Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-07-03
CHAPTER TX.
A TRIp TO THE CITY.

| ShAII In.
A TRIr TO THE CITY.
Some difficulty was experienced by
Mr. and Mrs. Parsons in finding dc.
sirablc place for their daughters in San
Francisco. Ii had been determined
that the girls should do their cooking
and care for their rooms themselves,
both because it was cheaper and be-
cause their parents thought il wiser
that they should not forget, but learn
still better how to do that which in all
Igobability they would be required TO
do all their lives.
Besides this, their health would he
less likely to suffer If they took one
study less and devoted little of their
time to household duties, such as they
were accustomed to at home.
After day spent in looking, suite
of two very nice rooms wss found, at
reasonable rent, in house occupied by
one of the tutors of the school which
they were to attend; and as the family
appeared to be n pleasant one the
rooms were engaged, and arrangements
having been made for the girls to take
possession, the whole party proceeded
to see the city and the displays of agri.
cultural products and mechanical skill
at the Exposition.
| The first day was largely spent in
wandering through the department. OF
fruits and vegetables 1t was here that
thciT own products were on exhibition,
and they naturally felt more interest in
this than in any other. They took no
little pride in observing that few. If
any, eXcelied them in the quality of the
f,rtit III ,-nr,ntnl,1,. yl,litol al
many had displays which embraced
large variety of products. Next they
looked at the poultry, and here Johnny
discovered some bantam chickens and
then some large white ducks, over
which he went into ecstacies, and could
with difficulty be induced to leave for
the purpose of looking at anything else.
When they had succeeded in getting
him away and the rest of the family
were engaged in examining othtI
things, he slipped his hand out of that
of his father and started back to hare
another look.
He was missed almost directly, 1i
course; in fact before he had got out Of
sight in the crowd; but so eager was re
to get another look at the ducks and
chickens, and so fast did his short legs
stir themselves, that his father was un-
able to overtake him, and only caught
him when he paused before the coors
which contained what, TO him, were the
principal things of value in the expost-
ton.
Having recovered Johnny and im-
pressed upon his mind the danger which
he ran of getting lost or being CARVED
off if he did not keep closo to the rest
of the family. they spent some turtle.
time in looking at the collection Of
needle-work and flowers, aMl then re-
turned to their boarding place.
The next day, after glance through
the agricultural department. to ascer-
tain if their own articles woyN undis-
turhed, they went to anothei' part OF
the building to see the machinery. John
Parsons was not a machinist b. trade,
nor had he any special love for lhechan.
ism; and yet he fingered long and with
kind of fascination over tho mach;n-
cry for mining purposes, and especially
over the specimens of hydraulic inining
pipe, which We're on exhibition.
'I declare, Marty" he said =, his
Mount Shasta With that thing aud il
bitN lE't was SOlu CI1OuGH
there to pay 'em for doin' it they
wouldn't be long in tryin', I'll be
bound. / heard yesterday that com,
pany of Englishmen gre at work now
up in the hills above Us some ers, ~.
ranging for hydraulic wurks."
WELL returned Mrs. Parsonx
"there isn't any gold IN our hills, SO
they won't be wanting 70 wash them
down. anyway"
NO replied her husbnzl, thought
fully, ''there amt any GOLD *, the hills
close about us, as anybody ftOws on"
The following day they went again
through the fruit and vegetable exhibit
took another look at the fcv~ls, and
then Mr.. Parsons left them to =. alone
through the domestic department
while he went again 10 examine the inn
plements for hydraulic mining.
wonder if they will tear down cd
Shasta" he muttered to himself. "Woi~
der if they won't wash down all tho
mountains and fill up all the valleys?"
Returning to his family, they took
/ another short turn about the building,
and then returned to their lodgings
Laying off her things, Mrs. Parsons
turned to her husband and said, lttle
reluctantly, for she did not like to seem
tine first to weary of sightseeing:
'John, if you have seen enough Of
the exposition, let us go home. If not
I'll stop with the girls in their rooms
until You are ready to CO."
''You are not sick, are you, motherp"
asked John, anxiously.
"No; but am tired, and l want to
| hack bnna and rnot apI caa -
things. Home is the best place for old
folks. after ALL
'Why, mother, we are not old folks
yet, by good deal. ! feel bout as
young and spry as / did fore came to
the coast; but if you are tired and want
TO go home in the morning, / reckon
this here youngster'll be ready to 60;
eh, Johnnyp seen enough of the city
and want to get back TO the ranchp"
inquired the lads father, drawing him
between his knees.
I'm 80 if you'll buy mo the big whits
ducks, and the little banta Chickens an
jack-knife with four blades in it,"
piped the youngster, who thought he
saw "A chance to make Il po'nt in hi
mothers evident eagerness 10 ~
home.
TEL you what I'll do, Johnny" re-
piled his father. gravely, though wits. Z
twinkle in his eye, for he enjoyed the
boys "cutenesj, as he called it; 'tell
you what I'll do. don't believe
Inother would like you to have tn,
isck-knife, but I'll split the difference
and get you the ducks and the eisos.
ems"
Johnny, however, stood out. II,
wanted the jack-knife, and this looked
like the time to strike for it. His father
only laughed, and would not promise.
but that night as Johnny was being put
to bed in the strange house, the thought
OF home and the cozy cot where he
slept at the foot of his parents bed in
the, pleasant room that looked out, moi
upXi dusty streets, but upon tho vire
yard and tho orchard, came to him. and
he crept up into his fathers arms
Papa" he said, "I'ye 'cluded Ia