Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-08-28

selfish. Obi why did | never think
of IL in that light beforep IL Is that
which has made him so cold to me ever
since Mr.. Annolsey first came. He has
thought all the time that was trying
to save myself from any suffering that
may come upon the rest Of them. Oh,
IL | could only diel''
BY this time, however, Erastus had
partially recovered from the blow
| which had fallen so suddenly, IL not
unexpectedly, and was able to take up
tho thread of the conversation where
Lucy had dropped it; and Jennie, anx-
ious not to reach home in such a
frozen silence rs to attract tho notice
of their mother, also chimed in, thus
giving her sister time to rally again;
and when they stopped in front of the
cottage and Mr.. and Mrs. Parsons, the
former carrying Johnny in his arms,
came out to welcome them, they
thought they had never seen their
daughters in gayer mood, and attrib-
uted it to joy at being home again after
such a long absence.
When Mrs. Parsons told her husband
of Lucy's engagement he remained
silent for n time and then said:
al s'pose it's natural, Marty, an
what's natural Is ginerally right, but
someway Pm afeard Lucy will be sorry
fer 1t some day.
al amt got nothin' in particular agin
the young man, but I'd heap ruther
she'd married Rastus, an feel GER
| tain he'd asked her eff Mr.. Annelsey
hadn't got in his way and he seen that
Lucy kind o. took to him; though l
never could make out that she loved
him so very much while he was q
comm here to see her.
| MAY be it's all right rs it is" he
continued, after moments pause. cat
least she won't want fer somethin' to
cat or TO wear An may be it don't
make any odds how it's got, only SO
you get it.
II used ter think" he went on, "that
nobody couldn't 90 to Heaven that took
what they hadn't earned, but l d know.
MAY be there amt no Heaven 'er no
Hell; an no right and no wrong-that
we re just put here like the wild beasts
to fight fer what we Git, and that them
that can git the most is the best fellers.
"If man or q child is hungry and
takes a loaf of bread, they send him to
jail, because that's vi'lation of the
law; but ef he has money to start on an
bribes Congris to pass law so he kin
rob a lot of poor folks of everything
they have. as fast as they can get any
thing together, why, they're maxim
money because they've got more talents
than other fellers have; and everybody
is entitled to all they can make in this
country!
II don't believe Christ ever taught
any sich doctriuc es that, but there is
them as pertends to be His followers
and to speak for Him as is always cud-
dim to the rich, knowin', too, that
no man can get million of dollars
without gettin' some that belongs to
other folks.
"Wall, Annelsey's rich. an Lucy'll
be his wife an dress in silks and satin,
and hope she'll be happy. May be
when we're dead an gone he'll let her
take care of johnny, eli the boy outives
Us. There ought to be some good come
out of so much suiferin, an may be
that'll be the way it'll come.
II wouldn't take cent of it mvseli
eff was dyin' of hunger, but eff some
time Johnny should need their help il
won't be gift exactly, for the company
that's putin dollars into Annelsey 8
pocket is takin 'em out of ourn, an
though they amt the same dollars eX.
actly, it amounts to the same thing
it's robbin' of us to get rich them.
selves"
A few days after this Erastus inform.
ed Mr.. Parsons, and, later in the day,
the other members of the family, thai
when the hurry of the season was ovel
he intended to leave them and strike
out for himself.
He hoped that they wouldn't feel tina
he was deserting them, for he would
never do that; but he was now tw,
: years past his majority, and ought t.
begin for himself, and a number O
, young men of his acquaintance wer
: going down to the Muss.e Slough
country to take up land, and he haC
decided TO go with them.
This decision of Erastus was th,
cause of much regret on the part o
John and Martha Parsons. They loved
him rs their own son, and had hopeC
!, and planned that when he should star
for himself it should be in the imme
diate neighborhood of their own home
! if, indeed, he did not marry one of tu'
girls and remain always with them.
They readily conceded his right tt
; CO. however, and as there was nov
little prospect that they would soon b.
able to buy him place they did no
wonder that he wished to leave then
and start home of his own.
Perhaps they OWNED some of his feel
ings for Lucy; at least they realize'
that they could offer no objections t.
his going which would not appea
purely selfish.
At first they insisted that he take tn
!, few hundred dollars remaining in bank
and pair of horses and wagon.
The money he positively refused t.
,, touch, except few dollars necessar,
!. to enable him to make the journey t
the Slough, although both the girl
joined their parents in begging him t,
do so, and declared they would remail
home from school, or even teach school
rather than permit him who had don
so much to aid in accumulating wha
! they possessed. to leave without any
i thing
Finally 1t was agreed that he shoul'
take pair of three-year-old colts ant
, one of the wagons, together with pro
,, visions and money sufficient to last hin
, until ho could reach his destination
look about him little and decide jus
what he would do.
During the time intervening befor
{ the day set for his departure he worked
, even harder than usual, that he Nigh
{ leave the fall work in good shape ant
/ so relieve Mr. Parsons as much rs pos
, sible. The colts, too, were harnesses
, every day and made to do some ligL
: work that they might be hardened
: little before starting upon the journey
, which, although not such very Ion,
' one, would yet be hard one on ami
+ mails of their age.
1t was very sad household. that @
John and Martha Parsons. during thes
few weeks of work and preparation
{ perhaps the saddest that had ever gath
| arad ohnut their hoard