Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1903-07-24
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! 0ul on the Pampas
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Observation-Disclosures 2SS2222Sso2e25cS2SeSe,
BY q. A. HENTY

or in the prairies."
"Oh, that would be jolly" Charley said.
Il know, papa, having fights with In
dams, and all that sort of thing. Oh, it
would be glorious!'
'Well, Charley" his father said, smil-
ing, Il do not know that we shall have
fights with Indians, nor do 1 think it
would be very jolly if we did. But we
should have to rough it, you know; you
boys would have to work hard, to help
me in everything, and to look after the
cattle and sheep"
what fun! what fun" the boys both
shouted; 1--WE should like it of all things
in the world"
"And what do you think of it, Maud
and Ethel?' their mamma asked the two
little girls, who were looking very sur
prised, but rather doubtful as to the
pleasure of the fights with Indians. You
will have to be two very useful little
women, and will have to help me just as
the boys will have to help papa. Very
likely we may not be able to get SER
want there, and then we shall have TO do
everything"
"That will be fine, mamma" said
Maud, who was rather over twelve, while
Ter sister was just eleven. II don't think
[ could cook, but you should cook, and l
Hould scrub and do all the hard work,
and Ethel could wash up, and lay the
Gable, and that sort of thing"
This affair is serious business" said
Mr.. Hardy, "and although hope and be-
lieve that we shall all enjoy our life very
n1, et.l ,,,I
look upon it in earnest, and not as
sort of game. have business here which
l cannot finish before another eight or
nine months. Let us all make the most
of our time before we start. In the first
place, the language of the people among
whom we are going is Spanish, and we
<lust all learn to speak it well before we
,eave. For the next three months we
will work together at grammar and eXer-
cises, and then | will try and get some
Spanish teacher to live in the house, and
speak the language with us until we go.
In the next place, it will be well that
you should all four learn to ride. / have
hired the paddock next to our garden,
and have bought pony, which will be
here to-day, for the girls. You boys have
already ridden little, and l shall now
have you taught in the riding school. l
went yesterday to Mr.. Sarls, and asked
him if he would allow me to make an
arrangement with his head gardener for
you to go there to learn gardening. He
at once agreed; and have arranged with
the gardener that you are both to be there
every morning at six o'clock, and are to
work until nine. From breakfast to din
ner you will have to yourselves. From
two till half-past four you are to learn
carpentering. l have made an agreement
with Mr.. Jones to pay him so much to
take you as a sort Of apprentices for the
next nine months. In the evening we
will all work together at Spanish. 1t will
be hard work; but if you want to be of
any real use to me, it is absolutely nee
essary that you should be able to use u
spade and to do rough carpentering. AS
the time draws on, too, shall ask one Of
the farmers near to let you so out with
his men and get some notion of plowing.
Well, what do you say to all that?"
But you have not told us yet where
we are going to, papa" Charley said.
I'VE are going to farm upon the banks
of one of the great South American riv-
ers-probably the Parana, in the Argen-
tine Republic"
Mr.. and Mrs. Hardy watched their
children from the window. They went
out in a group to the summer house in
the corner Of the garden, all talking ex-
citelly. Then Maud ran back again to
the house, and in a minute or two return
ed with the school room atlas, and open
ing it upon the table, they all clustered
over it in eager consultation.
Mrs. Hardy turned to her husband with
a smile. you will have to get up the
subject, Frank, so as to be able to answer
the innumerable questions you will be
asked"
Il shall always refer them to you"
There was quite talk when it was
known that Mr.. Hardy was going to
emigrate with his wife and family. He,
and his father before him, had been so
long established in the town that there
We're few people who did not know him,
more or less.
Emigration in the year 1851 was far
less common than it is now. and the inter-
est was proportionately greater. Charley
and Hubert became quite popular charac-
ters among their school fellows, who,
whenever they met them, would always
stop to have II talk about the distant
country to which they Were going.
After four months gardening. Mr.. Har-
dy placed the boys with farmer who
lived a mile distant, and made an ar
rangement for them to breakfast there.
so that they now remained at work from
in the morning until II. Here they
obtained some idea of harnessing ami
driving horses, of plowing, and of the
other farming operations.
One day Mr.. Hardy said to the boys:
There is no reason why you should not
be able to shoot as straightly as n man.
and have therefore bought two carbines.