Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-23
MISGUIDED AMBITION.

at looks as though we were going to
have a hard shower" said matronly
woman to her hus band, Joseph Parish, as
they sat on the piazza, in the twilight.
"Well, let it rain; thank heaven our
wheat is all in, and we never had b tier
crop-all of thirty bushels to the acre.
And now, WIFE," continued Mr.. Parish.
"we will have that new phaeton, for l
made the last payment for our farm yes
terday and, as we have both worked
pretty hard 20 accomplish it, think we
can now afford to live easier and enjoy
ourselves"
eyes, 1 think we may" replied Mrs.
Parish, "but declare, fear that Jennie
will get wet coming home from Mr.. Ma
sons.
"Oh, have no anxiety about that, " said
MIR. Parish, Dan Mason will see to that. "
perhaps SO, said his wife, but, " she
added, musingly, 81 do not exactly like
the increasing Partially that Dan and
Jennie seem to have for each other.
"Why, wife, what is the objection to
Dan there is not more honest, sensible,
industrious young fellow in the county
81 know that" replied Mrs. P, but
neither is there a more handsomer or lady.
like girl than Jennie. When Mrs. Furbe-
low, from the city, spent week here, she
said to me a dozen times, as she looked at
Jennie, What pity that you do not live
in the city, where Jennie would be the
belle of society, and would no doubt make
a brilliant marriage, for she would grace a
palace.
We'll, wife, I don't believe that the
mistress of a palace is any more happy
than the mistress of farm house."
Possibly; but, Joseph, don't want
Jennie to ploi through as many years OF
drudgery as I have had to, :"
Yes, Liza dear, you have had to work
too hard but though your tired limbs
ached with fatigue you have never had any
heartaches TO endure :" and he gently took
her hand with pressure of love that was
as grateful to his wife as kindly rain to
the withersd flower.
Mrs. Parish resumed the conversation
You know that our Eddie does not really
like farming, and Professor Morse told Mrs.
Brown that he was the most promising
youth in his academy, and it was too bad
to keep him following the pillow"
Humph = said Mr.. P, :" he could fol-
low worse things than the plow." But the
farmers wife had attacked his weakest
point, for Eddie was his only son, and a
sprightly lad upon whom his father had
built high hopes.
Mr.. Parish was ambitious for his son,
and it was the rosiest dream of his waking
hours to see that son distinguished, and all
his own old aspirations fulfilled in him.
This was not the last time the subject was
discussed, and finally it was decided to
lease the farm and remove TO the city.
There had been no engagement between
Dan Mason and Jennie, not even formal
love-making, but they were mutually at
tracted to each other, and there was sort
of tacit understanding that they loved,
and as a matter of course would sometime
be married.
"Dan, did you know that we are going
TO move away, said Jennie, one evening a;
thew were taking walk together.
"Going 90 move away p said Dan, with
unfeigned surprise, the color leaving his
face, What DO you mean ?"
"Wky, father has rented the farm, and
we are all going TO the city to live"
"Then the one hope of my life is ended,
said Dan, his voice husky with suppressed
emotion.
"Why, Dan, you goose, we are net going
out OF the world, and sometime, without
doubt, we shall come back on the farm"
"Jennie, you are going out of my world
never to return. and should you ever come
back to this place will never seem to YOU
again as now.
"Why not, DAM
II have never told you, Jennie, how
beautiful you are, for it seems SO like fat
terry. which despise, but there are plenty
besides me who see that you are, and yor
will have numerous admirers, whose ele
CANT manners and polished speech you can
not fail to contrast with my awkward wayl
and homespun talk, and l will appear in
very disadysntageous light.
40, Dan, how can you say 80 Z? Ioy
know have always, since we were chi trer
going to school together, liked you better
than any one else. | am sure that just t.
see little OF the world is not going tt
change my feelings towards you"
"Ah, You think so now, Jennie, bu'
after enjoying the glitter and excitement
of the city goa would never be content
with the quiet, humdrum life OF 3 farmeri
wife. You will there have suitors at you
feet who will plead their cause like knights
of romance. You viii be bewildered, fas
cinated, enthralled and oh, may he whit
wins your heart give you one in return a.
honest, loving and devoted as mine. But
Jennie, If You ever have need of an humble
friend like myself, remember l would sac
rifice my life TO secure your happiness"
His toll hardened hand clasped hers h,
tried to speak again, but no sound was ut
tered a silent good.by" quivered on hi
lips as he wrang the hand he held /; thel
turning, strobe hastily away. Jennie wa
astonished at the vehemence OF the usual.
quiet young man. She had never dreamer
before of the intensity of feeling that ex
listed under that placid and impertursbl
exterior. Jennie's heart was deepl
touched, and she sincerely sympathized i
his distress, and half regretted the chang
they were about to make. But she wa
only Is, and her Imagination was capt
waited with anticipation OF the new and ga
life upon which she was to enter, thong
Mr.. Parish and his wife felt, that to them
selves, this change of residence would be
sacrifice of both money and comfort; bu
it was for the sake of their children, an
so, few days later, the family was SET
tied in fashionable quarter OF the grea
city. Eddie had obtained aplace as stu
dent in a law Office. Mr.. Parish foun
city life rather irksome, and would hav
been far happier on the old farm. It wa
an anxious, toiling task, too, for his vii
to adapt herself in manners, dress an
conversation to city ways, being quite unat
customed to them. But she strove to acqui
herself well in her new sphere for Jennie
sake. As for Jennie, chaperoned by tn
fashionable Mrs Furbelow, she was Intro
duced to the gayest society, and, as pre-
dicted, became the much-admired belle
the sect or clique in which Mrs. Furbelo'
moved. For time the thought OF poe
Dan and his sad look as they parted woul
steal over Jennie, causing thrill OF pair
but it was coon forgotten in the gay Win