The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-05-20
Selected Story.
TO THE FRONT.
--
ny MRS. A. N. PAYNE

The speaker was becoming very much
excited with his subject and gesticnlated
to an almost alarming extent. Ii was
the third lecture Of the Lycsum Course.
The evening was fne aud the course
popular, 20 there was an elAowing
house. The lecturer-as speakers win
took to himself and his theme the
credit Of the throng Of listening faces.
and proceeded to Exhaust the subject"
Of Woman's Rights, at least ~ far ~
his knowledge Of it was concern
cd.
ooh, women, press ts tke frontf'
he cried, throwing up his arms wildly,
"ysu are needed Ia the battle-lins.
Are you ready viii ysu Hght side BY
side with your brothers who have
bsrno the deadly fire 20 longi Obi
arouse, aud on 10 action, that when ihe
trumpet shall proclaim the victory,
yours shall be the victor's crown, and
yours the rejsioing hymul Do not heal
tate, or the day 10 lest. Do not faint
or grow feeble by the way, bat Let ysur
cry be, forwardL--t0 tho frontP'
"Oh, dear" sighed little Mrs. David
son, a. she drew her shawl around her
shoulders and ts0k her husbands afm,
that they might not lose each ether in
the crowd, "it sounds 20 easy, but II
actually 20 impossible. I'm sure !
would be glad 70 de my part, but then
there are the children; they must have
new aprons this week. and Jane csuld
never get alsng without me. hsps
she has not let the nursery-Rrc 60 ost.
John wasn't that beautiful about era
ding future poets, and tho intellectual
Developments Of childhood ''Yss," re-
spOnded Mr.. Davidson, al w0ndsr bow
he would like would TO help dsvel-
op our Johnny"
There exclaimed the lady again,
II did not tell Jane 70 give him bis
medicine, and the child will never
think Of Il himsalf. What was that
quotation about the snow and .Parity,
and ali that. / must Try 10 recall it 70
morrow. Oil John, that is slsven
o'clock striking. Do walk Q little
faster"
Tbe nursery Ere was oat, and the
baby had wakened with the collie. Mrs.
Davidson was 20 busy and anxious
that she forget about the quotation, and
when the bell rang after dinner and
callers were announced, she had net
had time 10 think Of the lecture at all.
"Dear met" sighed the posr little
woman, as she hastily brushed her hair
and sent Jshnnie for her afternooa
dress from Ae wardrobe, "they arc
sure to ask me about the lecture, and
they know 30 muchl have not bad
= moment 70 think about IL, and / am
sure TO make some stupid blunder.
Jane, do not let Johnnie come into the
paslOr until you have washed his face,
and hands."
"Yss lovely, wasn't itf" she was cay
ing ten minutes altar saTds 10 her
irisnds, "and be was 30 jealous for his
cause"
"His cause, you should say our
cause" said Mrs. Grandison, With 8
druiy dramatic wave Of her glsved
hand.
Eyes, of course / mean 90" said
Mrs. Davidson, nervously; "theush
there is 20 little that can do 10 helF
the cause along that feel hardly en-.
titled to join the rsnks."
| Ysu can do much If you would,
said Mrs. Grandison; "you can cul.i
yats your own mind, and 20 advano.
your children; you can help raise thos,
who are beneath you 70 higher sOcia
plane"
"Ohl / don't think could do any
thing like that" gasped Mrs. DAvidsoo,
"I haven't time, and there are the Ia
. bies, and then John, you know"
Il "You must not let such things hin
der you" said Mrs. Grandison, eloquent
"; "you must break the bends which
: confine yen to the narrow sphere Q
home, and strive fer the right and Oh
cause Of justice"
i al suppose ! should, hut jus
then the parlor door opened slowly an
Jshn Davidson, jr., appeared wit
= clean hands and face truly, but bsArin
i aloft In triumph huge slice Of brea
h and melasses. "Why, JohnnieF sal
|, 2 the msthsr, belplessly.
> The ladies rose in stately manne
to 90, and when Mrs. Davidson close
the door after them she turned to fin
4 Jane anxiously awaiting her.
al "Master Johnny was that fraction
I had TO give it to hiu, num-" sh
said apologetically.
i. "Never mind, Jane-come, Jehnny
L and then Mrs. Davidson went up stsil
and cried little.
FL When John cans he was cross, IN
SO she had to keep the children still
ls and take them up stairs a. soon a. y
was over. When she was at libsrt
which was not until late, she can
J. dswn stairs to find John Poring over
u Bit of paper, pencil in hand.
"Still trying to perfect your paten
JohnF she asked, timidly.
in "Yes, il is al right except one thing
90 he said, throwing down his pencil ~
T. leaning back YEARLY; "and / do .
z. g. see how it is that II will not work. l.
. been thinking about IL all day, and W
Sa e. sure / had it right, but It il all in 90
ng fusion now. Gene here and let me q
ms If can make you understand it,"
4. 4. She came and looked over his shel
der, while he drew sketch Of
r patent and explained how it shos
,. work. "you see it is all right but o
on. thing" he said, at length.
,,ss ,os "But everything depends on that Q
50 thing" said the wife, who saw I
.Dss whole position Of things in an insta
sss "Yes," he said, hopelessly; "eye
~. ~. Thing denends upon seme one lit