PURCHASE AGREEMENT Northern Funds (the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust, and Miriam M. Allison hereby agree as follows: 1. The Trust hereby offers Miriam M. Allison, and Miriam M. Allison hereby purchases, five shares of the Trust's Small Cap...

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                                                                  EXHIBIT (l)(6)

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT



      Northern Funds (the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby agree as follows:

      1. The Trust hereby offers ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ hereby
purchases, five shares of the Trust's Small Cap Index Fund (the "Shares") at $10
per Share. The Trust hereby acknowledges receipt from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of funds
in full payment for the foregoing Shares.

      2. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ represents and warrants to the Trust that the
foregoing Shares are being acquired for investment purposes and not with a view
to the distribution thereof.

      IN AGREEMENT WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of September 3, 1999.


                                    NORTHERN FUNDS


                                    By:/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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                                    ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇


                                    /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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