The Red Cloud chief., 1885-05-15

~ W NSVVNS Va 6IC StttICIs
by slow degrees, and letting their frs,
fierce anger burn itself out or give place
TO hopes born of tales Of 3 vet better
country 10 be found in some dis.an.
Stale or Territory where they would he
free TO again build themselves homes.
While in most cases the DELAY in
evicting the settlers was but ro5bing
them Of so many more years Of Their
labor, in the case OF John Parsons little
family it was. however little intended.
a blessing; for from the land already
cleared Mrs. Parsons had been able TO
make a living for herself and children,
aided only by Erastus. An orphan boy
whom out Of their native goodness o.
heart John and Martha had taken to
their h~earthstone and their affect ons
ten wears before He was now q robus,
lad Of fifteen. tanned BY the sun. tough
ened by work. and with q sturdy air 81
independence. born. in part. Of the
heavy responsibility which he had been
taught rested upon him As 1.-THE only
mar about the place" in part Of nature
itself and showing itself in his eyes. and
through the childish words and actions
which had once led John Parsons To re-
mark to his wife that 1.-THE little cub
weren't exactly lackin' in willingness to
claim what was his'n."
When Mrs Parsons had finished read
ing aloud the letter from her husband.
the little girls stood with hands crossed
upon their long bingham aprons silent
ly gazing az their mother, who as silent
~ arose, laid the letter upon the rude
mantel over the stone fireplace. and
took up her household work where she
had left it when a neighbor, in passing.
had brought her the letter.
Her mind was too much occupied
with thoughts to which the letter had
given birth for her Ia be fully conscious
Of what she did. but force of habit. born
Of the cruel necessity which compcls
nine ont Of every ten Of the wives OF
laboring men. and especially of farmers
she world over. 10 be constantly ION
the Co." always busy. always a, work
for others, held her to her usual round
Of duties, even while her mind was
busy discussing this and that plan for
the most rapid and profitable DISPOSE
ton of their little remaining accumula-
tons, dcvising this and that scheme for
adding 10 the comfort of the family upon
the long and lonesome journey which
she saw rise mp before them.
Then. too. her thoughts turned back
ward owe the past; 10 the scenes of her
girlhood; to the time when she welded
the man she loved and whom she was
now to join after long years Of separa>
ton.
She remembered how proud she had
been when he first told her of his love
and asked her to be his wife. and how
hopeful they had been. and how certain
of their future happiness when they be-
gan life p'gcther.
And then came sadder remembrances
loss Of their home through trying
to help a neighbor; the death of their
first baby hat WAS buried in the little
church-yard beside her own father and
mother, long since gone to their re-
ward and the other little one. that had
come to them only a few months after
they landed in the spot from which
they were now being driven, whose
tiny grave. she remembered with a pang
keen as the thrust of "A dagger. must BE-
left without any to care Tor it, without
a permanent inclo.ure even. perhaps to
be forgotten. obliterated. trodden upon.
But these thoughts only served 10 recall
her to herself. for with the poor. to think
of the dead is always to recall thought
to the living. the Twin. whose necessi-
ties lay claim TO every waking thought.
TO every effort of the hands and feet.
Her thoughts recalled from the past
to the present. from the dead to the
WITHOUT ccasing her work Or even
turning around. but intending IL address
the little girls who yet stood ~s.lcntly
beneath the weight of their childish
of the wonderful. perhaps dan
gcrous. Journey 10 their father which
they understood was to be taken. Mrs.
Parsons asked:
Where's Erastus?'
Her voice broke the spell which was
upon the children. and snatching their
from the bed upon which
they had thrown them when they fol-
the ncighbor in with the letter.
they whipped out Of the house aud dart
ed around the corner in the direction
from which came the sound of the boys
Across the pasture lot they sped.
catching their sua-bonnets from Of their
heats n they ran and carrying them in
their hands. until II of breath and
talking distance of the object of
search. the oldcs; girl broke ont
"Oh! Ras, what d spose? Mas GOT
a lester from pa. and he amt comm
cause he's been fruze out again.
but he's going 10 send money home for
us to 60 to California on. and sir. Peters
is a coming down right away to see if
III be ready 10 start next week.
and
why. Ras. if you amt cutt;n' up
Wall" replied the boy. his look
from that Of u very interested
to oue of set determination.
''wall. s'po>en I am? Didn' I your mother
say she wished she had some dry wood
10 wash with tomorrow? and an { these
rails dry? Guess they are. fur your
split EN- aud laid EN- up him.
self fore he vent TO California Shnd
think they ought TO get dry in six years
they are ever goin' to-"
''But they're rails" protested both
he girls at once. their INFORM idea Of
the wrong involved in the destruction
If property causing them to forget every
hing else for the moment They re
rails, and if YOU cut 'em up for wood
hey Will b. spoils and besides the cat
lie will get into the field"
"'Spose they do. who caress 'Taint
field. They stole it Wish the cat
lie would get in"
BE; they don't get many rails with
his place" he added. bringing his
IKE down with all his strength aud i'm