honor that he really was not morall
, responsible for his conduct.
"And yet" I asked myself, "wha
e right have to endure so much degra
= dation aud sorrow on his account? Ha
be not violated the entire spirit aud lei
) ter Of the contract by which he too
upon himself the obligation to prOvid
} for and protect me ."
1 resolved that I would no longer er
{ dure my lot. I would rise up in m
: majesty Of selfhood and be my ow
{ master Ny own halfsection, or thre
D hundred and twenty acres Of unim
: proved land, was legacy with whic
{ the first foreshadowing Of woman
} rights had induced an able Congress:
= man to endow pioneer women, and
lay there, adjoining the half-seetio
o upon which our poor Improvements lay
under a wise legal provision that pr,
= vented its being sold for the husband
debts.
d / decided at once that would remOv
It my household chattels to my own rei
e estate, and set up for myself in a HON
It Of which no husband could deprive no,
i Then, when was able, could volur
Ie tarily care for Gerald, but would nev,
'r be in subjection to him again.
le By morning my plans were all m,
l. tured. Hurriedly getting my breakfai
Is over, and informing my daughters Of m
u intent, we all set to work diligently
T. prepare for our removal. I knew Y
might remain where we were for a Sc,
te sou, under the law, before we should
y ousted by a writ Of ejeetment; but d
y not care to avail myself Of this doubtf
Of benefit.
lie An old military tent had once he,
au lett at our house by party Of pleasur
H. seekers, and, the weather being war,
ter we resolved to abide in that ,fu ,
il could build a cabin.
he We had rickety wagon and a an
ere Of Indian mares for a team, and a hs
ID, dozen cows which had not yet, so far
lse knew, been pledged for intoxicau
ST. These, with few farming implemen