Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-20
Prize Story


shaking himself free from
the girls arms. "Your uncle Frank,
my Youngest brother bought a farm in
California about two years ago and
worked a mine which yielded about
81 100000. My grandfather had a great
deal of land around Los Angeles which
was leased for ffty-nine years and the
lease is up just now, leaving all this
land to me. 1t has increased in value
from $40 to $1OO every year since Cali
fornias boom in the year 1S49. We
are to return as soon as possible to
settle our rights and then Wen buy
farm next to Franks. where my girls
can grow strong and rosy, and Carl
can have room to grow broad and
strong as we'll as tall. SO now fly
around and pack up quickly"
Mrs. Hopkins and Jessie flew around
packing their trunks, Carl stood by
looking for something to do and Mary
kept getting in the way.
Papa looked on for a few minutes
and then called Mary and Carl to
him. He seemed amused and Mary
thought she saw a mischievous twin
kle in his eye, which meant fun, and
ran to him.
Mamma and Jessie were so prcoccu-
pied with their work that they did not
notice Carl, Mary and their father
leave the room.
"Shall we take a cab or walk?"
asked Mary, skipping down the steps
to the street.
"We'll just walk, because I'm afraid
n
when she's back in America she'll al
ways want to ride said papa, taking
hold of Mary's hand while Carl walked
on the other side. Carl stuck his hands
deep in his pockets and unconsciously
began to whistle America under his
breath. Mary chatted to her father
about their new home in California,
about all the things she saw and had
seen, and what they should do when
they returned to finish their educa-
ton They turned into a large store
and Mary hardly knew what to look
at first. Having made a few pur-
chases, a watch for mamma, some
trinkets for Carls teacher and school
mates, Mr.. Hopkins left Mary and
Carl in the store to look around while
he went off on other business. When
he returned he gave one bundle to
Mary, saying, Here's something to re-
member Paris by. A Paris gown, my
fine little lady"
When they came back to the hotel
Mrs. Hopkins and Jessie were ready,
so, bidding farewell to their cousin,
uncle and aunt, who were going to
stay longer in Paris, they took a cab
and drove down to the river When
they were all safely aboard of a small
boat and were gliding, down the Seine,
Mary leaned back among the cushions
contentedly with a sigh of relief and
thought of her far-off home in America.
At the mouth of the river they took
a large ocean steamer for New York.
The girls hardly knew what they did
during the few days they were on
the ship they were in such a frenzy
of expectancy and longing for home,
which had grown dear to them in their
absence.
They had been so busy all the time
that they hadn't had time to get home
sick before.
When the highest spires of New York
and Liberty Enlightening the World
came in view Carl stood up and shouted
"Three cheers for the red, white and
blue" And all the Americans Joined
in yankee Doodle" and even some
foreigners who knew the air.
They landed late in the afternoon
and took the train for their Phila-
delphia home. Spending few days
with their friends while Mr. Hopkins
arranged his business and then bidding
farewell to their old nome Ihey started
for California. Changing cars and
sitting quiet all day grew monotonous
and they were all glad when they
stepped out of the cars in Los Angeles.
They drove out to their uncles farm
and stayed there, riding horseback
and having a good time until their
house could be built.
The crickets chirruped in the long.
dry grass of the prairies and the sun,
sinking behind the Sierra Madres. took
a last peep at little family of five
assembled on a large veranda enjoy
ing the cool Sea breeze after "a warm
summer day.
Marv and Jessie watched the chang
ing tints of the western sky as the
sun. like a great ball of fire, sunk from
sight
Mary's arms encircled Jessie and she
whispered softly in Jessie's ear,
"We're at home in lovely California
and how happy we shall be"
OLA HALL.
Vineland school: AS grade.