Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-10
CHAPTER III.
THE REUNION.

It was true that the girls who were "such little bits of tots'F 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 is doubtful, on the other hand. if 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 had 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 years had come and gone.
 Erastus, he thought, had not changed so much. He was quite lad when he man now. He had grown, of course, and had manly air and look, but he was not yet sixteen. and then we always l 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 t Q | picture of the lad as lie saw him last and form a new and much trucr one | of the real Erastus whose hand he now took and held with a 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; ''wc 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, as he was ac- customed to do. They were tired, he said. with the long drive, as they had all been determined to get through tAat l night, and had broken camp early and | driven hard
 | :" Yes. John,' interrupted Mrs. Par sons, it has been a long drive and q hard one; not to-day only, but so many days; and I'm so glad to think that we are not going to have 10 hitch up again in the morning; but that our journey is ended at last. and that we are all to- l ge;her again"
 Il didn't expect so nice q home," she added, coming close to him and look 1 ing up in his face while her eyes filled with tears. And oh! am so glad we have a home of our own once more. am sure we shall be very, very happy here.' And she felt hurt when her fus- band roughly turned away and began helping Erastus with the animals.
 She supposed, however. that he was ashamed to let her sec how deeply he was affected at the thought of their all being together, and of the happiness which was sure to be theirs, now that it was so; and she felt very certain that | this was the case when g minute later he came back, and putting his arms around her shoulders, said:
 Come Martha, come babies, let's go in and see the new home from the in- side," and led her up the steps to the l porch, and then into the main room of the cottage
 l 'How'll she do?" he sad, motioning with his hand about the room. His wife noticed that his volce was broken as he said it, but she did not wonder at it, for her own voice was not to be found at 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
 l "Please don't think me foolish, John; I'm so happy l just can't help crying. Indeed, l didn't expect anything half SC comfortable and nice. and now that we are all together again in a home of our own. I 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
 "Tm glad we are together again, Martha, and I don't mean we shall ever be parted any more. Now you rest while I go and help, Rastus with the horses,' and turning he loft the house.
 When he came back in company with the boy he found his wife busy prepar- ing their supper, the material for which Jennie and Lucy were bringing from the wagon.
 John brought out his own stores to add to those of the travellers, and soon the family were seated about the table, at the first meal eaten together for SC many years indeed, the first meal that the girls could remember to have cvel eaten in company with their father.
 Then followed questions and answers regarding the friends in the States, anG the journey which was just ended SC happily, and at a late hour the family retired to rest upon such beds as coulC be lmprovlsed from the stock in the wagon added to that which the husbanC and father had been able to provide 1T view of their coming; and soon all were sleeping the blessed sleep that come. from weariness and feeling of having passed safely through much of danger all but John Parsons, who, despite his last night of waking, slept but little | and arose in the morning with q lOOl that showed his wife at once that there was something upon his mind, 2 knowl edge of of which he was striving to keel .el
 called what had been told her by som:
 friendly squatters near whose cabin
 they had camped the second night ou LOOK