Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-06-22
d" j U S T SO"

tLooIed a. IL sat on lts perch, stirred up some
thing evil in me evil and vihdiciive. Perhaps
had DO natural inclination to pets. Often
when had been OyeTwearied at the Old home
farmhouse, the sight of mothers hens scratch
a sense of OverwOrk. But they at least came
honestly by their living. i respec. Il them; ;
but this pampered, Overfed thing made my
dropped lazily down to pick up bit OF cracker
Nib ing thereat with an uncanny chatter.
No; did not like pets. Aunt Margery did:
her affections, thought to myself bitterly, as
/ watched 1t that morning. She careSsed the
creature: she spoke to it endearingly; but for
her own kith and kin she had nothing but
everlasting fault finding and ceaseless exac-
tiOnS.
A few tears dropped down upon my hands
as sat there. The parrot, blinking down up
on me, drew up one skinny claw, scratched its
emerald head, and screamed, Just SOFA
pet phrase which served it to express the most
subtle meanings, apparently, and with which
ii seemed to jeer at my emotion.
This was The third morning 1 had waited for
news of Dick-poOr Dick, light-hearted, high
spirited Dick who had taken up his cap and
Margery. This blow had taken the sunshine
too utterly out of my life, and there, as l sat
at the window. mentally shook my fist at
while he was adrift-where? What would be
come of Dick? oh, what would become of Dck9
The lad had always had some business i'm the
city that sat lightly upon him, coming and 60
lays his face had not lightened the gloomy
house. The longing to know OF his welfare,
The yearning to see him, had grown intense
and intOlerable. And now, rendered irritable
and distTaught by my anxiety, / had quarrelled
with Aunt Margery myself to whom her in
valid state had hitherto excused so much, who
lad been her patient nurse so long. and the &C
knowledged peace maker between herself and
the OutSpOken, impOlite Dick. / had fallen
from my high estate; was an outcast from
a =
Well, need sacrifice myself no longer. |
was Tree to 90 away. On, 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 apparsl of Self-Sacrifce, and revealed
itself b' ggarly 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 cOntempia-
ted the possibilities of the future. The parrot
put up his elfin claw, blinked at me from the
corner of his eye, and cried, Just So" as he
Topped back into his open cage. From the
window where that cage hung could see the
glowing gardens and pleasant lawns stretch
ing 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 was there too somewhere. Dick
did business - easily and irresponsible as
bird. Why should not i do business? began
10 take account OF StOCk-tO make mental
estimate of myself. 1t is surprising in this
commercial valuation of ones self, how per-
centages shrink. A little hay knowledge of
history, little nebulOus acquaintance with
general Ii erature, light touch upon the
PianO-alI these things look painfully thread
bare on examination, like stage properties
seen by daylight. | could not settle upon any
speciality in which was pre,eminent. | must
leave my future to fate, and did SO with the
delightful insOuciance of youth.
SO the early dawn found me at the garden
cate, face to face with the kindling morning,
the garden quiet and odors. Face to face,
al u al no N tod
gardener, who Ornamented his profession in
red cap and slippers. His gray old monkey
face, with its Scant fringe of grizzly hair. was
never an unwelcOme sight to me before. How.
ever old Caesar knew all our troubles. He
had been my childish confidant, as well as
Dicks, as far back as l could remember. /
stepped on boldly.
Berry early, miss, said the old man, doubt.
less thinking had come, as often before, to
help or hinder him in the garden. But his eye
caught sight of my satchel; his countenance
fell: Going away, MISC he cried.
es, Caesar, I'm off,
Don't know, Cesar how far. 1t seems l
don't belong here, anyway
''Sho, miss, don't ee mind things. Old Caesar
II stan up for you. Don't ee mind EN-
:" i can't help it, Caesar
"EleSS yer soul, miss! Why, miss, we HAYES
a heap o trouble, all on us, an dars no telling
Whar dey comes FROM big an little. Why,
miSS-scuSe me- misS-IS had dat trouble fore
now wild my little toe, long O. squeezing on
L
stan it how. Feared like dat little toe didn't
belong dar. nOhOW; was clar in de way OBJ de
Odder members, an had Orter be Topped RICH
off. But, lOr miss, when takes off dem Sun
day shoes arter meetin', find done sure da
little toe did belong dar-just dar an nOwhar
else-an' all il wanted was little more room.
See, MISE
Il see. Cesar But good-by now or sham.
catch the train" and with an affectatiOn
carelessneSS hurried ON.
The garden smells and the sweet new morn
a a hot mo l1trI tr,p
but on walked steadily, till, looking back a.
The turning of the road, saw old Cesar stand
ing under the pOplarss waving his red cap at
me. He too, it seemed, acquieSced in the des
my that was sending Inc adrift. felt SOr
If sinking at the heart not quite in accord
tDce with my enterprise as the winding road
shut him from view. But the hustle about the
depot, and all the sights and sounds of travel
>peedlly dl>peiled my grief and once in the
cars, my spirits rose to the occasion. Oh,
would do something, be something yet and
caIe-free and happy and confident.
The city was quite inspiring as entered it :;
so delightfully."- active and bustling that it took
my breath like a draught of efferveScing
champagne. People were coming and going
purpOSeful and buSineSsful everybody seemed
o have his eye on some goal ahead to be
reached in given time. l only walked lefs-
urely along, enjoying the scene, and wonder
ing 10 myself if L should know Dick should l
meet him in this whirlpool or would he know
Inc.
All lIcSc lGCcS were SIIduStTS faces. VI all
hese 1T Ople not one had any interest for me-
Tie gay scene dimmed for moment and for
Il moment | felt the chill of isolation as the
crowd swept ly. l wondered was Dick as
lonely, as WiStfu, as |. The question was
answered by a sudden heart thrill, for there,
lHsty and ruddy, stood Dick before me.
i fear / clasped his hand will unnecessary
1erVor as ! said, "Oh, Dick, where did you
Come FROM
Where did you come from?" responded
DICK, sharply.
= Well, Richard, / can't stand Aunt
NarGery any longer-l can't! 10, and Eve
left. Richard "
Lett echoed Dick, thrusting his hat back
rem bis forehead, and piunging his two hands
Cetp down in his trousers pockets There was
none OF that CHEEKY jingle of small change in
the III with which Dick was wont to plaVfuIIv
salute my ears. This silence was ominOmS
Were To COZ added Dick, after long. DOr
tentiOuS pause.
Going to Look for business"
An"
Dick, how you talk. Put your hat on
straight, aid walk along. Eyerybody's look
ing at us
My dear, says DICK, face iously. and laugh.
ing Low and showing his white teeth, That
remark OF mine to which you take exception
was prompted by the fac; that I'm out of a lob
myself. suppose was in quarrelSOme mood
after leaving the old lady s for when LAWYER
fudge set upon me about negecting the cor
itsEondenCe, copying, and the like slayish
business, turned upon the old brute and we
had bl0w-up. I'm out on the world dear
with capital of tw enty five cents to begin on
Fer two homeless waits that sum Was not
extensive. L m nr,tn ~