The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-21
VOLUME VIII.

But it is 40 wonder" she thought,
a. they separated far the night, "when
the parents are so harmonious aud
happy, so perfectly suited 10 one au-
other, and 50 utterly unscli~h aud de-
I voted to the good of those about them.
Oh, Il all could and would live ns they
do, in such harmony with The laws ~
our being that il can scarcely he called
obedience, there would be little SIN, sor-
row and grief"
The usual festivities being over,
Charles, the eldest, who was, like his
father, physician, hurried back to his
patients, in an inland town, leaving his
gentle wife anj merry children to enjoy
a weeks visit at grandpa's.
George, the next son, was a comforta-
bly, settled farmer, living not very far
from the city. The luscious Jersey
peaches, with many other good things
the city family enjoyed every Summer.
came from his neat, thrifty, well-ordered
home, where flowers, books and music
divided the attention Of his sprightly,
Intelligent wife and himself with crops,
cattle and chickens, and the household
cares were lightened by suitable help,
as well as needed labor-saving imple-
ments. His wife laughingly told how
his face clouded up with Indignation
one day when an over-wOrked neighbor
woman, whose husbands farm was per-
ha.s fy-r.. a1 D, rrro ~ HE s.4 .l1.-..
wearily in their bright, cosy sitting
room and sighed: ooh, If I could only
have things like you do, 1 wouldn't
mind; but husband says be can't afford
it, and don't see how you can, either,
il costs so much to live, and prices are
so low nowadays"
"Well," George said, ''if / eau afford
20 buy tools for my own sake, can for
my wife's use too. She needs them just
as much as I do. have to have help
90 do my work because there is more
than one man can do without killing
himself, aud my wife has to have help
for the same reason. Il doesn't cost any
more for help during the time Of year
she needs it than it would cost me for
drinks and cigars during the year. But
don't drink and ! don't smoke, so !
can afford il, you see"
Then Mrs. George, afraid the poor
woman's feelings were hurt about her
husband, said, quietly:
"And then we dress very plainly, too,
and put what we save into pictures and
books, because we love them, aud they
30 rs and the children good. So YOU
see we don't really spend any more than
our neighbor=, for we don't have it to
spend"
"Well, dunno, " said the tired WON
an, smoothing down the folds of her
tiashy dress. 81 s'pose he couldn't get
along nohow without his likker and to-
hacker, and I like TO dress up when I
90 anywhere because I can't at home,
with all them children and pigs and
chickens to see to, aud all the other
work to DO, and hired hands, and no.
body but me to 80 it."
"Then," said Nrs George, with
bright look at her husband, eve gave il
up, and began the usual round Of in
quiries about potaioes, cabbages, etc;
at least, did, for George went of, and
that woman sat and told about how long
it took her TO rufIie and fiounce the
children's Sunday clothes, and how one
fell into the hog-pen when they came
home from church the first time the
clothes were worn, and how all the rest
got splashed and spattered in getting
her out, aud all the fine clothes were
ruined, until really got clear out Of pa
tience, and was thankful when it was
time to get dinner for the poor, sickly-
looking children who have no mother
to care for them and train them. but
only faithful, ignorant drudge TO work
for them"
Elinor listened to this talk with great
interest, and thought thai the two rosy,
happy children playing with grandpa
would never reproach their pleasant
mother with neglecting their education
and culture for the sake of seuseless
iuery, though they were dressed pret-
tily and, above all, comfortably.
But George Duff and his pretty wife
have gone back, with their romping
to their pleasant home, taking
with them a promise from AUNT Eli
nor" as Charley and jamie named her
the first time they saw her, to come and
make them visit i'm strawberry time,
for she had never been there. The little
boys thought almost as much Of coming
to see AUNT Elinor' as grandma, and
it was not for lack Of warm invitations
from their parents as well as themselves
that she bad not gone. It was only that
she did not as yet care to go anywhere
or interrupt, even for day, the work
and study she had undertaken.
Henry Duff was thriving merchant
n Western town and he and his fam
.'y seemed 10 Eiinor during their osief
stay Co De as good aud kind and iutelii-
gent az those Of the family "a lom
she was better acquainted
Walter, the Youngest. was an earnest,
enthusiastic iibsraI-minded whole
souled young minister "a man after her
own leart" Loving truth, wherever
he found it; hating cant and hypocrisy
as he did vileness aud oppression, he
spoEe out 10 ringing denunciatiou Of
aii forms and manifestations OF evil 10
men with a force aud energy that car
ried conviction 10 many heart, and