THE COUNTRY BOY 



179 



ment one way or the other. He just carried 



the carpet-bag and kept a sad expression on his 



face. But Silverton came out to a man. The 



blacksmiths with their aprons on as they lined 



up in front of the 



shop looked like 



sculptors. The 



clerks in the stores 



looked as good as 



the proprietors 



themselves, and Ai 



Coolidge and Jake 



McClaine looked 



like the coast range 



mountains. Some 



of them made 



father's chin quiver a little when in their good 



advice they yelled, as they shook hands: 



"Well, Homer, be a good boy and stick to 

 it; don't ever come back!" 



When we got through the heart of the town 

 into the residence portion between houses, 

 father looked me straight in the eyes and said : 



"They meant well, but it sounded a little 

 hard for us, didn't it?" 



And no answer was necessary. 



