The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-12

IT'S just what think" said Clara,
"and I'm going 10 say it. -,
"a farmer, a farmer, farmer i would
be-" sang Polly mcckingiy. 80, mn,
pursued clara, III wed lived when
Adam and Eve did: they were folks Just
"a much as we are" she did not note
PoIy's sarcasm in her. earnestT IS.
81 could never think ] was good enousn
20 be put in the Bible, never" said Pony
you keep still. Polly" advised her
small brother. who had somewhat re-
covered himself: ....
81 dent think I'm GOOD; return r,,
Clara, but a great many Of the people
in the Bible weren't good either not
any better than we are
just at this moment PoIly's tooth gave
a dreadful lump, causing her 20 scream
out and hold her face tightly win Do'h
hands. ,,
Il wont stay here q minute longer,
she declared angrily. hearing the Bibie
all picked to. pieces I'm going rsh'
straight home" ,,or.
ed Clara with a great sense OF relief
although she felt that she must be po-
lite in snite Of everything, on account
Of Pollys toothaehe. lin >,
81 don't think shall ever come again,
returned Polly. the tears streaming down
her checks. IL don't think my mofhef
viii Iet me" she descended the steps
with a bounce followed by the reluctant
Ned. who not being as considerate as
clara expressed himself quite freely as
they walked up the drive. .,
II don't see why I've got TO have such
q sister" he exclaimed rebeillOusiy'
when there's so many nice eiris ~ u eay
world. [ wish | could swap you OH lof
one that didn't have tantrums every
single day the way you 90. I'm ABOUT
sick Of il. I'm big enough to take car
OF myself anyhow. | don't see why ma
wants ia keep me tagging aToun9 aiIel
you-as if / was a baby he added de-
Polly quite ignored these remarks.
She walked up the drive and swung heI
short skirt from side TO SIDE Miln d"
naughty an air as she could command
but she already regretted her hasuness,
and when she reached the cypress hedge
she seated herself on the ground IN us
shadow to watch Chra's movements re-
solved to make up as; as soon d" d" W
TO Clara these long sunny days were
n new revelation. They were IKE 4
rosary Of golden beads which she was
sIipping by one by one with reinctaht
dream which vas constantly full OF ne"
surDrises The weeks seemed to ny Dy
on wings. and Clara sighed as she
thought how short the year would De
which she VAS to spend In this chartne"
spot
How well she remembered the night
she left Chicago. A year had seemed
almost q lifetime 90 Ter then. Grandma
Brown lac tucked her into fer BERN anu
then sat BY her a lOLg-lOnG time, teilnS
her of the home she was going TO-, now
happy she would be- and low well ana
strong they expected she NCuii get. But
hours after her grandma Lad LETT her
Clara was still wide awake liz tening TO
the sound Of the WhtelS OF the long
dusky train. 4 terrible homesickness
was gnawing al her heart as she real
tied that they v ere bearir fcr each
m, merit farther and farther from her
dear ones. That was two months aS0
and how different il was low. All
through the bright mcrnirgs she wan
dered about among the Grange trees,
which were intoxicating IN their ma
GRANGE and bloom The apricot orchard
was dressed in its robe Of delicate green,
and the prune trees were like snowy
clouds. On the front lawn We're the
lilaCs which reminded Clara 80 OF the
East. AMI the palms and bananas W-re
a source Of wonder and delight.
As she stood on the porch she could
gee the spires OF Pasadena giitterlng IN
the sunlight. Far back against the blue
sky the nearly peaks OF the san JaciutO
mountains We're often visible, although
Grandma Brown had told her they We're
seventy miles away. 1t al looks just
like the Celestial city in my Pilgrims
Progress al honle," thought Clara, 'anu
how good God IS to let me toe alive"
AftDr the children hdl lcIl Htf tudt
afternoon she hurried about putting
things 20 rights Flowers and pieces Of
string were scattered about everywhere,
and il must ali be in good order before
she went To the house. Al last IL was
all done, and she paused TO gaze musing-
~ at the great range Of mountains which
bounded the front rancho. They seemed
only just across the road, they were so
vivid in the clear light She could ste
the little assures in their sides and the
eVergreens. At the right the hotel was
perched Snugly in its place up on Echo
mountain. In her geography these Sierra
Madres were like chicken tracks over
the paper. Could they really be meant
for these great giant? 1t seemed impos-
sible.
one pleasant thought had run like a
refrain through Clara's mind all the
afternoon: Tomorrow, tomorrow. how
happy / shall be-" She had kept singing
ii as she flew about, and when at last
she was about 10 descend the steps she
stopped moment to study the sky. then
she laughed gieefuliy The idea OF my
thinking it might rain; OF course II
wont, and We'll bc sure TO 20, fol- grand
pa said We should If they finished har
rowing the apricots. ana Tom has just
gone up To the barn with Barney and
ToTsy. q goOdy gCOdy / shall see that
dear little San Gabriel mission and the
old-oid Spanish graveyard and the bells.
! must run right into the house and help
grandma put w the luncheon. l ought
TO have done IL sooner"
PART II.