The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-15


no reply.
81 should like employment" he con-
tinued. hurriedly, "and you will pardon
me, but do not think it safe for you to
remain here alone with your family,
with your husband in his present eondi-
ton"
81 have no money to pay laborer'
sir. You are very kind, but l prefer
getting along as we are"
"But want no wages until our labors
shall produce them" he replied,
promptly. "Indeed, ! am possessed Of a
few hundreds, with which / will pur-
chase stock and farming implements. ]
wish 10 homestead a claim adjoining
this one, and realize my need Of asso-
citation with a worthy family. II you
are willing to employ me, will engage
myself to you for one year, at fifty dol
lars per month and board, and I will in
vest the little money possess in sheep,
cattle, a span Of horses, and some farm
ing implements. The live stock you
can hold on shares, all their service and
one-half the increase to be yours at the
end OF two years, and the machinery to
belong to you as fast as you may be able
TO pay for it. Pardon me II I seem
abrupt, but the teams are going, aud II
we do not close our bargain, I will ac-
company them"
"Do hire him, mother" said two Of
the girls; but Ethel, whom knew to be
more deeply interested than the others,
was silent.
Again I remembered the old happi-
ness that once had crowned me, aud
hardly knowing why l did it, 1 ex-
claimed:
81 accept your offer, sir. We shall be
very glad to have you.n
He bowed deferentially and turned to
the wagon to secure his travelling bag,
while I, overcome with emotion, clasped
Ethel to my bosom, and inwardly
prayed the great Father TO shield and
guide her.
The dear child returned my fond en-
brace for an instant, aud then addressed
herself TO her duties, her lips compressed
with intense feeling.
"My name,n quantity remarked our
new dttache, "is McDonald-G George
Mcdonald. am a native Of New
Brunswick, but I have lived so much
among the New England people that
readily pass for a downright Yankee.
am somewhat given to asking ques-
tions. Will you he kind enough to iu-
troduce yourself 10 me, madam am
curious to learn your name"
extended my hand laughingly.
"Our name is Grey, Mr.. Mcdonald.
Allow me to present my daughter, Miss
Grey, and Miss Alice. And these are
the younger Misses Grey" Indicating
the smaller children.
The ice was broken now, and we were
all friends.
If ever l knew one man who proved
superior to all others, as a fdctottm and
a gentleman, that man was George
Mcdonald. He fulfilled his part Of our
contract to the very letter, aud to ouI
complete satisfaction.
/ As usual, Gerald took but little notice
OF our affairs, and paid no attention tc
procuring the means Of our common
livelihood. I had so many times LOST
my entire earnings through the techni.
calities Of a legal system that CAV,
every advantage into the unrestrainet
hands Of my husband, that 1 was now
resolved to guard against his futur,
. power to rob me OF my hard-earned pos
sessions. So laid the case before ml
hired man, only to find that, because
} was a wife, aud therefore not the hea.
5 of family-heaven save the mark
had no homestead rights, and coul
have no hope Of any, because I was nc
widow.
Good reader, eau you pardon me vine
% declare that I most devoutly wishe
r that could be a widow? Would 20
not, under the same conditions, has
: been troubled with "a like longing?
How long will men continue in I'll
/ manufacture and enforcement Of law
+ that place a premium upon the ind'
z pendent condition Of widowhood as con
pared to wifehood ? ! know it is a yer
r common thing for men to sympathi1
I with widows. Permit me to declal
TO YOU that my deepest sympi
r thies are expended upon those unfort'
nate wives who desire widOwhood in o
2 der that they may be free to proviC
D themselves and children with a home
e their own earning, from which no in
: provident husband may have the rigl
to Dust them through debts of his ow
r contracting.