The examiner., 1888-03-03

Conservative.
When Jennie and Lucy Parsons re-
turned to school again it was to San
Francisco instead of Sacramento, and
both father and ns3ther went with them
to see that they were SAFELY settled.
They were not feeling the stings OF
poverty now, md could afford little
recreation, John had sa d, and they
would attend the agricultural exhib-
ition, display some of Their own prod
uets, see the city, and m:ngle o little
with the outside world; all in addition
to getting the girls fixed in a good
boarding place.
Mrs. Parsons was not much inclined
at first to make the trip. The journey
across the plains, she sad, was enough
to last her her lifet me; besides, if she
went, Johnny would have to go, too,
and there would be no one but Erastus
remaining at home; but a little persua-
sion from the other members of the
family, and her natural desire to see
how the girls were to be fixed, finally
decided her to go, and arrangements
were made accordingly.
AS there would be no one to cook for
.Erastus, Mr.. and Mrs. Richie asked
SHIN to make his home with them for
the week during which Mr.. and Mrs.
Parsons were to be absent. but it was
finally decided that he should remain
at the place and keep bachelors halP'
rather than leave the house alone.
Mrs. Parsons and the girls, therefore,
baked an extra amount of bread and
pies, boiled a quantity of beef to be
eaten cold, and on Monday morning
Erastus drove them all to the little
town and saw them take the steamer
for San Francisco.
cit seems unfair to leave Erastns all
alone" said Mrs. Parsons, as ey
passed up the gang plank to the little
steamer. '.He ought to have gone in
stead of me; there was really no need
;of my going, and he would have en-
>joyed spending the week in the city,
seeing the sights and attending the
fair with the girls, very much"
"Oh, wall, never mind him this
time" returned her husband. HE was
down and saw the fair all alone last
year, and it's your turn now, anyway;
besides he can come down any time
when I amt too busy, and wanted
you to go. It'll do you good to get out
a little. You've worked hard all your
life, wife; both of us hes. SO fur es that S
concerned, and now that we've got
enough to be comfortable on, why, let S
fD0 COnIOTUdDlci Gudo b w utG Il 3D.
Asfor Erastus, there was strange kind
of feeling hanging over him as he mount
ed his seat in the spring wagon, in which
they had all ridden down to the steamer,
and turned his horses heads homeward.
He had not expected tob lonesome when
they were gone On the contrary, he had
anticipated having pretty good time
of it. Not that he did not love those
with whom he had always lived, for he
did love them all dearly, and, for aught
he knew, equally; and he expected to
miss the girls, who were to be absent SO
long, very greatly indeed. But just
for the week during which they were
all to be gone he should not get lonely
he had thought There was something
rather enticing in the feeling of abso-
lutte personal liberty; the thought that
there was no one, not even the members
of his own family, to throw any restraint
on his actions or to break in upon this
musings for whole week. Besides, one
or two of his particular friends among
the young men of the neighborhood had
promised to drop in and spend the night
once OF twice, and the cooking would be
but just for week. He had no doubt
but he could do it about as well and as
nicely as Aunt Martha or the girls.
4
every day, and three times day, ever
since he could remember?
1T was pity he had told them
when they had attempted TO condole
with him over the prospect of having to
cook his own meals, 1T was pity il
twenty-one years of observation couldn't
enable a man to cook decent meal OF
:victuals," and they had said no more
about it.
But now, as he turned his horses
heads away from the town and towards
home, there suddenly came into his
mind picture of the house and its sur
!roundings, and this was followed by
the queer kind Of feeling of which
have spoken. and which he did not ever
remember to have experienced before.
He could see The cottage with the
green blinds all closed as an intimation
to any passer-by that. the family was
absent. His old dog, which had come
with him all the weary way across the
plains, and had met and welcomed him
before he reached the gate on his return
from short absences, ever since they
settled in the valley, would not do sc
to-day, for he was with him in the
wagon.
The dog had become too old and stiff
/
as a general thing, and preferred re-
manning at home with the family when
Erastus drove the fruit wagon to town,
but when he saw preparations taking
place for the trip to San Francisco, he
had pricked up his ears with evident
interest, and when til } entire family
came out to get into the wagon, old
Bose was close at their heels, and nei-
Their eoaxing nor threats could induce
him to remain behind when the wagon
| started.
Evidently he thought that another
| journey across the plains was to be un-
dertaken, and though much preferring
to lie in the sunshine and keep the
chickens out of the front yard, to any
more 1aborious service, he would yet
have undergone any torture rather than
be separated from the family, and a
| look of pain and mortified pride came
into his honest eyes when told by his
master that he must remain and watch
| the house, and instead of obeying he
crept close to their feet and looked
| piteously up as if begging them not to
leave him behind, now that they were
| going away, never to return. And so
| they patted him on the head and called
| him good fellow and "brave old
| Il Il 4 L h4