The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-11-22
A sRIRgpsgD gAlRu
500 From Godey's Lady's Book.l
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$50 Concluded.
81 was determined TO ask you," salt
ahs. after making known her errand
AfoF I do feel so sorry for his wife. She
don't complain a word: hut believe
she is dying by inches, Why. reckon
she's lost ten pounds within month"
RS His wife, did you say! did not
know he had wife,"
Didn't know John Pratt had wife
Well, I declare. knew you spent con.
siderable of your time poring over
books and writing sermons; but
thought our shepherd knew more about
his sheep than that comes to" And
Aunt Patty opened her snuf-box to re-
lievc her astonishment.
How did this story get round, Aunt
Patty Z. asked the minister. now little
snore upon his guard, and sitting down
bv her side. az if thoroughly interested
in al she had to say.
This was new thing to the vender
sf ns~s-quite a treai--to have Mr..
lauseus interested in her stories: so
ahe launched forth and told all that
s.shay said.r and what Sister Dodd said.
end what Brother Hanson said: land
20 tell The TRUTH" she added. Il am
efraid Sister Woodbury. is at the bottom
q il. for she always knows all the
church business. and how in the world
che finds out | can't tell, for prudenter
man than the elder never lived"
The minister heard her through pa
ssAnsIe and then said
II am sorry this affair has made so
much talk and trouble viii explain
il all To you. Aunt Patty. before long"
And Mr.. Laurens Immediately entered
his study.
f. was this very day that Mr. Pratt
returned from his store almost disheart-
eued. He found his wife in the nursery,
surrounded by her sleeping children
She, too, had had gloomy day. Not
: word was said for some minutes
Mr.. Pratt drew off his boots and put on
his slippers, took the newspaper from
his pocket. and after putting more wood
upon the fire, said
aShall read aloud. MaryW
She burst into tears. These few kind
A6fis unlocked the sealed fountain.
III must tell your she said. ;sthat
Drisfget has left as. She gave no rea-
200, but said she liked US; we had
treated her well, and paid her wages
segutarly,' but she would rather not
stay any longer"
aaiThis is strange" said Mr. Pratt.
laying down his newspaper and rising
ssand what is more, II is not the only
strange thing of late. Why. Mary, my
Assiness has decreased fifty per cent;
end with the exception of Mr.. Laurens
end Elder Woodbury. and few others,
Z sesm to have hardly friend left
What does il meanw
aeH Why, husband, you say you have
hssdly . friend left. feel as if | had
aaes,e. I meet averted faces and cold
looks wherever go. do not know
what We have done to merit this.
gnass cell you one little incident that
occurred today. | sent Charley out
81 o walk, and he stopped to play
awhile with some little boys. But
Joseph Dadd said, No, we won't play
With Charley Pratt; his fathers a thief!r
= do not generally listen to the com
gelainas of children, but taking this in
connection with other things, it has
eroabled me.9 aaiasg as
alt Is quite unaccountable," said Mr.
psassaa 81 am deteImined"-just then
the door-bell rang.
In was their minister, MIR. Laurens.-
lie stayed some time longer than was
his custom, and though no reference
sas made to Mr.. Pratt's peculiar situa.
s;6n, yet there vas much sympathy
gfd cUfdiality in his manner. 1t did
shsna rauch good; and both Mr. and
a4ks. Pratt retired that night in bettel
Sss;giss than they had known for some
@ssks. 80 'aiss's s.
TIE next day was Sunday. At the
elosee0f the exercises in the afternoon
AY. Lsurens stated that he wished all
she rnembeEs of the church TO meet him
S ske vesefy on the afternoon Of the
Ssxt dsy. Izs hoped none would be
asbsaae Is there was some business oi
n0ssancs % Do transacted. He par
ESsAoisflyf lyfeqnssted all the church mem.
Asgs u bs present, ladies not excepted
The Kood housewives Of the village
ssash aas were numbered among the
church members, were early at the
sashsnbn On ths following morning,
ey6sa11AiRa sseSHwhile - 20 how The