Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-06-12
CHAPTER III.
TIE nEuNION.

''SUcn llJIlp DlIS OI lOlS WIltH HC lckb
them did not know how their father
looked, and would not have known it
was he but for the greeting he gave TO
their mother and themselves. s..
1t is doubtful, on the other hand II
John Parsons would have known his
girls had he met them unexpectedly.
They had grown wonderfully, he
thought; so much more than he had
imagined.
True, he had countc the years that
had flown, and had said: Jennie Is al
most eleven now, and Lucy past nine, \"
but what did the passage of years sig
nifty when memory had all the time
pictured them babies, Just rs he had
seen them before the Years had come
and gone
Erastus, he thought, had not changed
so much He was quite lad when he
saw him last, and he was not fully n
man now. He had grown, of course,
and hia II manly mir and look, but he
was not yet sixteen, and then we always
expect boys to grow. He had seen
boys on the streets of Sacramento and
elsewhere of all ages and sizes, and
Their forms and faces had somehow
mingled with the form and face of
Emstus and had helped TO obliterate t o
picture of the lad as he saw him last
and form new and much trucr one
of the real Erastus whose hand he now
took and held with n grasp that warmed
the loys heart toward him anew.
leave the horses stand bit and
come into the house with mother and
the girls" he said; two will care for
them by and by"
But the boy replied that he would
rather care for them mt once and could
easily do it without help. rs he was ac-
customcl to do. They were tired he
said, with the long drive. rs they had
all been determined to get through that
night, and had broken camp early and
driven hard.
"Ycs, John" interrupted Mrs. Par
sons, lit has been long drive and n
hard one; not to-day only, but so many
days; and I'm so glad to think that we
are not going TO have to hitch up again
in the morning; but that our journey is
ended at last, and that we are all to-
gethcr again" "
81 didn expect so nice home" she
added, coming close to him and look
ing up in his face while her eyes filled
with tears. "And oh! | am so glad we
have n home of our own once more.
am sure we shall be very, very happy
here And she felt hurt when her fus-
band roughly turned away and began
helping Erasius with the animals.
She supposed, however, that he was
asham,d d to let her see how deeply he
~ az hn tbN,,,,l,t - III
being together, and of the happiness
which was sure to be theirs, now that ii
was so; and she felt very certain that
this was the case when Il minute later he
came back, and putting his arms around
her shoulders, said:
"Come Martha. come babies, lets &C
in and see the new home from the in
side" and led her up the steps to tho
porch, and then into the main room O.
the cottage
How'll she do?" he said, motionins
with his hand about the room.
His wife noticed tina. his voice wal
broken rs he said it, but she did moi
wonder at it, for her own voice was no
to be found at all Just then, and sinkin.
into chair she put both hands to he
lilCe illu SaNc way w tcdlS lHdt WOul'
come in spite of her
When she could control her voice sh
said.
please don't think me foolish, John
I'm so happy l Just can't help crying
Indeed, dn't expect anything half 81
comfortable and nice, and now that W
are all together again in n hGme of on
own, can think of nothing else wort
asking for"
Going behind her chair her HUSBAND
took her hands in his own, and, stoop
ing down, kissed her twice, and wa
silent for time Then he said huskily
'1'm glad we aie together again
Martha, and don't mean we shall eve
be parted any more. Now you res
while l 90 and help, Rastus with TIN
horses and turning he left the house
When he came back in company wit
the boy he found his wife busy prepar
ing their supper, the material for whicl
Jennie and Lucy were bringing from
the wagon.
John brought out his own stores t
| add TO those of the travellers, and sool
the family were seated about the table
at the first meal eaten together for S,
many years; indeed, the first meal tina
the girls could remember to have eve
o'1Eu Th ~ eo,,apy oupaIy mi..i ,noit "a ,d'nua,
,oaardinn tb" f,,adpds d;h !" 10 ST. Statas '" "U. om,
tbs iomr1ou WV whioh wos inst andsd 1, q
hapnily and at n late bour the famil
rcf;rnj to rest mon such beds ne coni,
be imnrovised from the stock in th
WAGON added tn that which the husban,
and father had been able to provide /,
view of their coming. and soon ali wer
sleepino the blessed sleen that come
from weariness and a feeIin~ of havin
nasscd safely tbrongb much of dance
all but John Parsons. who. despit
his last night of waling slent Int little
and arose in the mornino with a Iool
that showed his wife Mt once that ther
was sometbino upon his mind. n knowl
edoc Of which he was striving to kee,
from the family. and instantly she re
called what had been told her by som
friendly sauatters near whose cabil
tbey had canned the second nipht OH