Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-22
CHAPTER XXI.
'OHN PARSONS GIVES ERAsrUs 4


 When the spring came, the level ground about the shanty on the mount tain side had been broken and sowed in gra h. or planted with vegetables; the sloplng ground above set in grape vines. and a hun fred added fruit trees were putting forth their buds and eiyino promise of the future.
 John Parsons was not so young and spry as formerly, but he was still in good health, and work was his only escape from thou .ht. Every day when the ram was anything less than reg ular downpour, he was to be seen at work somewhere about the premi. es. and Mrs. Parsons and Lucy lent ready assistance.
 AS the house was small. the labor of caring for it was small al,o. and on pleasant days one or both of them were to be found busily employed in the garden or vineyard.
 They made few acqualntances in their new home. There was no ne eh- hor nearer than two miles away, and not more than score of families within circle easily reached for a days visit, and of these a number were for egners, who, being unable to speak the language, d d not minglc with their American nelSnDOrS.
 Occasionally couple of women from some of the little ranches upon the other side of the mountain would come to spend the day at the shanty, but not often; and, although pleased to have them come, Mrs Parsons and Lucy did not always re urn their visits. This was not because they did not feel kindly towards their neighbors, but because they felt little inclination to 90 from home, and because they were busy, whenever the weather would admit of it. in help ng to get the place in shape to produce living for the family.
 And so the spring and summer passed, and fall came again.
 They now had an abundance of vege- tables; the two COWS which they had brought from the old place, and which found pasturage in the hol.ows of the h Ills. supplied them with an abundance of milk and butter, and even with q small surplus to sell; and ths with the chickens and turkeys that thrived SO finely and wandered at will up the mountain side and down the gorge at the foot of the level field, kept them supp jed with groceries.
 Ofclothing they had a good supply when they came. and were not obliged to purchase. either for garments or bedd ng, for some time 10 come, and so did not suffer for anything except from q sense of their losses and wrongs, and for the want of companionship.
 They heard from Jenn.e and her hus- band every few weeks. Ensign had been given the place promised him. city. in little cottage which they had bought on monthly payments, and were comfortable and happy, as young mar ried folks who are blessed with good health and plenty of faith in each other and the future always are.
 From Erastus they heard but seldom, but knew him to be at work on his claim at the Slough.
 Mrs. Parsons had written him of the destruct:on of the old home, and of thelr removal to the new, soon after it's occurrence, and also of Jennie's mar riage to Ensign and their removal to Ch4 cago.
 Of Lucy's breaking with MT. Annel- sey she did not write, thinking possibly it might not be permanent. in which case it would be better for Erastus, if still feeling attached to Lucy, not to have his hopes raised to be again dashed to the ground.
 Mr. Annelsoy. however, did not plead very earnestly with Lucy to reconsider her action in dismissing him. It was several weeks before his reply came; and then, while he expressed regret at her decision, he did not urge Ter very strongly to reverse it. Knowing that his parents would oppose his mar riage with poor girl. he had not in- formed them of his engagement. and no comments would therefore be made at its being annullcd; 2 fact upon which he now con gratulated himself.
 He nad already begun to feel his af- lection for Lucy weaken with absence; was. in fact, becoming enamored of an- other young lady in whose society he had frequently been thrown since his