The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-08


There IS 10 more dangerous prospect
I'm store FOR any person than that Of a
large inheritance. No mater whether
10 De d prospective legacy which there is
no hope Of gaining except through the
death Of a friend; no matter II it con-
sist in broad, Unauitfui acres, such as
; had cursed tie early existence Of the
Hardines and Ing'etons, causing them
TO live in poverty aud inaction while
awaiting a prospective rise in their
lands; no matter whether the looked
for advantage be 10 a rise 10 stocks, or
grain, CT corn, or gold, IL it is a legacy
for which the legatee has given no
"value received" and expects to give
none, It's anticipation is always a curse
rather than q blessing.
From tie hour when Peter Tubbs
knew that Mrs. Hardine's will was re-
corded in favor OF bis wife. his only oc-
cuPation was gossip, his only ambition
bis wifs's looked-for legacy, and his
only anticipation the prospective death
Of bis motLer-in-law.
3Irs. Tubbs would not allow her hus.
band to refer 70 tie will in her presence.
The idea that be would be enriched
through Eer mothers death, and thereby
empowered, through patrimony which
be had not earned, TO possess a legacy
that she knew he would control to suit
himself leaving her, If possible, even
Too-er than before, since all the care
and work and worry would be hers, aud
ai! the power and privilege his own, was
90 her 90 rePuguaut that any allusion to
> B.. made her furious; aud, after q few at
temp.s on bis par. % urge her 20 de-
maud immediate possession Of what he
termed cher rights" his prudence got
the better Of esgerness, aud drove him
% the ale-houses aud street corners for
sympathy and comfort. I 30 not pre-
tend % say that Mrs. Tubbs was angelic
or even obedient I'm this display Of de-
termination and temper; but DO say
her coudGc- WAS jls,idsble under the
circumstances. Tie world must Vet
learn that it is not any womau's duty to
sacrifice her Individual sense Of right
and Justice, and thereby cruelty her own
spirit, 90 save any man from the ale
house who is not worth saving; and,
though hazard my own popularity by
stating my honest convictions, I never
theiess -uuhesiJatingly declare that no
man is worth saving from a druukard's
grave whose salvation depends upon the
destruction Of his wile's sense Of honor
or her innate selfrespect. The world
has bad enosgh OF this maudlin souti-
mentality. Let the idea that it Is a
womau's duty TO not only wear out her
life, but 20 immoiaie her sense Of justice
aud right upon the altar Of conjugality,
20 prevent worthless husband from
making beast Of himself, be exploded
az quickly as possible. Is a mans char
= acter SO much better than a womau's
that she should cruelty herself soul aud
body, TO save him? II so, why so?
when Peter Tubhs began 10 ipple, he
haino thought OF becoming a druukarI.
But the news Of his expected legacy flew
RAPIDLY from one groegery to another,
ana irieuds-to bis prospects-grew so
plenty and otlicious that he was rarely
left without their society. Being con-
siantly under their Influence, aud conse-
queutiy, by a mutual understanding
among liquor venders, continually kept
in state Of semi-intoxication, it was
not long till even his one grace Of sober
ness was a thing Of the past
His wife, absorbed in the hauc-to-
hand struggle for a subsistence that il is
the duty Of every man to furnish for the
mother OF his children as his share Of a
mutual burden, was only too glad to be
rio Of bis Undesirable presence and inter
mittent gabhle, 10 which she had for
years been Subjected around the cooking
stove. Judged by The worlds ideal
standard Of womauly lfsacriliee, my
heroine was wholly blamew0rthy. But
tuIged as believe that you, goo,
reader, have the practical sense 10 judg,
her, she was wholly consistent an
seusibly human. Self preservation il
The first law OF nature, and 7 shall d,
my humble part while life lasts 20 lea,
the world 20 consider this principle a
equally applicable TO men as women.
Peter 1Ubbs came in TO his supper on
evening in a roaring state OF intoxicate
hilarity.
"B b-b-y Cd, mother, The ole WON
ans d-d-dead at last % be exclaimed, j.
maudlin way. '.Au' we're rich a
c-c-cream a foot thick. No more hsa
t.t-umes for Peter TuJbs-eh, q
gal %
gPeter, what are you talking about p
cried bis wife, pausing in her work q
dishing up hearty meal FOR her board
ers. "Surely my dear mother IS 30
dead ."
"B- b-but 1 say she Isl d d-deader
a door NALL Aud Peter T-T-Tubbs is
rich man! Got a big farm, lots ,
c-e-cattle an horses, an ten thousan' i
b-b-bank stock Hooray! Hallelujah
Ole womau's dead, by thunder! Goo
riddance to bad rubbage-eh, Lie"