The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-06-28
CHAPTER III.
THE REUNI0y.

''such little bits of tots" when he left
them did not know how their father
looked. and would not have known it
was he but for the greeting he gave to
their mother and themselves.
It's doubtful, on the other hand. il
John Parsons would have known his
girls had he met them Unexpectedly.
They had grown wonderfully, he
thought: SO much more than he had
imagined.
True, he had counted the years that
had flown, and mad said: Jennie is al
most eleven now, and Lucy past nine. !"
but what did the passage of years sig.
Nifty when memory had all the time
pictured them babies, just as he had
seen them before the wears had come
and gone.
Erastus, he thought, had not changed
SO much. He was quite lad when he
saw him last, and he was not fully a
man now. lie had grown. Of course.
and had manly mir and look, but he
was not yet sixteen, and then we always
expect boys to grow. He had seen
boys on the streets of Sacramento and
elsewhere of all ages and sizes, and
their forms and faces had somehow
mingled with the form and face of
Erastus and had helped to obliterate the
picture of the lad as he saw him last
and form new and much truer one
Of the real Erastus whose hand he now
took and held with grasp that warmed
the boys heart toward him anew.
Leave the horses stand bit and
come into the house with mother and
the girls he said; 1--WE will care for
them by and by
But the boy replied that he would
rather care for them at once and could
easily do it without help, rs he was ac-
customed to do. They were tired. he
said, with the long drive, as they had
all been determined to get through that
night, and had broken camp early and
driven hard.
"Yes. john interrupted Mrs Par
sons, lit has been long drive and a
hard one; not to-day only, but SO many
days; and I'm SO glad to think that we
are not going to have to hitch up again
in the morning; but that our journey is
ended at last. and that we are all to-
gether again"
Il didn't expect so nice home" she
added. coming close to him and look
ing up in his face while her eyes filled
with tears. '.And oh! am so glad We
have home OF our own once more. |
am sure we shall be very, very happy
here And she felt hurt when her E,ls-
band roughly turned away and began
helping Erastus with the animals.
She supposed, however. that he was
ashamed to let her see how deeply he
was affected ut the thought of their all
being together, and of the happiness
which was sure to be theirs, now that ii
was SO; and she felt very certain that
this was the case when minute later he
came back. and putting his arms around
her shoulders, said:
''Come Martha, come babies. lets 60
in and see the new home from tie in
side" and led her up the steps to the
porch, and then into the main room of
the cottage
How'll she do?" he SAID, motonlng
with his hand about the room.
His wife noticed that his voice was
broken as he said it. but she did not
wonder at it, for her own voice was not
to be found ut all just then, and sinking
into chair she put both hands to her
face and gave way to tears that would
come in spite of her.
When she could control her voice she
said
please don't think me foolish, John;
I'm SO happy / just can't help crying.
Indeed, | didn't expect anything half SO
comfortable and nice. and now that we
are all together again in home Of our
own. l can think Of nothing else worth
asking for
Going behind her chair her husband
took her hands in his own, and, stoop.
ing down. kissed her twice, and was
silent for time. Then he said, huskily
I'm glad We are together again
Martha, and don't mean we shall ever
be parted any more. Now YOU res
while | 60 and help, Rastus with thu
horses and turning he left the house
When he came back in company will
the boy he found his wife busy prepar
ing their supper, the material for whicl
Jennie and Lucy We're bringing from
the wagon.
John brought out his own stores tt
add to those Of the travellers, and sool
the family We're seated about the table
ut the first meal eaten together for $,
many years: indeed, the first meal tina
the girls could remember to have eve
eaten in company with their father.
Then followed questions and answer
regarding the friends in the States, an,
the journey which was Just ended 5,
happily, and at late hour fhe famil,
retired to rest upon such beds rs coul,
be improvised from the stock in In
wagon added to that which the husban,
and father had been able to provide il
view of their coming; and soon all wer,
sleeping the blessed sleep that come
from WEAKNESS and a feeling of havin:
passed safely through much of DANCE
all but John Parsons, who, despit,
his last night of waking, slept but little
and arose in the morning with a lOol
that showed his wife at once that ther
was something upon his mind, knowl
edge of which he was striving to keel
from the family, and instantly she re
called what had been told her by som,
| friendly sguatters near whose cabin
they had camped the second night OIL
from Sacramento: of a rumor that some
settlers, somewhere further down tn,
I valley, We're likely to lose their claim
through some cause, which those WHIT
repeated the tale did not properly
/ understand.
| 1t had not occurred to her at the tim,
that it was possible it could be John
claim that was in danger.
1t seemed strange now that it di,
not. But SO full was her mind 0
thoughts of John himself, of their com
ing reunion, and of the future wheI
they should all be together in the ne,
home, that there was no room for any
thing else: and SO she had search
heard the tale at all, or hearing it ha'
dismissed it ut once with single eN
preston of pity for the poor familie
who were to lose their ail-even as sh
and John had done back in the State
through the greed of those who ar
not content with what is justly theirs
But now she understood it.
1t was John claim that was involved
and they had come two thousand mile,
to find home and resting place, onl,
to he hidden to move on again ere the,
had shaken the dust of the long journe,
! from their Garments