Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-07-03
tCoputoht Secured AL Rights Reserpcd.1
Driven From Sea to Sea-,
Or, JUST A CAMPIN'.
BY @. O. POST.
fUBLIsHRD by PERMISSION OF J. L. DowsEy
& Co., PUBLISHERS, CHICAGO.
CHAPTER vIu.--coSrrSuEp.


CHAPTER VIII.--CoNTINUED.
The Parsons cottage was not the only
inviting-looking one in the neighbor-
hood, however. Others who came
with them had prospered also, and had
built themselves houses, which, if not
quite SO pretentious looking, OF so neat
in their Surroundings, as that of our
particular friends, We're at least as good
as ordinary farm houses in the States
Many new neighbors had also settled
in the vicinity, some of whom brought
little fortunes of two or three thousand
dollars, and these had opened ranches
and built houses both in the little val
ley above, and the larger one below,
clear down to the river, upon whose
banks, two-hours' ride from our
friends cottage, town had sprung up.
where all needed supplies for the fam
lily were obtained, and from which was
shipped by steamer the fruit and vege-
tables and poultry, designed either for
the mining towns above or the larger
markets of Sacramento and the sea-
port
School-houses had been built; churches
and Sunday-schools organized; the
streams bridged, roads over the foot
hills made passa' lie for wheeled We
hicles, and altogether the neighborhood
had taken on the air and responsibilities
of community that wished to be re-
garded as respectable, law-abiding and
conservative.
When Jennie and Lucy Parsons re-
turned to school again it was to San
Francisco instead of Sacramento, and
both father and mother went with them
to see that they were safely settled.
They were not feeling the stings of
poverty now, and could afford little
recreation, John had said, and they
would attend the agricultural exhib-
iGon, display some of their own prod
ucts, see the city, and mingle little
with the outside world; all in addition
to getting the girls fixed in a good
boarding place.
Mrs. Parsons was not much inclined
at first to make the trip. The journey
across the plains, she said, was enough
to last her her lifetime; besides, if she
went Johnny would have to go, too,
and there would be no one but Erastus
remaining at home; but little persua-
sion from The other members of the
family, and her natural desire to see
how the girls were to be fixed, finally
decided her to go, and arrangements
were made accordingly.
As there would be no one to cook for
Erastus, Mr.. and Mrs. Richie asked
him to make his home with them for
the week during which Mr. and Mrs.
Parsons were to be absent. but it was
finally decided that he should remaii,
at the place and keep ''bachelors hall
rather than leave the house alone.
Mrs. Parsons and the girls, therefore,
baked an extra amount of bread and
pies, boiled quantity of beef to be
eaten cold, and on Monday morning
Erastus drove them all to the little
town and saw them take the steamer
for San Francisco.
"lt seems unfair to leave Erastns all
alone" !ssia Mrs. Parsons, as ey
passed up the gang plank 10 the little
steamer. ArHe, oughtto have gone in
stead of p,e there was really no need
of my going, and he would have en-
ioyed spending the week in the city,
seeing the sights, and attending the
tar withithe girls, very much"
'Oh, wall, never mind him this
time" returned her husband. "He was
down and saw the fair all alone last
year, and it's your turn now, anyway;
besides he ncan come down any time
when i amt TOO busy. and / wanted
you to go.s It'll do you good to get out
litfla tXr,,i iua ,a1 al III
life, wife; both of us hes. so fur es that IS
concerned. land now that we've got
enough to Uncomfortable on, why let S
be comfortable; that's what say
Asfor Erastus, there was u strange kind
otfeeling hanging over him as he mount.
ed his seat in the spring wagon, in which
they had all ridden down TO the steamer,
and turned his horses heads homeward.
He had notexpected to be lonSsolie vixen
they were gone, On the contrary, he had
anticipated having pretty good time
OF It. Not that he.did not love those
with whom he had always lived, for he
did love them all dearly, and, for aughi
he knew, equally; and he expected tc
miss the girls. who were to be absent Sc
long, very greatly indeed. But just
for the week during which they were
all to be gone he should not get lonely
he had thought There was something
rather enticing in the feeling of abso,
lutte personal liberty; the thought tha
there was no one, not even the member.
OF his own family, to throw any restraint
on his actions or to break in upon THU
musings for whole week. Besides, ON,
or two of his particular friends among
the young men of the neighborhood had
promised to drop in and spend the nigh
once or twice, and the cooking would b,
but just for a week. He had no doub
but he could do it about as well and a
nicely as Aunt Martha or the girls
And why notP Had he not seen it don,
every day, and three times a day. evel
since he could remcmberP
ut was u pity, /" he had told then
when they lad attempted TO condos
with him oyer the prospect Of having u