The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-01
CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XXI
After the funeral services were over,
the sorrowiDg mourners returned to the
home Of Captain Emerson, which was
now five years older, and OF course yell
lower and dingier and more dilapidated
by just five years than when the reader
saw it first. Here a long parley was
held as TO the proper disposition OF the
motherless children OF John Anders.
The idea that their father should have
been their custodian, as their only sur
viving parent, did not once occur to any
member Of either family, much less did
the possibility OF such proceeding pre-
sent itself to John Anders.
Most men are utterly helpless when
there is a prospect Of their becoming the
sole protectors OF little children. And
this is well. Nature has assigned that
work to woman. Let her be protected,
blessed and properly sustained in that
domain, and she will voluntarily seek
no other
Mrs. Anders, mere, dear, apple faced,
pains-taking, kind-hearted housewife
that she was, was the first to make q
decided move on the checker board Of
speculative maternal philosophy.
''At my time Of life couIdD't think
of being burdened with children" she
said, earnestly, "and yet, can't see
how they are to get on, poor dears."
"If everybody'd talk and act like that,
il lgOuld be a bard skein for Johns
young ones to unravel," )" Indignantly re-
piled Mrs. Emerson.
Mrs. Anders did not appear to notice
this palpable hit.
'I can take John home, and care for
him, just the same as before poor Lille
died" she continued. 'Tndeed, I've
often pitied the poor fellow. He's had a
hard time, being broke Of rest nights,
aud waiting 50 much on a siekly. uerv-
Gus wife"
"He looks as II matrimony had gone
hard with him, poor fellowr' exclaimed
Grace, her lip curled in disdaiu.
John bowed his head and blushed
deeply.
Newer mind what mother says he
replied, deprecatingly. 81 was always
the only child, you know"
"Yes, know; aud I've ofles thought
it a great pity that your wife couldn't
have been transformed into one Of your
mothers house-eats, so she might have
grown as sleek and comfortable under
her tutelage as you aud the cats have
done"
"Grace ~
It was Captain Emerson's time to
speak.
"What, father?"
ppm amazed to hear you express
yourself like that. There's no better
man lives than John Anders. and you
mustn't hout him or his mother in my
house. I've had opportunity during the
past five years TO note his conduct care
fully, and I say here, to his face, that
esteem and love him for his uniform
good behavior. He is rigidly moral and
strictly honest-nevers swears, never gets
drunk or cross, and has never cheated
me or any other man ont OF dollar. It
doesn't become you to put on too many
airs about husbands, Grace"
"If husband is to be judged as such
only by his dealings with the world, or
with his father-in-law, l suppose you
have the best Of the argument" retail
ated Grace, Though in the simplicity Of
my soul had imagined that a wife was
Of more consequence to a good husband
than all else in existence. am judg-
ing my brother-in-lsw as a husband by
the result Of his experiment as such.
sum mp like this; Five years; four ba-
bies; buried wife"
81 was always kind and forbearing
with Lille. I never was bad has
band" cried John; "my mother will tell
you So"
II know" said Grace, "you never
whipped your wife; you never starved
her; you never turned her out of doors.
You let her have all the clean clothes
for the use Of yourself and the children
that she could make and wash and
mend; you gave her enough to eat, from
the food she prepared three times daily
for your large household to keep her
from starving, and you'd have been a
fool to turn her out Of doors If you had
wanted to, seeing she bad to be inside
most Of the time to do all that work -
Grace expected that he would grow
angry, but be didn't. John Anders had
a conscience, and it was beginning to
awaken rapidly under her vigorous
treatment. He bowed his head upon
his hands and wept aloud.
"Before I'd submit TO any such rak-
ing from any woman, I'd give her a
piece of my mind, even If she l0Gs my
dead wife's sisterp exclaimed Mrs. An
ders, in one of the most decided speeches
she had ever INDUCED in her life.
II deserve it all, aud like Grace all
the more for speaking the truth so fear
lessly," was the humble rejoinder.
"Then," said Grace, "let US proceed 10
business. Now that you know why
your children are motherless, and are