The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-11-14

I'd Oh iAA NAff
year ls7S, by Mrs A. ]. Duniway. in the office Of
the Librarian OF Congress at Washington City-l
CHAPTER VII
While it is proverbially true that
youug girls are easily captured 10y hand
some clothes, and tender speeches Of
comparatively enemiuate men, it is
true that middle-aged women usually
exhibit. when free TO choose at all, a
decided preference for strength Of char
acter and physique in the sterner sex.
We have seen that Mrs Emerson's good
sense asserted itself in the beginning Of
her acquaintance with Alonzo Snow
deu, for she at that time estimated
him at his real worth. And we have
also seen that be adroitly insinuated
himself into her good graees through a
skillful play upon her most cherished
memories, and easily made her a crea-
ture Of his will. But, when he was
we'll out Of sight and hearing, and
she had had time 10 reflect a little,
the good woman felt the full force of
her own folly in having allowed herself
TO be so readily captured by his oily
speeches.
But it was too late to retreat now, she
thought. She had given her word, aud
her simple word was as binding always
AS anybody's oath. So she would make
the best Of il, and maybe she could
always hold and guide him through his
love for her. Her natural affection for
her daughters was inexpressibly tender.
She bad long looked forward to matri-
mony as one Of the inevitable cOuse-
quences Of their existence, but it had
been her chief endeavor 10 so manage
that when such alliance should come,
she would not, in its consummatiOn, be
deprived Of her children's society. But
now that the wedding day was fixed,
and she would be permitted to have and
hold her rdaughters as her very own for
only one remaining little month, dur
ing the major half Of which the Captain
would be away from -me on official
business, she fairly counted the precious
minutes as they glided past.
a country wedding Is an occasion %!
general merry-making. Everybody ia
the range Of the brides or groom's ac-
quaintauce Is offended unless numbered
among the guests. The work Of pre-
pairing the feast is "a laborious one, COM
pared 10 which such labor in a city
home is hut as child's play. The house
wife must be at once her own gardener
dairy maid, butcher, baker and confec-
toner. There is no chance to ordel
what is needed from regular venders
and If there were, the woman wh'
would OF could indulge the alleged ex
travagance would be the theme Of III
natured gossip among the less forlunat
neighbors for an ensuing twelve-month
Mrs. Emerson toiled like a gale.
re, in the barn-yard, garden an
hen, while Lille and Grace pile
tbeir deft and busy fingers over a ward
robe that was TO be the envy Of ever
rustic maiden in all the region Toun
about
no woman in all the country coul
rival Mrs. Emerson i'm the culinary ar
when she chose 10 set her mind to
aud do her best. Such pyramids {
cake. such loaves Of snowy bread an
rolls OF golden butter, such jellies an
tarts, and custards and ices; such pickle,
ebow-chow aud condiments unnamablt
such roast turkey aud chicken salad
such pies, preserves and marmalades a
she would furnish for that weddiu
feast, would be the envy Of the entiT
neighborhood, aud the nine days won
der when the wedding should be owe
When Mrs. Emerson was alone wit
Lille, she would confide to her sue
doubts and misgivings coucerniu
Grace's future a. most heavily oppresse
her, and when alone with Grace, sh
would not hesitate 10 relieve her min
OF a portion Of her solicitude for Lille
happiness. But, one day, when Ii
momentous wedding was drawing ver
near, and some of the unfinished mouI
taius Of pastry cooking loomed up 70
midably before the patient, willin
drudge Grace was called from her d
liberatious over her tucked and rufle
bridal robe Of white muslin, to assist
beating eggs for iceing. She obeye
reluctantly.
81 see no kind Of use in all This IN,
and nonsense, mother" she said. usiu
the beater in a savage way, indieati,
OF future war upon what she evidentl
considered unnecessary culinary labo
.ICs the last thing I'll have al
chance to do for you, child, and Wa
10 make the very best display / ca
afore you belong TO somebody else"
piled the mother.
81 Idou't need forty barrels o. victui
TO get married OF" was thesnappish
joiuder.
"But yoa know, child, there'll be
heap O. people here"
Bother the people. If you'd be Sc
sible, you'd make no display over /
wedding except TO re-furnish that din
sittiug-room, and brighten the {
house up everywhere, and that oug
TO be done if nobody ever magi
l really don't belive in stufiing