Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-19

! J ever buoyant; so long as they have nc very grave sorrows of their own, the sorrows of others, even those they love best, can not prevent the occas; ;ona overflow of youthful spirits in merry laughter, and the young folks of the Parsons household had always expected that in some way the clouds that over. shadoweo them for time would be lifted. and that the warm sun of love and prosperity would be found to have permanent abiding place in their firm ament.
 But now all knew to a certainty that | the family circle was to be broken, and broken somewhat rulely.
 To Lucy there constantly came the thought that Erastus was going be- cause of his love for her. althoug gh he made no sign and she could only sur- mlSe.
 She realized. too, more and more. how dearly she loved him, and that a union with Mir. Annclsey, separating her as It would do from all she held most dear, would not bring her happi- ness. She saw now that her lover had no influence which could be used to aid the settlers in obtaining justice from the mining company, and that, even if ne should be generous enough to give rect personal assistance to her own family. which somehow she doubted, her father was far too proud to ac- cept it.
 Then the thought which had come to her during the ride home from the landing, when the announcement of her engagement had been made, that her family must think her seltishly seek ing an alliance with one who was con- nectcd With the cause of their mis- fortunes, returned to her again and agaln, producing a feeling that she was excluded from their innermost thoughts ana affections, which could not but af- feet her actions, however she might struggle against it, and which. re- acting upon the others, very nearly produced the feeling she dcplored.
 Mrs: Parsons felt that her flock of younglings were about to take wing: t. at the children for whom she had la bored and planned ana lived were to % from her, in all probability never to be rrunlted on earth again. Not only Erastus. but Lucy, and then Jennie, would soon seek homes for themselves; and that, too, far away from their par cnts. who were to be left alone and lonely in their old age
 No, not quite alone. Johnny would never leave them: no matter what else might happen, tue bird with the broken wing would not leave the home nest.
 But what if the nest should be de- stroyed, and the crippled bird be left to sulicr from lack of food and shelter2
 She and John werr getting old now. She had never recugnizeI tnis as a fact before, but now she felt that it was true, Suppo>in that the ranch should be destroyed. and they in their old ago, and with a helpless child, be turned out to begin aga Il?
 Suppose-hutn no, she would not think of lt: Inc Lord would provide. They had been through many trials, and their suiierln@s had not been moro than they could beaE and she must not permit herself to be gloomy and so add to the suilerngs of the others.
 She went about her work with a cheerful air; putting Erastus' clothing i'll the best possible repair; made him new shirts and underclothes, and did many little things besides, which she thought might add to his comfort when he should be far from her, with none to do these little favors for him,
 As for John Parsons, he was simply passive.
 The gleam of sunshine which had come to him when hope revived with the begInHin:s of the work on the dam ha | died out. and he saw nothing bright in the gloom Which enveloped him.
 llc went around in quiet kind of way, saying little, but striving to add what he could to the physical comfort of each member of his family. but neither su<- gestiag nor opposing any thing,
 And now the morning of the day on which Erastus was to leave them had arrived.
 Tho wagon which he was to take had D on loaded the day before. There wss b, and bedding, his trunk containing his personal effects. and box into which Nlrs, Parsons and the girls had managed, unknown to him, to put sev- eral little articles of comfort or luxury as pleasant surprise and reminder of them when he should unpack it at the end of the journey,
 There was also a blow and q few other agricultural and mechanical i'm plemcntS, several sacks of grain for the colts, and provisions sufficient 10 last a little time after he should reach his des- tination>
 silently he took the hand of the man who had been the only father he had ever known. With all his might he strove to say good bye, but could not master his voice. and he dropped the hand, kissed each of the women in turn, and without word sprang upon the wa4 on and drove away out of their sight.
 As the family turned to enter the house. old Bose, who had appeared not eN; ctly to understand the cause of all he had seen, looked inquiringly up into their faces and then away in the direc- tion in which the wagon had disap- peared, as if to ask if tlis was anything more than the usual daily trip to town.
 Apparently convinced by the sorrow full looks of all that something grave had occurred. he lifted his nose in the air and gave q long, low, mournful howl, and lay down with his head upon his out trct he'd paws, and continued to look down the road.
 He navar ratIrnnd tO hiS ola ,>1aco