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

red up something in me evil and vindic-
tive. Perhaps | had no natural inclina-
ton to pets. Often when I had been
over wearied at the old farm house, the
sight of mothers hens scratch scratching
Tor living had irritatcd me with sense
, of over-work. But they at least came
honestly by their living. respected
them; but this pampcred, ovcr-ted thing
made my flesh crawl as it chung ogling
to its perch. or dropped laziIy down to
pick up BIZ of cracker, nibbiing there
at with an uncanny chatter. No; did
not like pets. Aunt Margery did. This
ugly foreign tavorite had absorbed all
her affections, | thought to myself bit
terly, as l 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 tnding and ceasless exactions.
This was the third morning had
waited for Dick--poor Dick, light hearted,
h1gh-spirited Dick who had taken up
his cap and left after his last ord-battle
with Aunt Margery. This blow had TAX
en- the sunshine too utterly out of my life,
and there as sa. at the window. | men
tally shook my fist at this glbbcring
thing, so sheltered and favored while he
was a.lrift-- where? What would become
OF Dick: oh. what would become of Dick?
The lad had always had some business in
the city that set lightly 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 yearning to see
him, had grown intense and intolel able.
And now, rendered irritable and dis
traught by my anxiety, I had quarrelled
with Aunt Margcry 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 outspol<en, 1mpo-
lite Dick. had fallen from my high
estate; was an outcast from favor--not
worth SO much in Aunt Margery's eyes as
this leering old parrat.
Well, need sacrifice myself no longer.
l was tree to 90 away. On, how useless,
now mean and degrading, seemed all
that had SUI mittcd to and suffered! 1t
i
absence, dropped its splendid apparel Of
sclf-sacr1f1ce, and revealed itself beg
carly and sordid tameness Of spirit.
/ Outside Of this narrow groove where |
had grubbed and vegeta1ed there was a
thrilling, splendid reality of existence.
\ sort of winged feeling took possession.
of me as I contemplated the possibilities
of the future. The parrot put up his
eltin claw, blinked at me from the corner
Of his eye, and cried, Just sou as he
Topped back into his open cage. From
the window where the cage hung I could
see the glowing gardens and pleasant
lawns stretching below. and in the visit
full hazy distance tile city seeming to
shadow through--the bright busy city.
| where every one was astir and at work.
Dick was there too somewhere. Dick
did >'h'SinesS' easily and lrrespons !bly
ness: ] 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. \ little hazy knowledge of his
tory, a little nebulous acquaintance with
general literature, light touch upon the
piano-all these things look painfully
threadbare on examination, like stage
properties seen by daylight, could
not settle upon any specially in which I
! was pre-eminent. | must leave my fu.
ture to fate, and did so with the delight.
| full innocence Of youth.
So the early dawn found me at the Gar
| den gate, face to face with the kindIing
morning, the garden quiet and odorous.
felt sort OF sinking at the heart not
quite in accordance with my Enterprise.
But the hustle about the depot, and all
the sights and sounds of travel. speedily
dispelled my grief, and once in the cars.
, nv spirits rose to the occasion. Oh,
would do something, be something yc:
and l nibbled bit Of cake, by way of
breakfas care-free and happy and conf
dent.
The city was quite inspiring rs en-
| tered it-so delightfully."- active and bust
ling that it took my breath. People we're
coming and going purposeful and bust
nessful, everybody seemed to have his eye
on some goal ahead to be reached in a
given time. I 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.
All these faces were strangers faces.
OF all these people not one had any in
tcrest for me. The gay scene dimmed
! for moment. and for a moment | felt
tho chill of isolation, as the crowd swept
by. 1 wondered was Dick as lonely, as
r,,i
ed by sudden heart-thrill, for there,
lusty and ruddv, stood Dick before me.
l fear Iclasped his hand with unneccs
sary fervor as said, oh, Dick, where
did you come trom2"
Where did you cone from7" respond
ed Dick, sharply.
81 Well, Richard, can't stand:
Aunt Margcry any longer-l cant' no
and I've left, Richard"
Left" echoed Dick, thrusting his
hat back from his forehead, and plung-
ing his two hands deep down in bis trous-
| ers pockets. There was none OF that
! CHEEKY jingle of small change in them
with which Dick was wont to playfully
Gus. Where to go to?' added Dick,
after a long, portentous pause.
Going to look for business
"Ah!"
"Dick, how you talk! Put your hat
on straight, and walk along. Every
body's looking at u.s.
"My DEAR" says Dick, facetiously, and
laughing now and showing his white
teeth, "that r.mark of mine to which you
take exception was prompted by the fact
that Pm out of a job myself. Suppose I
was in quarrelsome mood after leaving
the old ladys, tor when Lawyer Gudge
set upon me about ncg]ecting the cores.
pondence, copying, and the like slavisl7
business, l, t;rned upon the old brute
and we hand bIow-up. I'm out on the
world, dear, with capital of twenty five
cents to begin on .
I For two homeless waits that sum was
not extensive: I took my purse out of my
pocket, never a heavy one at any time
but now-O fate! 0 evil, careless fate =
= hole revealed itself in the silkcn tissue
| thrOugh which had Slinne1 noisolcss)u :.