Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-01-26
A Sketch from Life.

he no longer sprang from his bed with the
alacrity which changed duty into pleasure; he
arose because imperious necessity commanded
| it. There were the cattle to be fed and
watered, and the poultry to receive the same
attention. and there was moreover fire to
be made in the huge old kitchen Fireplace,
| ior the Deacon had now no servant or helper,
and in the grey winter Of his life the whole
burthen of managing his place had fallen
on his shoulders. Fortunately they were
| broad and stEong-fortunately his constitu-
| .ion was good, his spirits elastic and his
piety sincere, for his burthens and trials were
indeed weighty. He had been comparatively
| rich-he was now in embarrassed circum-
stances. He had looked forward to the time
| when son should relieve him of the most
| laborious of his tolls while daughter per-
formed the same kind office for his wife
Both had been disapposnted-and now the
old couple were the solitary tenants of that
lone farm house.
The Deacon went mechanically about his
morning la bors he drove the cattle to the
water tank; he supplied them with fresh
fodder. and after seeing that they were COM
| Portable, returned to the old kitchen. By
this time the good wife had prepared break
fast, and genial fire was ditTusing its heat
! throug h the apartment
| IuS oIu 1outtC Sut bba IL tD Diedkidst. dlLc|
| blessing by the old farmer. but the meal
passed by in silence. 1t was followed by
| fervent prayer and the reading Of portion
| of the Scripture. After this they adjourned
| to the sitting room, where good fire was
| burning, and where the o,d dame assumes
| her knitting, one OF those incomprehensible
| pieces of female industry, which seems to
| have neither beginning nor end.
| Well" said she with a sigh, 'this is
Thanksgiving day. 1t doesn't seem like
old times at all. We used to have house
| full of company froicksome young folks, and
cheerful old people and now We are all alone,
| aloneD
Last Thanksgiving day." said the old
| man, there was one with US who seemed TO
! my old eyes ike an angel of light. with her
fairy gelden.hair floating like halo OF glory
on her shoulders, and her little foot making
| music she moved about the old house. But
evea then there was hectic flush upon her
cheek, like the red upon the maple tree in
Autum. When the January SHOWS lay deep
on the hills and in the holows, We carried |
her to her last home--but Gods will be |
doHe.H |
You forget that We have another child |
aIiveo
''No, do not forget it, said the old man |
bitterly. There is oae living somewhere,
who has brought disgrace upon our name. |
who has forgotten his parents and his God ; |
who has drank deep OF the cup of iniquity, |
and VINO has brought ruin and woe upon his |
name and family
De not speak harshly of poor William"
pleaded the mother.
"Why should not Was he not insen7
sible to kndness-steeled against affection !
Did he not scatter all my hard earnings to
the wnds Is it not to him that | owe the
prospect of beggary and destitution 2 Re-
member the first OF February. That is the
last day of grace. If the money comes not
then and God knows whence it is to come,
we are houseless beggars. Who will care
Tor Us then a.
God will care for us,n said the aged wo-
man raising her eyes reverently to heaven.
the old man made no reply, for his utterance
was choaked: At that moment the old
clock that stood king in the corner, struck
the hour of nine. The deacon rose.
at is time to harness old Dobbin,n said he
"for we have long way to ride to meeting,
and the roads are in bad condition"
Their preparations were soon made. ard
the old couple, poorly butS1ecently attired,
sailed forth TO their public sdevotions. The
services ended, the deacon and his wife, as
they issued from the porch, were kindly
greeted by many old friends and neighbors,
more than one Of whom pressed them to come
and partake of their thanksgiving cheer, but
the deacon shook his head.
MANY thanks, my friends,' said he. "but
ever since have been householder, have
kept my thanksgiving at home, and l shall
continue to do so, SO long as | have house
remaining over nay head"
So they drove home together. While the
deacon drove up to the barn to put up his
horse, the old lady opened the back door,
which was always on the latch, and entered
the kitchen. As she did so she started back.
A stranger was seated by the kitchen fire,
who rose on her entrance. He was tall,
stallwart man, dressed in a rough suit with
broad-leafed hat; his countenance en-
Drowned by exposure to the sun and wind
and his upper lip almost concealed by havy
and luxurient moustache.
Good morning, ma'am," he said with
some embarrassment. ~Finding no one an
swered my knocks, took the liberty to walk
in. believe ! owe You no apology, tor
have offciated as turnspit, and saved your
thanksgiving turkey from burning"
II am very much obliged to you, am sure,
answered the old lady, pulling off her nit
tens. "But did you want to see rue, or the
deacon.n
Both of you:' answered the stranger
"You had son, believe?o
s'Yes," replied Mrs. Wilson, with some
hesitation, and casting down her eyes. /;
II have seen him lately"
"Where 81 inquired the mother with in
creased agitation.
an California;
"Was he doing well!' i
Admirably Mother! mother, he added
impetuously, throwing back his hat don't
you know needn't you know your Will
liam q"
He rushed into his mothers arms, and was
o}..pol - Lo~ ns.u.. bao ;jn fhp fear