Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-08-06
CHAPTER K.-CoSr1N,-rn

and he kissed his boy goodnight and
went out and bought the ducks and
chickens, and arranged to have them
put on the steamer in the morning. If
the girls had been allowed a voice in
determining the going home of their
parents the vote might not have been
SO unanimous, for they dreaded be-
ing left alone in the great city; but
knowing they could not detain their
parents many days longer anyhow, and
that their mother, as she said, was tired
and wanted to get home and see to
things, they interposed but few objec-
tons. SO the next morning good-byes
were said, with many injunctions on the
part of the mother, and with kisses, and
hugs, and tears, and promises to write
often.
The girls did not go down to the
wharf to see them off. for they feared
the getting back to their rooms; and
besides it was better to say goodbye
where no strangers eye could see the
tears which they knew would come at
the parting; and so chose to part at
their lodging where they could have a
good cry all to themselves Just as soon
as their parents and Johnny were out
of sight.
Mr.. Parsons left them all together at
the last moment and went down to say
goodbye to the professor in whose
house they were, and toward whom he
felt kindly, as he was to be in some de-
gree the protector of his daughters dur
ing their stay at school. He found him
in the sitting-room and shook his hand
heartily.
Goodbye, professor. goodbye" he
said. ''Take good care of the girls;
mother and l think a heap of 'em.
You'll find 'em good girls, too. profess
sor, and smart; take after their mother
the girls do; both of 'em. Well, good
bye; let us know if anything goes
wrong with 'em anyway. and don't be
afraid that their bills won't be paid. I'm
good for anything l contract for. l
reckon.
Come mother Goodbye girls
Come Johnny, we must hurry or we'll
miss the boat" he called from the foot
of the stairs, and a moment later they
were gone and Jennie and Lucy were
alone and having their cry out all by
themselves.
Il don't know how we are to get
home from town when we get there"
said John Parsons as they neared the
landing that afternoon. .'Erastus
wasn't to come for US until tomorrow
night
'.May be some of the neighbors will
be in" returned Mrs. Parsons. '.Most
likely they will; if not we will manage
some way. 1t appears to me as if l
had been gone an age and 1 must get
home tonight if l have to walk. How
do you suppose Erastus is getting along
all alone?H
..Oh 'Ras is all right replied her
husband. Don't you never fear for
him. If he amt capable of takin'
care of himself ther amt no young
Teller around these diggins as is.
Likely he's little lonesome but he's
gettin' on well enough, never you fear;
and home1l seem all the cheerfuler
for our hayin been gone. Thet's a
pint kin speak from experience ON,
fer l kept bach myself fer better'n six
years, while you and the babies was
back in the States; and l don't never
want to do it again"
As our friends had hoped, a neigh
Dor was in town with his team, and
gladly offered them a ride out. He
could not carry the ducks and chickens,
however, and they were left with other
purchases for Mr.. Parsons or Erastus
to return for on the morrow.
1t was nearly dark when, coming
over the last rise, they looked down
upon their own home, with the orchard
and vineyard and the rosebush that
clambered over the wide porch, fairly
covering it with wreaths of bloom, and
gave a sigh of relief at their journey
ended.
Johnny was already asleep in his
fathers lap when the wagon drew up
at the front gate, and Erastus, sur
prised at their unexpected return. came
out to meet them.
back" he said, as they entered the
house; s.but 1 had rather you had de-
layed another day, or at least until
morning. 1 had promised myself to
wash up all the dirty dishes in the house
tonight if it took all night to do it, and
now you have come and caught me
with it undone and the house in ter
rible fix
Mrs. Parsons laughed. Didn't
tell you, John, that 1 ought to come
home and see to things she said. "a
man don't know anything about keep
ing house,
But you can't guess what I've got,
broke in Johnny, now fully awakened
and conscious of where he was. Three
big white ducks and two little banty
chickens, n I'll bet my banty rooster
can whip your big Shanghai"'
"Oh. no! so you are sporting man
from the city, are you?" returned
Erastus, taking the lad up and hugging
him. ''Well, you wait until you get
your chickens home, and if they ain t
too awfully fierce-looking I'll put up
my old bob-tailed Shanghai against
your bantam rooster. and if the banta
ticks, you shall have them both and I'll
get you jack-knife in the bargain, and
If the Shanghai whips I'll have the
banta and the white ducks. What do
you say; will You do it?''
This was poser to Johnny. He had
been very certain that his bantam could
whip the big. clumsy Shanghai, whose
cowardice was proverbial among the
members of the family, and who was
only kept for the ridiculous appearance
which he cut with his long legs and
tailless body, for which latter old Bose
was generally held accountable, but the
ready assurance with which Erastus
offered to back "old Bob," as they called
the Shanghai, against the bantam,
aroused a fear of the result; and much
as he coveted the jack-knife, he feared
to risk losing the bantam and the ducks,
and no amount of .bantering could in
duce him to agree to the wager. He had
a better scheme in his head He waited