Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-07-04
MisrrlIa a
Just So"

hated Aunt Margery's parrot. ns
screaming, croakins voice. IT, gurgliug
Asiats. crooned a. il sat on It's perch, stirred
up something IN the evil and vindictiye.
Perhaps | had no natural inclination 10
pets. Oiien had been over-wearied at the
Old house. the sight OF mothers
hens scratching for living has irri,ated
me with sense OF oyerwork. But they ST
least came honestly by their living re-
specied them; but this Pampered, over-fed
thing made my flesh crawl as il clung og-
ling on its perch, or dropped lazily down to
pick up bit OF cracker, nibbling thereat
with an uncauny chatter. No; did no,
Ike pets. Aunt imagery did. This ugly
foreign iavorite had absorbed all her afiec-
iions, ] thought 20 myself bitterly. as |
creature; she spoke cfIuv varsu-t,, ~ -
her own kith aud Kin she had nothing but
everlasting fauli-iinding aud ceAscle,. e1-
actions.
A lew tears dropped down upon my
hands ~ sat there. The parrot blinking
down upon me. drew up one skinny claw,
scratched IT, emerald head, aud screamed,
"Jasl so!'-a pet phrase which served ii
TO express the most subtle meanings. ap-
parenily, and ia which it seemed to jeer al
ms emotion.
This was the third morning had waited
i1l ilNA- VI itth tbbA bt'Hs 80
ed. hiyh-splrited Dick who had taken up
his cap and len after his last word battle
with Aunt Margery. This blow had taken
the sunshine too out Of my life. and tn ere.
IS sat at the window. l mentally shook
my fist ~ the gibbering thing. SO sheltered
and favored while he was adri!f-where? !?
What would become OF Dick: oh. what
would become of Dick: The lad had al
WAYS had some business 10 the city that sat
lightly upon him, coming and going at
his leisure; but now for three whole days
his face had not lightened the gloomy
house The longing 70 know OF his well
fare, the yearning 10 see him had grown
intense and intolerable. And, rendered ir-
rItable and distraught by my anxiety, l
had quarreled with Aunt Margery myself
i to whom her invalid state had hitherto
excused 20 much. who had been her pa
tlent nurse so long, and the acknowledged
peace maker between herself and the out
spoken, impolite Dick. had fallen from
my high estate, | Was an outcast from IA
vor-not worth so much In Aunt MaTgery's 5
ewes a. this leering old parrot.
Well. / need sacrifice myself no longer.
| was free to 20 away. Oh, how useless,
how mean and degrading. seemed all that
| had submitted to and suffered.
1t could benef, Dick no more, and, in
his absence. dropped its splendid apparel
Of self-sacrince. and revealed itself beg
garly:and sordid tameness OF spirit
Outside Of this narrow groove where l
had prubbed and vegetated there was a
thrilling, splendid reality OF existence. A
sort Of winged feeling took possession OF
me as | contemplated the possibilities OF
the future. The parrot put up his elm
claw, blinked at me from the corner OF his
eve, and cried, Just So" as he Hoped
back into his open cage. From the win
dow where that cage hung | could see the
glowing gardens and pleasant lawns
Stretching below and in the wistful hazy
distance the city seemed TO shadow through
the bright busy city, where everv one
was astir and at WORK. Dick did business
easily and irresponsibly as bird. Why
should not do business? | began TO take
account of stock--to make a Iaental esti-
mate of myself. Ii is surprising. in thi.
commercial valuation OF ones self. how
percentages shrink. a little hazy knOwl-
edge of history. a little nebu lous acquain
lance with general literature, light touch
upon the piano-all these things look pain
fully threadbare on examina ton. like stage
prophecies seen by daylight. could moi
settle upon any specially In which wa!
pre-eminent. l must leave my future tc
tate, and did so with the delightful insod
Glance OF youth.
SO the early dawn fou,ad me at the gar
den gate, face to face with the klndlini
| morning. the garden quiet and odors. Fac
to face. also. with old bla.ck Cesar. the su
perannuated gardener, who Ornamentet
his profession in red cap and slippers
| His gray old moody face, with its scan
fringe of grizzly hair, sas never an unwel
| come sight to me before. However. oil,
| Cesar knew all our roubles. He had beeI
my childish confidarit. as well as Dicks, a
far back as / could remember. l steppe'
| on boldly.
Berry early. Mss" said the old man
doubtless thinking, had come to help o
hinder him in the garden. But his ey
caught sight OF my satchel; his counte
nance fell. "Goirig away. mss: he cried
Yes. Cesar. I'm Of
Far. miss"
Don't know, Cesar. how far. II seem
l don't belong ere. anyway"
"Sho, miss don't ee mind things. Oi
Cesar II stan up for you. Don't ee min
'em."
IL can't he ID il, Caesar"
BLESS yer soul. miss! Why. miss, Y
haves heaiI o. trouble all on US. an dar
no telling ssher dey comes from, big a
little. Nv nv. miss-scuse me. mlss-I
had dat tn Suble fore now wid my little to
long o ;Queezing on . pair o Sundi
shoes, seemed zif ! couldn't stan It D
bow"