The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-08-25
ROsEBURG, OREGON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 25. 1888.

him, for Til have no girl round me
that's sweet on another man. But what
If you had got hurt and had treated
you so?"
The excited voice, with it's tone of
feverish pain, reached the mothers
ears. She came hastily into the room
and began TO put down the shades.
''There. Albion dear, do keep calm.
You'd better not talk any more to-day;
it'll put you back"
jimmy, with a look of relief, went out,
as Albion's flushed face, changing to
white, sank back upon the nillows.
Mother, mother, mother, isn't it
hard?"
Thus appealed to, Mrs. Stickney com.
forted him as only a mother can.
About this time the district school was
to be heightened by the ingenious device
OF boarding the teacher around il those
families who sent children to- school.
The Stickney boys and girls had long
been loud in their praises of the teacher,
and when she came to their home the
overworked mother did her best and
most to make her welcome, but fell i'll in
doing; it was too much. The teacher
proved equal to the emergency. She
made the worn-out woman go to bed,
and waited upon her faithfully before
and after school hours. Minna Stickney,
the eldest girl, had told her Albion did
not wish to see any strangers, so she did
not mean to go into his room; but one
day Minna carried with his dinner the
wrong sauce for the pudding. It would
be spoiled, and she had taken so much
trouble to make it! Without thinking
how she looked, she rushed into the sit
ting room just as she was, her sleeves
rolled up, and big apron up to her
neck and down to her feet. "Don't look
at me-" she said, "but you've got the
gravy for the meat, child; here is the
right sauce for the pudding" and, max
ing the exchange, she ran out into the
kitchen.
"Who is that?" Albion looked won-
deringly after her.
''Miss Motley, our teacher. Isn't she
good to take right hold SO? Mother
thinks everything of her already. T
told her you didn't want to see her, and
that why she told you not to look" said
Minna, naively.
"What did you tell her that for? What
must she think?"
ooh, she don't mind. She says we
must take folks as we fiLd them. But I
do wish you'd let her come in and look
after you tonight. We wont to go
down to Charley brakes; he's going to
have popcorn party, and she could
take care of you and ma too, if you'd let
her, and we children could go, guess.
Won't you. Ally?"
The children went to the party, and
Mr.. Stickney in search of help. His
wife lay in blissful rest, quieted and as
sured by the energetic teacher that
everything was going on right, and there
was no cause to worry; the more she
gave up and rested the sooner she
would get back her strength.
Carrying in the tea and toast, she no.
ticed there was not book or paper in
sight, and SO asked him if he would not
like to look at some illustrated maga-
zines she had.
1T is nice to have SO much time to
read" she said, smiling brightly, and
did not wait, but went at once and
brought the books.
Albion had never thought before of
anything nice being possible in his con-
ditiOn. She had aroused little inter-
est. He found himself wondering what
| she would say next. After awhile, as
| they became better acquainted, she
| asked him If he had studied into his
case, and if he were not interested in
physiology and anatomy. She told him
she had q cousin who was physician
and surgeon, and she would like his
opinion. He might suggest, possibly, a
more strengthening treatment.
! She succeeded In arousing Albion to
courage and hope from Indifference and
aim ost despair, and from time to time,
in quiet way, loaned him textbooks.
These engaged his mind, and as he be-
came stronger, occupied more and more
of his attention.
One afternoon, his days labor ended
Mr.. Stickney sat on the piazza, watching
his boys finishing the chores. The
teacher sat near him, busy with some
work. This man had not failed to enter
tain her with his grumbling, as he did
every one who would listen. He consid
cred himself an ill-used, unfortunate
person. Why son of his should do sc
foolish thing as to spoil his prospect:
for life and lame valuable colt, wa,
more than he could see, and right at the
beginning of the ploughing and planting
season-the worst time in the world. Ell,
was sure none of his "creatur's" evel
would know anything.
His wife heard him uncomplainingly
and so cid the teacher once, but she dit
not mean to again. She would give hin
something else to think about, and so in
quired what was the highest wages b,
had ever paid a hired girl to do hi
housewcrk for him.
''Three dollars a week" was the an
swer.
"And then she did not do as we'll a
your wife manages. presumed"
"Bless you, no; 'twould take smar
one to come up to Harner; she can turl
off work without wasting nothing"
"And did you ever find hired gir
willing to wait long for her pay?" wa
the next innocent query.
''No. that's the plague ont; alway
want their money soon as their work
done, and be glad to git it afore, I'll war
rant"
Mr.. Stickney gave grim chuckle a
he tilted his chair backwards.
"Why rs it tha farmers wives shonl
have to wait so long for their wages.
should rebel if I were one" Miss Motle
said, demurely.
Farmers wivesl They don't hav
any wages" he said, surprised.
They ought to, then" was the quie
response,
They have all they want-food
clothes, and git carried to churcl
and stores and camp meetin'. Wha
more can O woman want?"
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