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 Tax-Exempt...

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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 Tax-Exempt Money Market 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              , 1999.
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                                   NORTHERN FUNDS


                                   By:
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                                   ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇



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