A warm
climate and an open-air life were prescribed. And how better combine
them than by emigrating to California?
"And so," said the doctor's daughter, "father made up his mind to go
and sold out his practice. People thought he was crazy to start on
such a trip when he was sick, but he knows more than they do. Besides,
it's not going to be such hard work for him. Daddy John, the old man
who drives the mules, knows all about this Western country. He was
here a long time ago when Indiana and Illinois were wild and full of
Indians. He got wounded out here fighting and thought he was going to
die, and came back to New York. My father found him there, poor and
lonely and sick, and took care of him and cured him. He's been with us
ever since, more than twenty years, and he manages everything and takes
care of everything. He and father'll tell you I rule them, but that's
just teasing. It's really Daddy John who rules."
The mules were just behind them, and she looked back at the old man and
called in her clear voice:
"I'm talking about you, Daddy John. I'm telling all about your
wickedness.
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