The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1885-08-20

How wonderfully beautiful was life
How unrealized were sorrow and care,
and then as the summer wore on there
came TO me a new Joy, wonderful
mystery, and l saw in Louis's eyes a
deep reverence that had not seen be-
fore, and his tones were more tender
and we prayed together oftner and our
JOY was of quieter kind. I thought
then that I had only imperfectly I'M
derstood what happiness was before
A great wish sprung up in my heart
then to do something for Gods sake.
"He has done so much for me, love,
I must do something for Him, ;" I said
to Louis.
"What better cen q woman do for
God than to become q good mother ?"
asked Louis, with = shower of kisses.
Eyes, know, dear, but my heart goes
out so to all mothers now, and more
than all to the poor wretched ones with
brutal husbands-the ones who are ill.,
treated, who have to be overworked and
poorly fed and clothed; and to the hope
less ones, the ones who have to look for
ward to the time when the vices of the
fathers will appear in the children. O.,
I wish I could do something for these,
if it's ever so little"
II don't know of any one you could
10 anything for" said Louis reflectively.
"I've never been in the parts OF the city
where the very poor dwell, but I will
go; will find some one for you to all,
my darling"
20, how good you are, Louis; how I
wish every woman had as good hus-
band as I have"-but I won't tell any
more of our foolishness.
That day, as the time drew near when
Donna Isabella was to bring tho milk,
the thought suddenly came to me that
perhaps I could do, something .e~~
them. That they *ere very poor I
knew, for I had seen many evidences of
it about the children. That there was
some reason why Donna disliked to
mention her father I had seen also.
So resolved to 60 back with her that
When Louis came the dinner was on
the table-a full half hour before the
usual time.
"I'm going home with Donna Isabella,
love. I'm going to help them if can.
We should always do what is just at
hand to do, I think"
So we hurried our dinner and Louis
wiped the dishes for me. Yes, he real
ly did! He often wiped the dishes in
those days, and we had such good times.
I used to think it just the incest thing
in the world to have Louis in the kitchen
helping me. Hcused to look so comical
with one of my large working aprons
on, standing bent forward so as not to
let the towel touch his vest-ho was
very neat in his dress. I remember
once We had been talking such nonsense
and laughing so much that did not
observe that my pan WAS very near the
edge of the table. All at once down it
came, and all the water ran over my
nice clean floor. You should have seen
Louis jump. I laughed until had
pain in my side: then cried hysterical-
ly. Then Louis got frightened and
started for doctor, with the apron still
on. screamed for him to come back,
and he came. I pointed to his apron,
and then fell to laughing again. He
took me in his arms and begged mo
stop, but I could not. I laughed and
cried until had not strength enough
LETT to raise my head. Louis was as
pale as death. He told mo afterwards
he thought I had gone mad. It was
his first experience with Mysteries.
But, o yes! was telling about 60
ing home with Donna Isabella. I went
homo with her, and found, O! such
home Of misery. There WAS actually
not one comfort there. The mother
had terribly worn, hopeless look on
her face. There were nine children,
with not clothing enough for four on
them all. There were two rooms, and
just inside the second lay the father in
q drunken sleep.
There was pile of yellow-covered
books on the shelf. Ipicked up one
"The Primrose Princess OF the Pathlcss
Prairie" Another-"Ihe Imprisoned
Earl and His Faithless Bride" Anoth-
er-"Lord Mounttower's Haunted Cas-
tle"
"You read these?" I asked the wom-
an.
90, yes" she answered, frightening
mp, "that is. don't know. how to read,
but DOME and Prince Albert read 'em
to me. He-indicating the drunken
sleeper-didn't want EN- to 60 to school,
but I made him b'lve they could earn
more money bymby eff they went to
school sum f1st, and DOME she ken
read all them books just splendid. He
says I've made 'em 'bove ther stations
g;7in' on 'em good names an sendin'
em to school"
My soul tainted within me as lam
swered:
"It is right to send them to school,
but you won't have to spend any more
money for books; books you will like, I
am sure. will send them by Donna if
you'll let me, and she can read them to
YOU"
eyes, had to take the money got
fer the milk, that is some ov it, fer
these. I thought eff he spent so much
fer drink, it wouldn't do no hurt fer me
to get books ter eddicate the children,
though they need cloes bad, too.
Prince Albert's pants nre patched all
over, and George the Third has only
one dress, n wash it nights when he's
asleep, II Henry the Eighth hasn't
nothing to wear"
"Who?" I asked, my hair almost
standing on end.
Henry the Eighth. DOME, she said
you thought one Nv 'em ought to be
named Henry the Eighth, so I named
baby that"
What could I say? 1t was too awful.
II Think" I at last faltercd. "that
Henry is nice name, but would leave
off the rest of it. I must say I don't
like the rest of it,"
"Don't you? Well, I'll leave It off
then, though Henry's rather plain
alone.
II like it for that" I said, "and if
you'll call him so I'll send him pretty
dress for present."
When I started home my heart sank
within. me and tears would come. I
had never been in such place before,
and the dark cloud of ignorance and
the darker cloud of intemperance that