The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-15

Burns, and Byron, whom all intellect
nal Europe had been discussing for a
time. but of whom had seldom heard,
exeept in vague, uncertain way that
had given me no practical information.
NV father was always too deeply i'm
mersed in the bread, rent, and potato
question to provide his humble home
with periodicals., and even a newspaper
was a luxury seldom INDUCED. It was
strange that had learned to read; but
it had been my mothers doing. Heaven
bless her memory.
"Was Byron an inventor ?' I asked,
innocently, as We sat at table.
Elder Chalmers coughed, Mr.. Motley
laughed, Gerald. my own Incompatible
prodigy of erudition, blushed, and felt
as if l had committed breach Of pro-
priety thoroughly objectionable, but to
me wholly misunderstood.
I burst into tears and left the table
It was seven bells, but in the longitude
where we lay becalmed the long day
was not vet waning. l wandered aft to
the little awning where Mrs. Chalmers
and I had often sat, and leaning my
head upon the railing, wept immoder-
ately. 1 looked for Gerald to come and
join me. Not that felt I deserved the
attention, for I was painfully conscious
OF my own unwOrthiness; but he had
made so many precious, precious prom
ises to love, protect, aud cherish me
that believed it was his sacred duty to
fulfill his VOWS. waited long, but he
did not come sobbed myself into a
state of extreme exhaustion, and then
lay against the railing, hushed and still,
but desperately resolved upon suicide.
What a state Of mind for a child Of
fifteen, ignorant of herself, ignorant Of
books, married, desperately in love
with man beside whom she felt herself
a pigmy, and, withal, destined in the
coming months to be a mother.
"Don't worry over your mistake, little
woman" said Mrs. Chalmers, coming
up so softly that had not noticed her
approach. colder persons have be-
trayed greater ignorance; and / some
times listen to your artless, natural way
Of stating facts that ought to be patent
ITO the whole world and are not, and
wish the learned ones were half as wise
as yourself"
"Will you say that before Gerald?"
Ah, me- it was a terrible humiliation
that prompted me to make a request
like that.
81 have said it, you dear little budget
T of innocence. And let me tell you, here
and now, my child-woman, that il is
your duty to assert yourself Your hus-
band is a walking epitOme Of knowl-
edge, and so is mine. You are ignorant of
many things, and so am I. But have
considerable knowledge of books, while
you have much understanding Of the
primal laws Of nature. Let US instruct
each other"
, 'Tinstruct you? o, Mrs. Chalmers"i
"Yes, dear"
'But 1 do not know dIlythingg
"On the contrary, you are prodigy
> 'NOw you are teasing me-"
Z. 81 never was more thoroughly in ear
u nest in my life"
: With this she patted me gently OF
u the cheek and kissed me so tenderl,
that could not doubt her.
e "What can teach you, pray? ?"
: asked, wonderingly.
y ''You can renew the fresh, crisp, nat
= ural ideas that God has implanted il
2 every human soul, which the glamor q
J. a conventional education mas encruste
u with artificial nonsense. Like you,
y used to muse and ponder much over th
divine rights Of kings, mobiles, priests
b and magistrates. I used to wonder an
! inquire why it was that nineteen-twen
d tieths of the people must be kept in ie
Is noranee and toll. to support the fraC
y tional twentieth in luxury and idlenes'
y You don't talk much in the presence {
l' your husband, but you often speak lik
OF an oracle when you are alone with me-
ID / was getting interested. Was it po,
Or sible that anybody could discover inte
T, lectual truth and power in an unlettere
OF child like me?
"Now, dearie," continued my frieni
D. ''I want you to read authors, poets, an
N critics, and study them carefully, tho
as oughly. Then I want your opinion
re them. You have an original way
e. stating, comparing, and expressir
&; thoughts that is more refreshing and il
he structive than you imagine. But r
er member to always assert yourself in Il
presence Of your husband"
r "Then I should say-yOu will pardC
lie me-physician, heal thyself."
le Mrs. Chalmers blushed and laughe
ht and then grew serious and confiding.
"The Elder is a different style Of ge
e- tleman from the Captain, dear. He bas
a his austerity upon religious ground
-, and be absolutely freezes me with b
IL piety, even in the tropics. Sometim
''a 'a l fear that shall learn to hate pio
ul, people"
80, Mrs. Chalmers! And God is
I'VE good, toor'
%. =, Then why doesn't be answer prayer
'hu "He does.r
sea Then I should like some evidanoe
the it," nc 'O"ie e'iuence
why, only day or two before 7 L
LOST home, when l was busy raking hav
me my fathers meadow, prayed the =
veil to send me hare for my mothers 81
,tu- per, and he answered me. He sent