and we all drew them out, even the newly-weds.

After supper the men took their guns and went out to shoot sage-hens.
Johnny went with Mr. Haynes and Mr. Struble. Miss Hull walked back
with Ella, and we sent Mrs. Sanders a few cans of fruit. Mrs.
O'Shaughnessy and I washed the dishes. We were talking of the Sanders
family. Mrs. O'Shaughnessy was disgusted with me because I wept.

"You think it is a soft heart you have, but it is only your head that
is soft. Of course they are having a hard time. What of it? The very
root of independence is hard times. That's the way America was
founded; that is why it stands so firmly. Hard times is what makes
sound characters. And them kids are getting a new hold on character
that was very near run to seed in the parents. Johnny will be
tax-assessor yet, I'll bet you, and you just watch that Eller. It
won't surprise me a bit to see her county superintendent of schools.
The parents most likely never would make anything; but having just
only a pa and a ma and getting the very hard licks them kids are
getting now, is what is going to make them something more than a pa
and a ma."

Mrs. O'Shaughnessy is very wise, but sometimes she seems absolutely
heartless.

The men didn't bring back much game; each had left a share with Mrs.
Sanders.

Next morning we were astir early. We pulled out of camp just as the
first level rays of the sun shot across the desolate, flat country. We
crossed the flat little stream with its soft sandy banks. A willow
here and there along the bank and the blue, distant mountains and some
lonesome buttes were all there was to break the monotony. Yet we saw
some prosperous-looking places with many haystacks. I looked back once
toward the Sanders cabin. The blue smoke was just beginning to curl
upward from the stove pipe. The green spot looked vividly green
against the dim prospect. Poor pa and poor ma! Even if they could be
_nothing_ more, I wish at least that they need not have given up Nick
and Fan!

Mr. Haynes told us at breakfast that we would camp only one more night
on the desert. I am so glad of that. The newly-weds will leave us in
two more days. I'm rather sorry; they are much nicer than I thought
they would be. They have invited us to stay with them on our way back.
Well, I must stop. I wish I could put some of this clean morning air
inside your apartments.

With much love,
E. R. S.

IV