The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-09

wac a shame.
"But, Gerald, do not intend that my
homework shall engross my whole
time. shall 50 plan It that may hav,
time for things just as essential. Lei
US not be in such race after wealth
that we curse with care and overwOrk
our present; for wealth l., more often
than otherwise, purchased at the price
Of happiness, health and conscience, and
We can III spare these from our life. Lei
US be diligent, and yet not forget the
mental and spiritual needs, nor vel
crowd out those cheerful recreatiOns and
diversions that keep the heart young
and the physical being healthy"
"Yes, " replied Gerald, his eyes dreamy
and far. seeing, "we will fashion life oi
our own, not after any prototype. We
will seek for competence; and with
prudence, which is another name for
Martha, at the helm, can we not reach
il, without being too tired to feel LIES
beauties aud beuedictions 2'
Martha, within her heart Of hearts,
said Amen.
The next morning, Martha, having
arisen early, found her morning duties
done while yet the hours were golden,
aud she and Gerald took another inven-
tory Of the house. Below there were a
kitchen, a store-roOm, a psrlor and par
Ia h..sN UaA l..
sleeping apartments. Besides the
kitchen range and a large corner cup
board, with glass doors, which displsye ed
her neatly arranged and shining dishes,
were a table, six chairs, an armchair, a
rocking chair, aud an old fashioned
lounge.
''This room," she said to Gerald,
'shall be the plessantest and eheeriest
for daily use. The armchair aud rock
ing chair shall be cushioned with bright
ehintz, IN which you aud can take our
afternoon siestas, and the lounge shall
be cushioned with the same. This floor
and the chamber floors shall be stained
a dark walnut, and there shall be in the
center a large, bright rug; aud l have
some tempting fruit pieces, which shall
be hung up here, OF purple grapes aud
luscious peaches; yes, and some dreamy
landscapes, hiuting Of distant noun
tains aud green woodland haunts"
Martha took Gerald from room to
room, gaily enthusiastic, where many
would have been dishearleued and
when she had furnished in prospective,
to her liking, all the other rooms, she
came at last to the parlor.
This room," she said, "we only need
for hospitality's sake, in which TO enter
tain our friends"
Here there were half dozen chairs, a
lounge, and side table for books
"These old chairs aud this lounge will
come out by our furnishing into orna-
mental pieces of furniture, and we will
cushion them with bright Brussels car
peting. The floor shall be carpeted, and
the windows shall be hung with cur
tains Of bright moreen, over which /
will festoon white lace, and they shall
be tied with scarlet cord and tassels. Il
shall be a charming little room, into
Which our friends, coming once, shall
be melted to come often"
at looks as visionary as an Arabian
nights dream but when such a practi-
cal little woman holds the rod Of en-
chantment, IL is bound to be realized. p"
But Gerald looked somewhat incredu-
lously, with a smile OF amusement, at
the battered furniture, hardly able to
hold Itself up; yet as time went on, to
his wonderment, all the transformations
that Martha had predicted had taken
place for Martha was not one to idly
dream and plan, and not put into effect.
Books, pictures, and many fanciful de-
vices that she had made in the leisure
hours Of her girlhood, gave the last fin
ishing touches, and all was harmony
and Gerald declared that the cushions
were deep aud soft enough to tempt the
drowsy god himself TO nap upon them.
And, although engrossed in their vari-
Gus duties, they did not neglect the OBJ
servances Of their plan Of life.
They took their restful hours, and
their evenings they devoted to improve
ment, intermingling their readings and
grave discourse with kindly chit-chat
Martha in her daily strolls taking note
of Spring bud and Summer bloom. Re-
turning from one of these walks, with
flowers in her baud for botanizing, she
said:
"The women Of this age are all dying
for want Of sunshine and out door air
sickly and spiritless, they give birth to
a still more ailing race; dying for want
Of air, which nature freely offers to all ;
dying between four walls, and only 8
closed door between them aud health.
But there are none so blind as those
who will not see."
"Yes, my Martha, and we shall have
to leave them TO dig their own sorry
graves" added Gerald.
Gerald and Martha arose before the
sun. They worked with energy, accom-.
plishing more in the several hours that
they devoted to labor than those who
droned lazily the whole length OF the
day; they worked with heart, for there
was the well-earned reward Of resi-
awaiting them, and which their con.
science permitted them to take.
1--WE shall not be broken down before
our time, miserable, DISCONTINUED gold.