The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-30
At BLUE HOUSE LOCK.


The life of Dorcas Heaven, VINO keeps
the Blue House Lock, is somewhat
lonely and monotonous Her post Is
more or less of a sinecure, for out rev
barges pass along that bit OF the cahai.
Indeed, the canal itself, though WIND
ing through the prettiest bit OF country
in the neighborhood, is only naVlsaple
during wet season. After orou.ii
it grows so shallow that cows are wont
to stand derisively in the very mlooie
of it, cooling their legs.
Elijah. husband of Dorcas, is Ia
borer on a farm some two miles OH.
AS the path alongside the canal leads
to nowhere in particular, there Is ho'
much traffic; but when barge ooes
come Dorcas 'bustles her about sharp
ish'' and there is a great to DO. ohe
looks upon herself as more or less the
hostess of the occupants of the barge
ssThey change the weather and pass
the time of day." their destination ano
cussed, and when at length stiffness
settles down over the Blue House
when there is no sound but the CRY
of a peewit or the rustic of a water
rat in the rushes, Dorcas fetches a
chair into the doorway and sinks upon
it. exclaiming: Law! what a palladium
it have been, to be sure!'
I On Sunday morning Dorcas does not
go to church, for Elijah do like plt
o meat of Sunday" and Dorcas Is
good wife first and a good church-
woman second. She therefore defers
her attendance until evening, when
Elijah accompanies her. While the
bit o. meat is in course of preparation
he strolls round for "a bit of talk
with one "Ethni Hartman, licensed TO
sell beer and tobacco" whose mouse
of cheer lies on the outskirts OF the
town, and where the very latest cleo
pioneering news is to be had. EllJah
has been heard to express an opinion
to the effect that there amt no arm
In going to church twice for them as
1t suits, but once, along of my missuS,
be enough for l."
Had it been in Elijah's nature to De
astonished at anything, he would nave
felt some surprise at the amiablllty
with which Dorcas had lately speeded
him on his way to 1.-The Cat and Com
passes" on Sunday mornings. She mao
at one time been rather given to IN
conveniently suggesting that them
peas want sticking, and the salery be
ready for banking" when Elijah would
fain have been summing himself upon
the bench outside Ethni Harman's nos
pitable door, a mug of cider and like
minded friend beside him. He usually
fell in with his wifes suggestions, Tor
ne was a man who loved a quiet life
and Dorcas-when annoyed on Sunday
was apt to carry on her domestic
duties with unnecessary vigor far into
the night on Monday.
The fact was that of late Sunday
mornings had become for Dorcas the
cornerstone of her week, and in this
wise: 1t did not, as a rule, take lone
to get Elijah's dinner under way; this
done, Dorcas would take her chair in
to the door way and read her Bible
She generally chose the Book of Rev
elation, carefully forming the words
with her lips and following each with
gnarled and workworn forefinger. With
Dorcas, as with many other people
whose lives are somewhat hard and
monotonouS, the prospect of a suite OF
rooms in one of the many mansions
was extremely pleasant. Moreover, the
Cotteswold peasant dearly loves any
form of spectacle, and, although Dor
cas- could not pronounce, far less I'M
derstand, many of the words she met
with, there was a sense of pageant
all around her as she read; while heI
appreciation of the city which has nc
need of the sun, neither of the moon
to shine in it," was as purely sensuous
as that of any disciple of Wagner him.
self
And now a little wind and shy
scattered the apple blossoms over the
path, and the Sunday silence was
broken by a clear child voice.. To Dor
cas- such sound was as the skirt of the
pipes to a Highlander in a far country
her heart beat quick and her cheeks
grew redder, and she rushed out to
see who was a-coming'; for Dorcas
had put away four in the "ceme-
trary'' on the Peterborough Road, and
one had lived to be years old. Be-
sides, to let any one pass the Blue
House without "givin' of 'em good
day." was thing she had never done
mot once in twenty year" So she
laid her Bible on the chair, covering
it with a clean white handkerchief,
and crossed the few feet of garden
which lay between her cottage and the
towing path
A sturdy little boy, in REFER coat and
muffin cap, with round, fresh little
face, and cheeks pink as the petals OF
the apple blossom nearest the calyx,
danced with excitement on the bank
as he watched his father gathering
some yellow flags" which grew at the
waters edge. The attendant father
parents and such We're always a sec
ondary consideration with Dorcas-was
not very successful as the ground was
soft and slippery.
rs it wet down there, dad? Can l
come? Oh, get that big one just over
there! Won't muth be pleased? What
dirty boots you'll have. Shall I hold
your stick for you to cling on top
Then he noticed Dorcas Good
morning." said he, with gay courtesy.
Isn't it a fine May morning."
eft be that surely, little master!" an
swered Dorcas, in high delight. Then
1.-The little gentleman's dada"-he never
achieved a separate identity in the