Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-07-11
" JUST SO,n


!. = x -. =, :, ,.;,-;...,
~ "JUST SO,''
hated Aunt Margery's parrot. Its
screaming, croaking voice, Its gurgllng
asides crooncd as it sat on it's perch. stir.
red up something in me evil and vindic'
two. Perhaps had NO natural inclina-
ton to pets. Often when I had been
over. wearied at the old farmhouse, the
sight of:motbers hens scratch.scratching
fora living had irritatcd me with sense
of .over-work. But they at least came
honestly by their living. I respected
them; but this pampered, over-fed thing
made my flesh crawl as it clung ogling
to its perch; or dropped lazily down to
pick up bi: Of cracker, nibbiing there
at with an uncanny chatter. No; I did
not3like pets. Aunt Margery did. This
ugly foreign favorite had absorbed all
her affections. l thought to myself bit
terly, as watched it that morning. She
carressed the creature; she spoke to it
endearingly; but for her own kith and
kin she had nothing but everlasting
fault anding and ceasless exactions.. d..
This was the third morning had
waited for Dick--poor Dick, light hearted,
hlgh-spirited Dick who had taken up
his cap and left after his last word-battle
with Aunt Margery. This blow had TAX
en- the sunshine too utterly out of my life,
and there, as sa. at the window. I men
tally shook my fist at this glbbering
thing, so sheltered and favored while he
was adrift--where2 What would become
of Dick? oh, what would become of Dick?
The lad had always had some business in
the city that set Ii ghtly upon him, coming
and going at his leisure; but now for
three whole days his face had not tighten
ed the gloomy house. The longing to
know of his welfare, the yearniAg to see
him, had grown intense and intole1able
And now, rendered irritable and dis
traught by my anxiety, I had quarrelled
with Aunt Margery myself to whom
her invalid state had hitherto excused SO
much, who had been her patient nurse SO
long. and her acknowledged peace-maker
between herself and the outspoken, lmpo-
lite Dick. I had fallen from my high
estate; l was an outcast from favor--not
worth so much in Aunt Margery's eyes as
this leering old parrat. 49,.
Well, I need sacrifice myself no longer.
I was free to 90 away. Oh, how useless,
now mean and degrading, seemed all
that had sub mittcd to and suffered! It
could benefit Dick no more, and in his
absence, dropped its splendid apparel of
self-sacr,fce, and. revealed itself a beg
carly and sordid tameness Of spirit.
= Outside of this narrow groove where l
had grubbed and vegetated there was a
thrilling, splendid reality Of existence.
A sort Of winged feeling took possession.
of me as I contemplated the possibilities
of the future. The parrot put up his
@eltin claw, blinked atme from the corner
of his eye, and cried; 'Just so!' as he
Topped back into his open cage. From
the window where the cage hung. could
see the glowing gardens and pleasant
lawns stretching below. and in the wist-
full hazy distance the city seeming to
shadow throueh--the bright busy city.
where every one was astir and at work.
Dick was there too somewhere. Dick
did "husiness" easily and irresponsibly
as bird, Why should 1 not do bust
ness? J. began tc take account Of stock
to make mental estimate of myself.
1t is surprising, in this commercial; valu-
alton Of ones self, how percentages
shrink. A little hazy knowledge Of his
tory, a little nebulous acquaintance with
general literature, a light touch upon the
piano. these things look painfully
threadbare on examination,s like stage
properties seen by daylight, + could
not settle upon any specially in which 1
was .pre-eminent. must leave my fu
ture to fate, and I did so with the delight.
full innocence Of youth. .: i-'+
So the early dawn found me atthe gar
den gate, face to face with the kind ling
morning, the garden quiet and odorous.
I felt sort Of sinking at the. heart not
quite in accordance with my Enterprise.
But the hustle about toe depot, and all
the sights and sounds of travel, speedily
dispelled my grief, and once in the cars,
my spirits rose to the occasion. Oh. I
would do something, be something ye:
and nibbled a bit Of cake, by, way of
breakfast, care-free and happy and conf
dent. ."'J..s =. - 80 . - ,
: The city was quite inspiring as,I en-,
tered it-so delightfully."- active and bust.
ling thtt it took my breath. People were
coming and going purposefnl and: bust
nessful, everybody seemed to have his eye
on some goal ahead to be reached in a
given time. L only walked leisurely
along, enjoying the scene, and wondering
to myself if should know Dick should I
meat him in the! whirlpool, or would he
know me. ss= IT, 81. .,:,: =
All these faces were strangers faces.
OF all these people not one had any in
terest for me. The gay scene dimnaed
for moment, and for a moment ! felt
tho chill of isolation, as the crowd swept
by, Wondered was, Dick as lonely, ,as
4wistful, as I. The question was answer
ed by a sudden. sheart-thrill, for there,
ylusty and ruddY; stood Dick before me-,
fear Iclastped his hand with unneces
sary fervor as I said. oh. Dick, where
did! you come froln2""s q 4 a.s~oie :: :,
! sWhere did yotlcome from7" respond
ed Dick, sharply. ..s :>A Il s5"i :. :; Z:
f. = Well, Richard, I can't stand;
Aunt Margery any longer r cnn't! no
and I've left, Richard. ~, ~. ~s,zr. r. e:
"Leftl", echoed DICK. .thrusting his
hat back from his forehead, and, :pluDg-
+ ing his two hands deep downin Bis trous,
|: ers pockets. :" There was none of that
CHEEKY Jingle, of small change in them
with which Dick was wont to playfully
salute my ears. This silence was onin,
Gus. "Where to go to-" added Dick
after long, portentous pause.s q y :
Going to look for business" Z {:
"Dick, how YOU tank :PEqtt' .yloa!r = " hat
on straight: and .wslk along: /. Every
lOooy lOok1q8sae pa" Asats ! = Vi
+ my DEAR" says Dick, facbtiously; and
laughing now and showingys his white
teeth, "that remark of mine to which you
take exception was prompted by the fac!
that I'm out Of job myself. :. Suppose
was in quarrelsome mood after leaving
the old lady's, for when lawyer Gudge
sot 11n0n nSfs ho,,f nool oot rre s<1,A GOrroo