The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-11-15

the precepts of Gods word, she "att
up the sins of Gods people as one woulc
eat bread" 1t is good enough fo
the Pratts." she said "they need hum
bling for setting themselves I'D above
their neighbors. never can get hel
to make social visit here; and when
go there, she always acts as if she
was afraid she should say word toe
much. Indeed, she once had the i'm.
pudence 10 remark, / think it is better
to say nothing about person than to
speak evil of Them Just as if the
truth shouldn't be told. Well, we'll, we
shall see now"
Mrs. Woodbury. "was not slow" in
completing her usual domestic opera
tlonS the next morning. After putting
things 10 rights" and giving careful
look to her pot of beans in the oven. she
threw on her blanket shawl and hood,
and went to see her neighbor, Mrs.
Todd. The latter was busy in her
kitchen; but Mrs. Woodbury., telling
her not to mind her presence, seated
herself by the cooking-stove and took
out her knitting-work
"How nice your wheat bread looks,
Mrs. Dodd. think your -four must be
good. Pray, where do you get itw
we always buy of Mr.. Pratt" was
Mrs. Dodd's answer, as she busted her
self arranging her loaves in the oven.
swell, so have we,n answered the
elders wife; "but, somehow or other,
the last we bought didn't seem to be
Jnst the thing-a little 'runn4' and
when baked, full of large holes Now
bread 10 be good should look more uni
form, full of small holes. like piece Of
nice sponge"
7" Yes, know that But | have no
trouble, if | get the best brand-Beach's
flour. But it comes very high. Only
think, eight dollars barfe!n'
Yes, 1t is a great price No wonder
Pratt is getting rich. guess he makes
great profits"
"He asks enough, if that's all. But
they do say if his debts were paid he
wouldn't be worth much"
:. Very likely. And | guess his wife
amt no great profit to him: keeps a
hired girl all the time. so as to devote
iAotC lAt1lG W uGI CulIuTOl.
Lawful sake! She has only three;
and get along with my four. and do
Ill my own work. Fve my doubts
whether children are any better for so
much attention.n
My husband says example is better
han precept on all Mrs Pratt'S teach
ng won't do much good if her husband
Iou't set better example"
"Well, don't know mcuh against
he man. after ALL" said Mrs. Dodd, as
be went on rolling her pie-crnst.-
They are rather too strict with their :
hlldren, and too close-mouthed; but .
retty good neighborS after alp f
Well, | could tell you something
bout 'em that would astonish you, Mrs. #
)oddw
What can you mean % asked the +
ood woman, as she dropped her rolling b
IN, and stood with powdered hands
nd wondering eyes TO listen.
" It's matter now before the session, :;
nd | suppose Pve no business 10 tell of
but you must promise not to let 1t be
nown. wouldn't have it come from n
le for the world" :, q
"Oh, of course not. You know / d
ever would reveal it."
well, only think, he's accused of W
ealingl Yes, downright stealing = al
he elders and deacons are dreadfully Q.
orrled about it; but they don't wish W W
lybody to know it just now" m
well neveri Who would have us
eiieved it?n ce
" For my part, never took any great ne ne
ncy TO the Pratts-rather stiff sort of =
ks, ] always thought But | must
n and see to my own baking" r
=" Don't, pray, be in such hurry
'hy, | am so astonished | can hardly Y
.lieve my sensesD v
g Well, it's the sober truth; and we o.
all all know more about it soon"
As my readers may anticipate, it was De
on village secret that Mr. Pratt had =
en guilty of great theft. All knew
but the accused party and his family; AZ
d they wondered in sadness of heart y
the GOODNESS of their neighbors and fro
ends, and the sudden falling off in N m
eir sales. They had not lived in the Iass
lage many years, but, with the ex-
ption of few who thought Mrs.
att not sufficiently gossiping to their - -
lie, they were universally beloved "
was true that their income was small, tbr
good management and economy TIM
lade both ends meet" 1t was true, wis
0, that Mrs. Pratt preferred to take tor
whole management of her children Ra'
lead of sending them to the village nov nov
lool, and entrusted her housework to cha
laithful domestic, though she still let
'oked well TO the ways of her house this
d.D An unpretending, meek and y
US woman, she aimed TO do her duty :
God and man. She could not, of
rse, be insensible TO the cold looks ~
evident neglect of her neighbors; ~, Ky
could her husband be ignorant of and and
at change in the course of one pal
nth in his business. He was almost the
erted of evenings, while the other
es in the village were filled with
Ell. readers of the ''Postn and the
ourier,p or neighbors retailing the -
IS of the village. othe
ONE two months had elapsed the will
siping tongues had not ceased their by z
"A