The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-09-06

speak to one who seems so utterly
selfish. Oh! why did | never think
Of 1t in that light before? II is that
which has made him SO cold to me ever
since Mr.. Annelsey 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,
If l could only die.''
By this time, however, Erastus had
partially recovered from the blow
which had fallen SO suddenly. If not
unexpectedly. and was able to take up
the thread of the conversation where
Lucy had dropped it; and Jennie, anx-
ious not to reach home in such q
frozen silence as to attract the 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 a gayer mood, and attrib-
uted it to joy at being home again after
such long absence.
When Mrs. Parsons told her husband
Of Lucy's engagement he remained
silent for time and then said:
Il s'pose its natural. Marty. an
what's natural is gineraly right. but
someway I'm afeard Lucy will be sorry
fer it some dav.
Il amt got nothin' in particular a@in
the young man. but Id heap rnthcr
she d a married Rastns. an / feel ccr-
tain he'd asked her ct Mr.. .AnnclScy
hadn't got 10 his way and he seen that
Lucy kind o took to him; though |
never could make out that she loved
him 50 very much while he was =
comm here to see her.
MAY be its all right rs it is ho
continued. after moments pause. AT
least she won't want fer somcthin' to
eat or to wear. An may be j: don t
make any odds how it's got, only SO
You get It.
Il used ter think he went on. '.that
nobody couldn't 20 to Heaven that took
what they hadn't earned, bu. ! d'know.
May be there amt no Heaven 'cr no
He'll; an no right and no wrong-that
we re just put here like III. wild beasts
to fight fer what we ri, anl that them
that can git the most is the best fcllcrs.
If \ man or child is hungry and
takes loaf of breal, they send him To
Jail, because that's vi'la,ion Of tho
law; but eff he has money to start on an
brides Congris to pass law SO he kin
rob lot Of poor folks Of everything
they have. as fast as they can get any.
thing together, why. they're maxim
money because they'ye got more talents
than other fcllcrs have; and ,crybody
is entitled to all they can make in tbs
country!
Il don't believe Christ ever taught
any SIGH doctrine cs that, but there is
them as pertends to be His followers
and to speak for Him as is always cud.
dim to the rich. KNOWN, too. tina,
no man can get million of dollars
without gettin' some that belongs to
other folks.
wall, Annelsey's rich. an Lucy II
be his wife an dress in silks and satin.
and hope she'll be happy May ID
when we re dead an gone lie II let her
take care of johnny. IT the boy outlives
u. There ought TO be some good come
out of % much sutlerin'. an may bl
luNt ~ lit why IL Al vOIIlC.
Il wouldn't take cent Of it myself
ef was dy.n' Of hunger, but cf some
time Johnny should need their help il
won't be gift exactly, for the company
that's putin dollars into Annelsey' 1
pocket is tasin EN- on, of ourn, an
though they amt the same dollars cx-
actly, it amounts to the same thing =
lisa robbin' of US to gel rich them
selves
A few days after this Erastus inform.
ed Mr.. Parsons, and, later in the day.
the other members of the family. that
when the hurry Of tic season was over
he intended to leave them and strike
out for himself
He hoped tina. they wouldn' feel that
he was deserving them, for he would
never do that; but he was now two
years past his majority, and ought to
begin for himself. and a number of
young men Ut his acquaintance were
going down to the Music Slough
country to take up land. and he had
decided to go with them.
This decision of Erastus was the
cause of much regret on the part Of
John and Martha Parsons. They loved
him as their own son, and had hoped
and planned that when he should start
for himself it should be in the imme-
date neighborhood of their own nome,
if, indeed, he did not marry one Of tao
girls and remain always with them.
They readily conceded his right to
go. however, and as there was now
little prospect that they would soon be
able to buy him . place they did not
wonder that he wished to leave them
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 to
his going which would not appear
purely selfish.
At first they insisted that he take the
few hundred dollars remaining in bank,
and \ pair of horses and wagon.
The money he positively refused to
touch, except q few dollars necessary
to enable him to make tho journey to
the Slough, although both The girls
joined their parents in begging him to
do SO. and declared they would remain
home from school, or even teach school,
rather than permit him who had done
SO much 10 aid in accommodating what
they possessed. to leave without any
thing.
Finally it was agreed that he should
take q pair of thrce-year-old colts and
one of the wagons. together with pro-
visions and money sufficient TO last him
until he could reach his destination,
look about him little and decide lust
what he would do.
During the time intervening before
the day set for his departure he worked
even harder than usual, that he might
leave the fall work in good shape and
SO relieve Mr.. Parsons as much rs pos
sible. The colts, too, were harnes scd
every day and made to do some light
work that they might be hardened i
little before starting upon the journey,
which, although not such very long
one. would yet be hard one on mi
mails of their age.
1t was very sad household, that OF
John and Martha Parsons, during these
few weeks Of work and preparation;
perhaps the saddcst that had ever gath
cred ahnuf THAR hoo ~