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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (May 5, 1881)
rX '4. ,) -.-- -1 . THE. NEF NORTHWEST, THURSDAY, MAY 5, 1881. BETS REMINGTON' QUI LTING BY VIBOI5IA T. SMITH? The huge outside doors of the great Remington '.' farm-house stood wide open to the morning sun. -Mothetlj liUee looked cheerful! In at the open ' window, and armies of .apple blossoms eent In " the compliment of the season on the freshest breath of the day.' , From the farm-yard came the familiar aound of milking, mingled with aq occa slonal, "So, Molly !" and the wild excitement of rtbe feathered tribe, running, flying, and gather ing, In answer to the shrill call for the rooming . i meat Within the fanrf-bouse kitchen - the V "womeh folka' were all aatlrl and bustling with festive preparation. - : 1 . 1 , r The woman element In the Remington house hold was the masterful, one. There llred no one lor mile around who did not know the Widow Remington." She was a woman guiltless of poetry or Ideality, but so rounded and compacted of thrift, forehandedness and faculty, that no one was more noted-and quoted -or- commanded- mor estwem than she. . . ' ' , When Betsey, her only daughter, was "turned of three ihe was started on the regular course of instruction at the "deestrlct" school hard by, said course Including sewing, knitting, the marking of samplers, and the making of work pocket. At At years old, and when Miss Sally Nash, the teacher, had been twice invited to tea, In order that the matter should be fully considered, it was duly decided that Betsey should begin a bed quilt, and that the "butterfly fashion' was, on the whole, the pattern best adapted to her youth and 1 her mother's materials. No matter that to little Betsey It was at first, and long continued to be, a -most incomprehensible affklr. She carefully over handed her basted patchwork an hour each Sju in ner day. Each Autumn It was packed In the big red "chtst" containing many another family 3 treasure, while each returning: Sprjng saw . it re-, produced, counted over, measured aad calculated ; and gradually another Hummer's patient labor v'was added thereunto, until finally It was pro nounced, by Miss Sally herself, to be complete. Pretty Betsey Remington was now eighteen and mistress of her needle, as a squad of .com forters and quilts gathered in her closet, as the ' result of her handiwork, could attest. However, her baby attempt had lain In blocks, as she, had left It, and had been shown to the Remington re lations far and wide as 'our BeUey's fust work." Now It had been put together, and to-morrow was to be quilted, and In the preparation of the festal . supper that would follow the household were earnestly engaged. " - - - ' To one unfamiliar with the thrifty simplicity and the toothsome dishes of the olden time, It is Impossible to describe the result of those earjy - morning hours, or the odors peculiar to them that . rose op and made sweet savor before the makers - Of the feast The oven door had been set wide, " and the sheet of flame that went streaming un Its "- ' sooty flue contrasted strongly With the- subdued " blaze of the old-fashioned flrenlceT Mother Remlngtoni-eh gown and stuff pet ticoat, wlULAUevwlucked well above the elbow, hrosil stnn hMrth. stlriinir the crlsn ; potatoes In the long-handled frying pan ajjjLf slowly turning the rotary gridiron on whjch a I steak was broiling over the coals. "Come, Jim, whip op yer forrerd horses," said she to her son, who at that moment came in with a hat full of eggs, and two wet end discouraged little ducklings In an old tin pall, knocking each other down In their trembling efforts to stand on their feet. "Come, come, we've all been to breakfast." "I'm on hand, mother, like a basket of chips," said the boy, setting down his load, and taking a - hasty-but -serere'Tsrrub-fromthe't)ld'tlnwtsln: at the back door. "A feller's got to ketch a bite as he can get it, when the women folks want any thing In this house." . The food, being now securely harvested tm dish . and platter, was set before n I m, smoking hot. After a hearty meal, the boy arose from the table and slowly wiped his mouth on his jscket sleeve, and, leaning on the back of his chair, watched his mother; who swept with heavy tread from buttery to store-room, gathering a variety of things on one end of the kitchen table, which she was pack- log into a hamper. ' "Run, Jim, and bring me that piece o' fresh meat In the little, tin pail Injthe .well, and haul "up the butter-box'bulcker.1' "Motherrwho's goloTttTgl all them things. anyhow?" said Jim, as returning be placed the dripping pall and box before her on the table. "Well, give ear now. for-1 hain't no time to talk twice. Stop to old Miss Buckley's and give her this roll o' -butter, and tell her it's the fust real out-and-out grass churnln' I've had this Spring; then go on to Wldder Jones's and leave this batch o sparrow-grass and this piece o' roast and that ' rhubarb pie and git away, for conscience' sake, afore she has time to think where H comeXrora. l'druther hewhlpt than to hear her talk it all over to the Dorcas or the prayer raeetln', with the null ait ana boodle on 'em heart n' on her. I Mow bang on like a noreaster, ami her tongue runs like a m 111 clack. Comes now, Jim, make tracks." Jim shook the hay seed from his hat, grasped the hamper and started for the wagon-house, but was not destined to set forth so easily. "Jim I Jim Remin'ton f where be your ears ?" . jim was tucking a well-worn buflalo over, his ample load, and, without looking up, shouted I '- "They're hitched on all right, mother. Oo ahead 1 "There's a lot o arrant I 'tended to send by yer. Oo round by Jim Busley's and tell him he-can hoop my barrels any day and bring me up six -more bee hives , and ask Joe Slater to come after the fust rain and plough the Doclar lot, and then Son to the store. I'm usln' up purty close to y. Tell Wells to send me two pounds of his best store candles my last dippln' runs so they'd is sure to grease the quilt ; a doyen sticks, well, . maybe a matter of a pound of cinnamon. an ounce o nutmegs, six good Juicy lemons, half a pound of his best Hyson, and my y alter box full o surar. . "Good land a Goshen, mother, haul out yer quill and flgjer 'em down.1 Polly's, she nussln' Duty as a bee in I fit no more be yer Aunt yer ducks and Betsey's as a punklo blow, come nome rround by Squire Lyons' and ask Mis Vlney, the Housekeeper, to cnanjr mat sewn' eggs wun trr jaeynd teii the squlrcM raising h vohlfaat Betsey's qulltin' comes off to-morrow and she'll be desprlt disappointed It he and Enoch don't come round to tea and help us to shake the quilt In theveulu'JV" , - ' ' "Oh I Mother-Remington" said Betsey, look ing up with a disturbed face from the tine table cloth ahe was Ironing. "You know I don't wanf them, at least I don't care about their coming." -J'Betsey, child, don't be afoolin. with .good fortun'," said Mrs.-Remington. "I've told yer pa a thousand times when he was a Uvin' that you was Jtt like lilnS. Now that hlgh-headness o yourn is a real Remin'ton streak. What In posset be you goln' to say. to folks; that's as good as any other notlcement fur'tlno." . - Jletsey deposited her Iron at the Are with a will, and, with her sweet face somewhat discomposed, ran to the doorrand leaulng far out and speaking In an understone, said : ' "Jim, ask them at the store If the letters have come this week, and be sure to save a ntnepence to pay the postage, and then stop at ElUa Moses' and tell her I shall expect her real early, and ask her to wear her rob-roy shawl. I want mother to see It." " "Robwhatr' ahoutedJIm. "I canH tackle all yer Women's names and notions." And the little old pony, obeying the word of command, started "forward with good .courage, aud the rest. of. the sentence was , lost In . the. crunching of clam shell under the wheels of the lumber wagon. : 't:; , " : "Who under the sun be you ex pectin' a letter from?" said Mrs. Remington, reaching out to close a blind, and gazing steadily into the girl's WCT.. Betsey dropped her dark eyes on to her calico Vandyke with most perceptible confusion. "AUnt Becky might possibly write to say she is coming over with the girls to-morrow." . "Write Your Aunt Becky write a letter? She might a-wrlt If she'd had a vision of the day of 'deniptlon, but not h In' less would -Wist her to that pitch, llelsey, be yer sense dean goi)e 7"T "My sense and 1 am not hoped I might hear from Henry Crelghtbn :" and a gleam of honest defiance, darted from the full brown eye. - ' "Tee dimonTlee dee ; Isay for t, ain't you never never lot tin lodired her little eal with Hetty. She humored one & her'n so. nor thoueht o' anybody else. "I can see thafsistcr llemlngton falls every day." -- "Betsey," called her mother, "I've. aot In, and shall . If ave the cleanlnVup for you to.lookfter while I watch ihe baking. Bring down my best gln&rham and get me my broad white linen apron, and bring 'em to my bed-room, while I'm slickln' up, and get my sfiectacles out of the stand drawer, aud lay the weekly paper along with 'era. You'll And It under the pilfer to the settle. I he v to hide It apologetically ;4f I don't It's all read to piece fore 1 get to It' Betsey dutifully supplied her mother's wants; and, as if to conciliate her, Mrs. Remington said: "You're a good girl, Betsey; but It's my bounden duty to keep yer from flyln' up into the face of Providence. Girls need a sight o' admonishrnV -la in I ncredi bly short 1 1 me after the d Udies sr not t si I bewfldered. mother, were all In dace, and 'Ratio's wife. Uvinff near. going to bVafrald to tell you that I RameTnTcTdo her accustomed part, and the white in' to git over the foolish nonsense you showed or that schoolmaster?" pursued her mother, with great asperity. "I've talked myself hoarse and blind about it. I should think you'd see " ; But at this Instant Mother Remington's quick eye caught signs of over-rising In biscuits, dough nuts, "loaf cake. -Quickly conveying the two former to a cooler locality, she lifted a huge pan of -cake, risen to overflowing, Xo the table, and both hands were quickly employed in Its "work ing over."- . , "Betsey," she continued, "your contrariness will ruin you. -Poverty, sh if tlessness and book Isrnln', It seems to me. are chains that cling closer than a brother to that meechln' kind of In dlvidoul a teachln' man. -How ken you take up with such chance and give Squire Lyons' son, Enoch, the ga-by? : I'll ventunrwhat you date he'll make aa good a pervlder as you'll find In all .what a husband his pa. the old squire, made his the. country round. Why, youM oughter seen ma, she that was Mabaly 1'rlce. Why, she haa a real peg and fillet for her foretop, and do. other woman In the town wore the bunnlt ribbojis-slle did." "I donU-seChow they could," said Betsey, m Is- ilevously. . : Mrs. Remington, taking no notice of this re mark. Dursued the subject to Its end. . "The squire made nothlu of payln' two and sixpence jor even three and nlnepence a yard for 'em. I' can't doubt It, for Harri't Eno tailored there year after year, and she told me. She had a real sale carpet for her front room, a hull chlny set of 'flowln' blue' for her table, a posy bed sot out each side of her front door, and a chaise to ride out In, let alone her saddle and pillion." "I shan't meddle with them, mother," said Bet eey provoklngly. "l think Enoch will need them all to help him settle In life." "Well, you mark my word, Betsey Remington. I wouldn't give a four-pen-sappeny towards sup porting any man that didn't pretend to know how to farm, and was cracked on grammar." J!JL wouldn't argue no longer,'! said mild, peace loving Aunt Polly, who had Just given the finish ing touch and polish to the pewter plates and dishes thst had adorned the dresser, and now sat meekly rubbing the silver spoons. It was easy to see, although she had remained silent during this entire episode, where her feel ings were, from an occasional beaming and com passionate look directed over, her spectacles at Betsey, .."-.v . - .1- "You know, sister Hetty," she continued, "the srood ' Book says the greatest of all virtues Is passages ft In yi w . u ... w cbarltv." "I' don't want none' of your blind th rowed up to me. , I never see nothln' Bible that sot a premium fair and square on shift- lessness, and I don't want my childJrought up to think so, either; but you'll beat round the bush to make It right for her from now till doomsday. A saint would grow lawless with you to read his futur for him. Betsey must know the real glne wlne truth of llvln' and I shall see to it that she doe," she added, 'as she set the cake tins, now filled with the delicious compound, on the broad tbV Widtlei Jones 1 irood nefghboT, but she docs f mantel-piece in- rend I news f or thcormrand, tight j her consent, and prayo wUtTiotTcfafte tTniali,e Ing a candle, went with emphasis In her tread down the cellar stairs. ..-- Betsey had pressed the last fold Into the hand some home-made damask, and opened a drawer near Aunt Polly to deposit the Ironing sheet and holder, giving her the while such a woeful glance as great! v touched the old lady, who was fain to comfort her. . r "Don't say too much," she murmured; "your ma's as sot as a stun boat and as quick aa rate day. Only be patient, and it all may turn out better n you think." Betsey's determined little face grew scarlet even to her hair: and hearing her mother's returning footsteps she fltttcd tnto t he butteryta svotd her searching gate. ' . Widow Remington's buttery was of the Ideal New England order. Scoured shelves spotless and white; rows of milk pans, In which the cream bad set In rich yellow folds; a host of Jugs and Jars ranged round the lower shelf; the cookey crock; the artichoke and cucumber keg; the pickled peppers ; the round of dried beet; the high and-themther with Jelly and preserve, and the nanuT anu namoie corner lor coia victuals. Betaey stood at the cupboard at Its far end, appar ently absorbed In reviewing and wiping the china pUUwhll-hr-thoughU weuT wandering-out Intd the unknown world In search or a oeioyea form and fac ' , . , ' And so the long morning went by In the Pje snt, thrifty kitchen till the, household affairs reached a most happy climax. Th kitchen was sweet with straying odors, and the ease of ths culinary compounding was something wonderful to witness. There was no touch In'ew England cookery unknown to Mother Rem lugton, and she managed the situation like one to the. manor born. "Tury, Ketury," Ipalled Mrs. Remington, wlth out stopping her beating of eggs, to a little girl inortlngwith Rover in the 4oor-yard. 'See if 'Ratio is out to the corn-house, and tell him to come and clear the oven out for me. , By the time he's swept it out I hall be ready to set In. - Tell him to- bring along the oven broom. - Pick up your sun-bonnet ; don't let Rover chaw It Into flinders. Here's a bunch -o raisins and a piece o' cake for ye. I'll hand it through the pantry winder." - 7 "Certain It doe beat all, how Hetty takes to that child," soliloquized Aunt Polly, as she hung tne suver-cioms wary on me hwb,. -owuu- The lightning-rod man has cheek infinite, a ftath thetThicago drummer eo hath the brlndle- mule; but for cheek personified, irlorl fled. mncr. der poor Roxy Harris died easy when she'dtnlncent, saith the rural editor, give us the patent Dine floor was scoured and sanded to a hlirh deirree of excellence, when Betsey hung the kettle on for the restful cup of her niothe after her morning's work. In her own little room she made her simple toi let, smoothed her hair and fastened a clean white vandyke about her waist. Its snowy ruffle cir cling her pretty throat, ana tied on a clean apron, pausing as she did sp to gaze for the twentieth time from the little south window down the road In the direction of store and post office. At last the old horse came In sight. Well she knew his sober trotting and the faint rattle of the old one-horse wagon ; but Jim was not a!one,and whoever could be with him? ...- The old wagon rattled on into' the yard past the window, and Betsey, with wide-open eyes and G I pi tat Ing heart, realized who It was that had ken them so unaware. She came down" stain, rushed past Rover, who, stretched at" length on the door-step, raised his head with a suspicious sniff, and in another moment found her hand clasped by Henry Crelghton. . , ... "Well." said Jim, as he threw the reins oirt horse's back and stooped to unfasten the trace, "I bed so much business on hand I took In a pard- ner, but I he blowed. ', tf "ini-fnPFn at nut , Ulli:-ft7 omce aiier aiu" No need of apology. , Jlni could talk If he chose, but nobody heard him or cared whatrhe said. They lingered a minute, and then walked slowly and in the most absorbed manner In. the direction of the garden. - a. . Jim's unpractlced eye followed them as he en ergetically stripped tne harness; from the horse' and led him by the fore-top to the drinking trough, 'i "I reckon that wasn't the kind o' mall she was worrln over," he mused. "She seems tickled to death to see him. What do they want out there, I wonder? Nothln' there but lettis, rare ripes and green currants, and them not fit for plckln'." The low, swinging, blossomy boughs shut them fromsight-or sound. The little-birds flitting 'about on the tree tons were too happy In their leve and too busy in their life to notice them, and Just exactly what he said, or how be said It. we can -never know.- Blissfully -happywere tnelr faces, however, as they turned back to the house, some half hour later, and sought Mother Reming ton in the kitchen. The wide swing-table was laden with the delicious 'cookery of the day, while the vacant 6ven aud its open-door told the secret of the broken watch. The weekly bad slipped from her hand, and Mother Remington was In the land of dream. Very hurriedly she resumed her self-possession and listened to the young lover's full story, as with Betsey's hand In his he. stood before her. There was a dignity and earnestness In his man ner that compelled both attention and respect. "Such good fortune has befallen me that I have come to talk It over with you' he said. "I have been offered a. partnership In my Uncle ' Job's store, he to furnish capital, and I to relieve him In every way, by taking the care and responsibil ity of the business: In other words, he asks me to be a son to himi He Is alone In the worlds save me. I am now through studying, and Uncle Job wants a home In which we, may live together. Now. I ask your gracious permission to take your daughter Betsey, whom a.,, ardently do" love, to make our nome an earthly paradise. us happy." Mother Remington wiped her. eyes with one corner of her starched linen apron, rose from her chair, returned to It, and Anally spoke. v "Young man, I owe you no 111 will, and I know that Betsey loves you. I never agln shall lay out to do this, or that, or t'other, 'cause In all human conceit It would not turn out as I 'tended to hev IU I give her to you fair and above board, knowiu' that every half In her blessed young bed Is a honest one. She's been my little girl, and I give the heart out o' my body when I give her to you. Sorrerand loss comes fast enough In this world, and may be. It's Jhebcstwaylo scrape oip and save what true love squeeze Into It." Aunt Polly's dear old eyes were dim with tears as she stroked her false front with one hand and gave Mrs. Remington thexther, exclaiming! . "Now I'm proud of you, sister Hetty, for you speak the things which become sound docjrine." "And now comes a hard point to settle," urged Henry. "My uncle Is oblisvd toro out to his pos sessions In Holland Purchase, and will be absent shelf of cheeses, flanked at one end wlth-Mmey-fnwiimerlIe'lsbllged to start from New York on Saturday of next week or wait the next con veyance, which will not leave In months. , I must A Mrs. Remington came In and deposited t J return to help him off and to assume his duties. a a m X a - - . I aa . a - ....... piicneroi currant wine Tor tne pies in progress, The stare leaves to-morrow nlarht at six. Must I ro alone, or will you vrant me m v wife ? Rmm. Jber!2-Jia-added. wlthqnlft. dlgnltyjhattwy- courump nas oeen a long one." v. , Iso won! was spoked to settle th m.tt... Jim declared It a master stroke of economy thai the quIlUng feast awl thewedding supper iboSld be one abd the same, ' - V IU i.Yhen Remington sought her room that night, a glorious moon-wasilverIng the silent 'fin' ,,e Mt .by her wludo he tried to still the tumultuous beatings of her heart and to recall all the later events of the day. -She went -forecasting Into the morrow, but could think of nothing with steadiness or quiet. In this first ' flush of her great rejoicing; but she smiled to her self and said: , v,. ' "To think of our quilting being turned Into our wedding day Henry's and mine..f7 and -Qatette. . ' OBSTINACY VS. CHEEK. r t W aW-SlSAS . a ..a meoicine nenu itinerating auvertlslng agent For lul be aendetb Ina two-column ad vert Iwrmmvt to run twelve months, with half-column local no tices each week, na ten copies of paper mailed ivguhtrly each week to advertisers; 'and for all thisrsaith the agentrl wl1l pay thee f 15," In chliMi"" and whet-stone. Now, the agent hath contracted -to Insert this advertisement in certain papers, at any price,; but he maketh. In the fulness of his cheek, only this liberal .offer. Now, the simple editor thinketh. not of what the- agent may hare contracted, but groaneth in spirit, and sayvth fif teen dollars Is better than nothing, and accepteth the offer. But the cunning editor is sharper, and sayeth. "I will wait and see," so he filetn. away r the offered contract in bis waste basket, and an swereth not unto It. And before many days the agent writeth the cunning editor again, and sayeth, "Behold! -I will give thee f25 00 for this r service." But still the c. e. holdeth his peace. And asraln the agent sendeth, and sayeth, "I will give thee even $3(W;"-for he must fulfill his agreement with his advertiser. Now understand' eth the cunning editor the airent's little srame. agent "For $150 00 cash, and no less, canst thou have the service of thy servant's newspaper." But cheek-regarded. not his communication, and offered again $45 oy payable in Illinois mud ink Now after many writing and much weariness the agent reacheth $100 In his offering. And the cunning editor sayeth -within himself,. "It Is enough, It I list rates," and accepteth-qulckljr-the contract. And he sayeth unto his friends, the simple editor, and unto the pilgrim drummer that" tarryeth within his gates : "Behold how cunning, bath conquered cheek, and hath received the re ward or patient waiting 1" Behold 1 Junkln, of Fairfield, hath said It, and so it Is ! Printcrr Jieglttert ; . ' - . - , '- t , An unexplained objection to the electric light arises from its alleged evil effects on the eyes. European observers state that the frequent varla- tlons In Intensity to which the light is subject nana frequent -changes in the consmuenTTyrtii4li"accommo(latlon'r of the eye. by which is meantHhat alternate- nd dilation of the punll byt which it suits Itself to the variations of light. Such a light, therefore, causes not only muscular fatlguer but also, a considerable .degree of blurring and in distinctness lathe retinal image. The eye su.n"Vr both when the light Is too dim and when It Is too bright.1" In' the -former ease the object must be . brought close to be clearly seen, and an Increased accommodative effort is called for, which in most cases results In near-sightedness. "Ift the latter case, the simple Intensity of the light produces -ubdue contraction of the pupil, and an Increase of tension within the eye.; ' ' ' " T : . According to the Russian papers, a -new sect has been formed at lAncyf rov, in the Government of Moscow. It already has some hundreds of members of both sexes, and its chief characteristic Is that alt religious ceremonies, such as, christen ings, marriage, funerals, etc, are performed by -woman, who is young and unmarried and has been elected by the members of the ect a thelr- Pope. They have struck out of their religlou service all the prayers for the Czar and the Bish ops, and have Introduced prayers for the United Greek Metropolitan in Galicia and for the Emperor of Austria Instead, on the ground that "all religions are tolerated In' Austria and enjoy entire freedom there, while In Russia every onr Is persecuted who does not profess the orthodox faith." , .. 11 . .Where the sun sinks low 'neath the Indian Seas, by the flowery shores of the tropical Islesr where the bulbul sings, and some other kind of a bird makes an infernal din In the solitudes of the forest (we shall polish this' up at some future time) there Ihe Widow Butler cocks her star' board eye and suns herself .to sleep 'neath the sil very moon, oblivious of courts or kings, divorce suits or Congress, Massachusetts or money, happy as a clam at the rising of the tide. Oh, rare Ben Butler! Loton Advertiser, TYim uro I r Vi t rf thai larorwat hraln nn MMnnrri Is saioT wetghel but 2 ounces and 6 grains. Cuvlers brain has seldom been equaled In weight: It is- noted at W.5 ounces. The brain of Jas. Fisk, Jr.r was considered unusually large,' Its welght slifrhtlr ezceeiiiriir M ounces. Yet It was' If ounce below that of Cuvier, aud IS ounces lighter than the heaviest known. : . . .. - Lewis Hamilton, who lately died at Nelsonvil W Ky., was eccentric His daughter were named Avenue Belle, China Figure, and Hebrew .Fash' Ion. and hi sons London Judge and Southern Soil. He had ample means, yet his children were reared In Ignorance and Isolation. He was excess- I vpl v rxnnrlfii still Jila ili-ilh wtt miimmI T a .. all from a horse, while on his way to rote against a publio Improvement f Cats have" not been employed to reform voumf people so much as other animals, but they ought to be. You can rise with the lark, be strong as a bull, wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove, busy" M A h. am1 rtrairt-' no ,4 an ant. hilt YOU CSU t . . . . V . - . u -ai oe-nrst-ciass-ooy . ana gins unless you m faithful to a good home as a cat. The Philadelphia Chronicle says that when a-, widow marries she simply takes an "" out ofper . weeds. This Is undoubtedly true, but It overlooks a tnnfi maM ImrtAvranr asMilmawnt. vhlotl 'f that ehe fJcutmty- Ulccs th conceit out of -pxi groom.