The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1880-05-28
sronr or a WHITE sLAyE.

A farmhouse kitchen, wide and
pleasant, the Spring sunshine lying in
bright squares ON the glossy floor, and
the wind out Of tho old apple orchard,
and the long line of snowy cherry trees,
drifting in at the open door, with its
delicious perfume and breezy breath. A
woman stands at the table, on which
arc piled the freshly-baked loaves,
brown and fragrant--a woman no long
er young, but whose hair is plentifully
sprinkled with gray and whose form is
visibly bent, as if from the weight Of
years. And yet she has seen but forty
years, albeit years that could but "leave
their traces on heart and brain, 30 full
have they been crowded with the bur
dens that, once borne, leave their inef-
faeeablc impress for all time 10 come.
She has been fair once. IL you doubt
it look at the blooming girl who enters
from the porch, with ripping, FURNISHED
hair and glad, blue eyes-the image OF
her mother, they call her, as that moth
er looked twenty years ago. You have
seen two roses ON their parent stem, one
with its creamy heart, rich and fra
grant, just opening to the kiss OF the
June sun the other, little lower
down, faded, withered, and Will. scent
less leaves, sadly folding from the light
aud dew, neither Of which is able to
renew its life and beauty. You have
noted the contrast, and yet have not
doubted that the dying flower, in It's
hey9ey and morn Of blossoming. was
equally sweet and glorious with the
now unfolding one. And il Lillian
Grey is lovely and full Of woman's
promise, no less 50 was Miriam Grey,
standing in the May sunlight score Of
years agone. The elder woman looks
at the young girl with an inefIable look
Of love and yearl.ing in her faded eyes.
Lille" she fays tenderly, g fin
ished your dress last night except the
lace at the neck and wrists, M you can
have II 10 wear this afternoon"
"Why, mamma" answered Lille
Grey, Il had intended TO wear some
other did not wish yon 10 sit M
when yos were so tired. You know
did not.
''Bat wished you to have 1t, dear"
her mother said fondly.I '.Ths otlier
girlswi lie in white. aud csulJ not bear
that yon should be disappointed"
Her daughter went np to her, and
putting her arms around her neck kissed
her pale mouth tenderly II was iit.
tie deed, bat l. sweetened the whole
weary dry Of toll for Miriam Grey.
''You bad better dress belufe dinner,
Lille" her mother resumed, Z" 81 as To
be ready when they call Tor you.
% | will help you first about tile din-
ner." the girl replied.
But her mother put her by with the
assurance that she could do quite well
alone Aud so the thoughtless though
really ullselfsh girl LEFT the kitchen, aud
tripping to her own little chamber, be-
gan her simple toilet; while her moth
er, flushed and weary, bent above the
glowing range, and hurried TO aDd fro.
from pan'ry 10 cellar, and from store
room to table, in her preparations fol
the midday meal
| Hurried yes, she WAS always hurry
ing 10 and flO ia this domain she bad
hurriesi for many sears, would hurry
still, hO doubt, until some day when the
power was gone, aud the reaction came.
and the worIsoUt machine refused TO
longer perform its accustomed furetions
Then the hurry would bc over.
Farmer Grey came in fom tie field
flushed and heated, his great hrawhy
frame in striking contrast 10 tlir hlcn,lrr
figure "f the woman, who ilittri Aisu',
" lille Ia. vs,lrt,f ut the great sink ia
tie corner, AMI then nsked the strr'-,-
typed qaestion
=. Is dinner ready T.
''Yrs." she answered qnieaIg. 'You
can call iht. men. sf fsas ft
And without one smile for he weary
face at the table opposite his own, with
ont taking note that her own plate Of
food Was scsseely tonehel, John Grey
ate his hearty. well-eookel meal. in 81
lence, and when he had finished, rose
from the table, followed by his fam
hands, and went ont. At the porch he
turned back. b.s- .t-s9 .4s
'You'n have to help me milk to-
night, Miriam, he called out. 81 dsn't
want TO stop the teams as long as we
can see to work, in this harrying time.
It was rarely that the patient woman
demonstrated with her lords dictations.
Bat this time vision Of. the. labor to
be performed that afternoon rose before
her and she said meekly:
e'I hardly see how I can, John, as
Lillian is going away and win not be
here to help me about the supper"
keep her at home then, ;" he said
gruiily. "Our work can't be put of for
her to run the roads"
Which elegant harangue was simply
equivalent TO a reiteration Of the previ.
ously pTerOdnce,l e.licf. After the ta-
tle. was CLEARED Liiailf left With the gay
party Of ''picknickels" who called for
her, and Mrs. Grey, after seeing her off,
came back to her domain with the old
weary look on her face, and resumed
her toll She had failed to finish the
weeks ironing in the forenoon, owing
to few little hinderances, such as the
skimming Of hundred pans Of milk,
and the washing Of the milk pans, the
working and packing of a tub Of golden
butter Mrs. Grey's butter was excel
lent, and well it might be, she worked
so much of her life away in its produc-
tion), the washing and dressing of the
children for school, the chamber work
and washing of dishes for large house
hold, to say nothing of the thousand
little trifles sandwiched between, each
! withlits complement of a dozen steps or