The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-04
HARRY HARCOURT'S DREAM.
BY ABIGAIL SCOTT DUNIwAY.

,ry Harcourt was not given to dreaming on
sry occasions; in fact, he seldom dreamt at
r he was sound sleeper, with a stomach
n alligator's and conscience ike a baby's.
,,s,- conscience and good digestion the
promoters of healthy sleep the world over and
not wonder that Harry Harcourt slept we'll
.rv Harcourt had hobby. Most practical
.rd impractical people have hobbies. My hero's
rr was the imaginary financial political, legal
very way possible superiority of mems re-
Utilities over womens duties in raising
and providing for the household.
N. Harcourt was a pale little with
mily Pale little women are very apt to be
1o ers of big families. They like decaying
exceedingly fruitful because of their
u position TO early death.
Er- Harcourt's children were boys, ruddy, roll
ackg, jolly little romping fellows, whose knees
would peep through their trousers and whose ell
bov would get ragged in spite of their pale moth
~ atiring assiduity
I had nothing more to do than you have
1Ir Harcourt, am sure l could keep the chill
dire jackets and trousers in orderv said Harry
IIare1urt, day, when Ben and Billy came
Iush lg into the great UNFINISHED farmhouse,
driving a tandem team of the other boys, and
.7.a ng mud upon the newly-mopped floor.
Th. boys walked the baby, who had just fallen
aisle after an hour of incessant rocking while
tn other had wearily piled herneedle; and they
u her work basket in a heap they galloped
- the room IN high glee.
Tarry always said Mrs. Harcourt'' whom he
-le3a5 to be extremely digniied.
N Harcourt was not always as meek as she
l. as her husband had many a time di-cov-
% his cost. She had a viii of her own when
d, and Harry Harcourt had once more un-
ely aroused her by riding his strongest
directly athwart her sense of justice when
as nervous from over-exertion.
had nothing more to do than YOU have Mr.
purt, or if / had the control Of my own earn
iH.- you do I'd once in a while be able to buy
flr lidren something new to wear, so they
wouldn't always have to depend upon patches -
ats all a woman knows about economy.
break me up in three months if you had a
wing at the finances. New clothes for the
en-, indeed Let em wear their old ones -
mats what they have been doing all along,
III Harcourt, and they were mostly made up of
0l lothes in the first place. II was only free
iron all the unpaid drudgery that you impose
apo. me without any remuneration whatever I
would earn money and buy clothes for the chill
as fast as they needed; but have to be
cook. nurse, laundress, dish-washer, dairy-maid.
ion, mop rag, needle-woman, and general
goat all the time, and all for the sake of being
m. | had my own money then, and nc
.h ks to anybody for it, eitherW
er delivering herself Of this TRADE, Mrs. Har-
court shook the screaming baby till it grew silent
ro sheer exhaustion, and then laid il back in
Size radle, while she renewed her efforts with hel
oeele.
she was patching pair Of old and dirty trouser
sd had reached the vexatious age that required
patch upon patch to make them presentable.
could do more work than you do, Mrs Har
s0uf5, and get along with less money, and carry 1
I1 on my shoulder all the time, at that ~ sale
Larry Harcourt, contemptuously.
Could you now ?p asked the pale little woman
HilH a bitter smile.
Of course I could Women have no response
b.ies. 1 support my family and bear all tn,
6lrlens of life can remember, too since refec
iiors are in order, Mrs Harcourt, that there was
ue when had no cares nor responsibilities, NJ
VIE nor children to bother me, and nothing unde
1e to rufie my temper"
Would you like to be rid Of me, Harry? ?"
ne indignant husband did not answer in words
1u. he gave vent to prolonged whistle and lef
re room, banging the door after him with a vim
lbst Jared the whole house and set her nerves
a. ngling like so many stinging bees in swarminl
time.
he baby sobbed itself into grieved and uneasy
mber, the tandem team and rollicking drivers
Irred off into the woodshed, and the house wa,
II again.
n little while the trousers were mended, but
overturned contents Of the upset work-baske
rly appalled, her she contemplated the pro
.scuous pile-socks, out at toes and heels anC