Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-09-18
CHAPTER XIX.
TIE MOUNTAIN RANCH.

THE MOUNTAIN RANCH.
1t was high noon when our friends
reached Phippsburg, and they were still
fifteen miles from the new homo to
which they were going.
Tho girls had not yet arrived, the
steamer on which they had taken pas
sage having grounded upon q bar
formed from the washing from the
mines.
Johnny. too, was complaining OF his
back, and his parents feared to take
him further that day over the rough
roads. .
1t was decided, therefore, that Mrs.
Parsons and Johnny should remain at
the hotel in Phippsburg, while the men
went on with the goods, and that on the
morrow when they returned, the heavy
wagon and carriage with the team which
Mr.. Blake was to have should be turned
over to him and the family should 60 on
in the spring wagon.
Small as it was, the expense of re-
naming at the hotel was sad draw on
the few remaining dollars in the posses
sion of John and Martha Parsons, but
it could not be helped and the teams
drove on and left them.
Towards evening the boat arrived,
and on it came Jennie and Lucy. Mrs.
Parsons could not leave JOHNNY to go
down to the landing, but watched ut the
hotel window and beckoned to them as
they came up the opposite side of the
street.
When the girls saw their mother they
hurried across the street to the hotel
and into the sitting-room, where she
awaited them, and IN another moment
all three were crying upon each others
shoulders.
"Oh mother, mother, it's awful to
think that the old place is lost, buried
by the overflow from those mines; is
there no way to save itP Can't 1t be
tloated off againp" sobbed Lucy, her
whole frame shaking with excitement
81 can't bear to live and know that you
and father are driven out OF your COM
Portable home and forced to begln on a
piece OF wild land again. wish you
would go to town and live and let me
teach school and support you I'm sure
could do 1t. :,
You must not take 1t so nara,
dears," returned their mother, still
holding the girls close to her. "lrue,
it is very sad TO be Obliged to give up
the old home, but no doubt we snail De
very comfortable on the new place when
we getdt fixed up little. what hurts
me most Is the knowledge tnat we may
never be able to visit you IL you go sc
far away as suppose you VIII do wher
you are married to MI. Annelsey.
I'm never marry, mother. never,
sobbed Lucy. 81 have written MIR.
Annelsey and broken off our engage
/ ment, and am going to stay with you
and father and help take care of Johnny
as long as live. You need not say q
word against it, for it is too latei the
letter is half way to New York by this
time"
10 say that Mrs Parsons was greatly
surprised at this would be put TO state
the truth. 10 say that she greatly re-
GREETED it would not be so true. -,
She had felt certain degree OF pride
in the thought that Lucy would marry
wealthy, and had sought TO OBTAIN com
| fort for the supposed coming separa
ton in the knowledge that her daughtel
could want for nothing which wealth
could buy, yet at tunes had feared ina
Lucy might not tnd happiness IN th'
union, and wondered II 1t would no
have been better 1or her TO nave mar
ried Erastus.
Especially since the last great troupl'
had come upon them, and she saw how
her husband was breaking under 1t, sh'
could not help thinking now much com
fort 1t would have been TO nm; ana u
herself, If the young folks could nav,
found their happiness IN wedding eacl
other and remaining with or near then
in their old age. And now, whHe sn
scolded Lucy little for her haste II
the matter, she could not but feel thank
tul at heart that her child was not TO g
from her, at least for the present.
Jennie joined her sister in deplorinI
the loss of their old home, and wep
! aloud and violently when her mothe
spoke OF separation, but she did no
offer to teach school to support he
parents, and when her mother gentl
bade her cease to weep she wcpt tn
harder and clung the more closely.
"Come, Jennie" said Mrs. Parsons
finally. you really must cheer up, dea,
1t is not SO bad but it might be worse
We have each other yet and no dout
shall get on nicely in the new home
and when MI Ensign gets ready, 70
and ne can be married ana live IN ga
Francisco which Is not so lar away ot
that you can come nome ana see U
once IN awhlie, ana may oe we ca
visit you-why Jennie what Is the ma
, ter; have you broken with MI Enslg
aisoF
But Jennie only cried the harder an
, clung the closer with her race hidde
, upon her mother's shoulder.
i Seeing the mability OF her sister
speak, Lucy SAID; Jennie IS marie
aireauy, nother, anu sho anu MI E'
sign are 70 start ior Snicag1 heAt $. weehi =; h;
r. Lnsign caile 70 sec ,i; nor .no ny X,
, that we got your ie,ter 'eliing us Oh u
+ oreakihg oi inc aain, anu iouhu l
: erying, anu e wnen we @ .oiu tia hilh aoouo iS
: ne ufged Jennie t a 70 marry nun MN, ~ one e,
anu nhaiiy snc consei.eu; anu M WEI WEI
l anu got clergyman, anu we an WEI
doWn INTO the PROFESSOR Parior al
!. SAW tueU luurTleu.