Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-20
NO. l45.
Gales and Sketehes.
Just So"

hated Aunt Margery's parrot. Its
screaming. croaking voice. its gurgling
asides crooned as it sat on its perch, stirred
up something in me evil aud vindictive.
Perhaps | had no natural inclination to
pets. Often | had been over-wearied at
the old home-farm- house, the sight of
mothers hens scratching for living had
irritated me with sense of Overwork.
But they at least came honestly by their
living. | respected them; but this PAM
pered, over-ied thing made my flesh crawl
as It clung ogling to its perch, or dropped
laziy down to pick up a bit Of cracker.
nibbIing thereat with an uncanny chatter.
No; did not like pets. Aunt Margery
did. This ugly foreign favorite had alb
sorbed all her affections, thought to N.Y.
self bitterly. as | watched it that morning.
She caressed the creature; she spoke en-
dearingly; but for her own kith and kin
she had nothing but everlasting fault-find-
ing and ceaseless exactions.
A few tears dropped down upon my
hands as | sat there. The parrot blinking
down upon me, drew up one skinny claw,
scratched its emerald head. and screamed,
"Just so w-a pet phrase which served it
to express the most subtle meanings, ap-
parentlv, and in which it seemed to jeer
|
at my emotion.
This was the third morning had waited
for news of Dick-poor Dick, light-heart-
ed, high-spirited Dick who had taken up
his cap and left after his last word-battle
with Aunt Margery. This blow had taken
the sunshine too out of my life, and there,
as sat at the window, mentally shook
my fist at the gibberipg thing, so sheltered
and favored while he was adriit-where
What would become of Dick ? oh, what
would become of Dick The lad had al
WAYS had some business in 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 to know of his well
fare, the yearning to see him bad grown
intense and intolerable. And, rendered
irritable and distraught by my anxiety, l
had quarreled with Aunt Margery myself
Il to whom her invalid state had hitne to
excused so much, who had been her pa
tient nurse so long, and the acknowledged
peace maker between herself and the out
spoken, mpoite Dick. had fallen from
nv high estate. was an oatcast from fa-
vor--not worth so much in Aunt Margery's
eyes as this leering old parrot.
Well, need sacrifice myself no longer.
I was free to go away. Oh, how useless,
how mean and degrading. seemed all that
had submitted to and suffered
1t could benefit Dick no more. and, in
his absence, dropped its splendid apparel
of self-sacrifce, and revealed itself beg
carly and sordid tameness of spirit.
Outside of this narrow groove where |
had grubbed and vegetated there was
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 elfin
claw blinked at me from the corner of his
eye. and cried, ''.just SOP as he Topped
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 every one
was astir and at work. Dick did business
easily and irresponsibly as bird. Why
should not do businessP ? began to take
account of stock-to make mental es-
innate of myself. 1t is surprising, in this
commercial valuation of ones self. how
percentages shrink. A little hazy knowl-
edge of history, little nebulous acquain-
tance with general literature, a light touch
upon the piano-all these things look
painfully threadbare on examination, like
stage proprieties seen by daylight. l
could not settle upon any specially in
which | was pre- eminent. l must leave
my future to fate, and did so with the
delightful insouciance of youth.
So the early dawn found me at the gar
den gate, face to face with the kindling
morning, the garden quiet and odors.
Face to face, Also with old black Cesar,
the superannuated gardener, who orna-
mented his profession in red cap and
slippers. His gray old moody face, with
its scant fringe of grizzly hair, was never
an unwelcome sight to me before.
However, old Caesar knew all our troubles
He had been my childish confdant. as
well as Dicks. as tar back as could re-
member. | stepped on boldly.
Berry early, MISS" said the old man,
doubtless thinking | had come to help or
hinder him in the garden, But his eve
nance fell. Going away miss ?" he cried.
Yes, Caesar. I'm off,
Ear, miss ?''
Don't know, Caesar. how far. 1t seems
don't belong here, anyway"
"Sho, miss don't ee mind things. Old
Caesar II stan up for you. Don't ee mind
'em"
Il can't help it. Caesar"
BLESS yer soul, miss Why, miss. we
haves heap o. trouble all on US, an dar's
no telling whar dey comes from. big an
little. why. miss-scuse me, miss-rs
had dat trouble fore now wild nv little
toe, long o squeezing on pair o. Sun
day, shoes, seemed zif | couldn't stan II
nohow.'
Feared like dat little toe didn't belong
dar, nohow; was clar in de way OBJ de
odder members, an had erter be Topped
right off. But lor. miss, when takes of
dem Sunday shoes arter meetin', ! find
done sure dat little toe did belong dar-
Just dar an nowhar else-an' all ii want
ed was q little more room. See, miss P"
II see, Cesar. But good-by now, or \
sha'n't catch the train" and Viz -
affectation of carelessness hwEu on.
The garden smells and et new
morning all about me 80 n8 Ne