The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1901-03-02
.EREe=PHGRIMAGKS.
BY MARTHA PIERCE.l
49,. For The Courier .

WIS "a9uou W ~ iOu pr
grimage. Brother and /, strange coup.
tries for to see," but there was really no
place, within our reach, which held for
US sught that was new or strange. We
had explored the creek for miles up and
down, and after while we had learned
that, one mile Of it was very like anoth-
er. The violets grew in different places,
to be sure and there was rather more Of
sumach, or less of bitter-sweet, but such
variations we're too slight to induce jour.
neys. once We were convinced that there
were no caves, stored with old plumber,
to be discovered, nor bits Of rusty ar
NOR or other sar gear. to be unearthed,
with all our digging 10 what we consid.
cred likely places. As for the violets,
they were lovely enough, but why 60 far
to find them when they grew. as sweet
and as abundant, stones throw from
the play ground. And we were sure no
place up or down so richly abounded in
sturdy sumachs, and looping grape
vines. and the strange berried bitter
sweet. as this same dim nook, under the
three gisut elms. where our swing sway
ed in the wind.
There was the farm, yes. But we
knew every bill and hedge row of it.
We had counted all the pigs and calves
and chickens over and over, and We even
knew where to find the turkeys nest.
We knew 80 much more than grandfath-
er. For he could not find turkeys
nests. Whenever old Speckle hid hers
away. he had to send at once for us to
come and find it for him.
We visited the neIghboring farms in
hope Of diversion. We had good times,
but we always said when we came home,
that all farms were alike, except grand
fathers which was the best OF them all.
So life went on in a humdrum way.
Do what We would. we could not scare
up an adventure.
In June, just as holidays were begun,
an old friend Of our mother came from
ever go far away, to stay for few days.
She had with her, a daughter, Minnie.
Quite the grandesr girl We had ever seen
was Minnie. She never asked her moth.
or, if she could. She did whatever she
wanted. And when her mother said
"Minpie!" she tossed her head and some
times Was saucy. Our mother did not
know Of these things, for Minnie always
behaved we'll before her. And mother
said to Brother and me, What a sweet
child Minnie is" and more particularly
to me she said, IL am glad to observe
that Minnie is not Tom boy"
When they were going away at the
end Of the week they wanted to take me
with them. As Minnie's mother was to
return the next Thursday and would
bring me back, mother said / might go
II I wished. did wish, very much, for
it Immediately occurred to me that l
should at last ste new lands. l was sor-
ry that Brother could not 60 too, but
mother said it was impossible because
he was not invited. told her to ask
the stupid woman to invite him then,
but she said she couldn't do that. So l
was forced to 60 alone. 1 was a little
afraid at the last, when we drove away,
through the clear, June morning, but
when I had blinked hard and swallowed
a good many Jumps in my throat, l be.
gan to see that the sky was very blue.
and the sun very bright and the fields
very fresh and green, and to feel that
after all it was good to be alive and go
ing to new place. We went long
way. Once We passed q great tangle OF