The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-12-27

side. The hut was of irregula3sliape.
full of clinks and corners; in the mid
die, on the grounil, llnzcd a lnagnii-
cent IRE, the fireplace being indicated
by fonr iron bars, Which kept the lurn:
ing brands in their place. There was
a hole in the roof, as in the impnlviuni
nf Roman house, and the flames
scared high; beyomd the opening.
through yawning chimney, which
letiin the dayligl, aud 9let out the
snake, we saw hranches and gray
sky I! In the embers Was Il pat set to
boil, and in the corners, of the cabin,
in confusion ,af tooIs, materials, and
refuge, three men--uuc little old
fellow with hollow checks aud brick
'lnst cpmplcxion-were clioping away
| with all their might and main. The
three we've father, son. aud SON in law :
this was i their Workshop and their
home, and here they lived aud lal,ore,l
yearin, year ont, winter and summer,
through. Once Il week the son went
to the village for provisions, and on
Sunday the whole family played at
bowls under the great trees.
l. AS we entered they stopped work,
AMI eacl, man. having spoken to us,
put down his axe. a frightiul weapon,
not unlike the gnillutilie axe--an enor.
nous, sharp pointed blade, aud "a
short handle. admirably a,lapt,1ln to
the murder ofoa!is, but sinister II as
pect. Lonise drew somewhat closer 10
me on the little bench where we had
seated ourselves. i
"Don't we interrupt your work r.
Iasked the old man. ,.;i.i u.s.
"Ehank yon kindly no sir; we are
just going to supper" r-u q ..i.t
The two Young men pulled down
their sleeves, and they all gathered
round large table of primitive con-
struction,- made of board. and four
legs still in the rongh While they
were setting out little plates of thicl;
blue stoneware theioll woman brnugh,
great pan, and threw into the FIRE al,
armful-of chips.
in this strange rude interior Louise
locked refined and delicate, with al
her dainty appointments of long, nm
dressed kid gloves, iannty-bn"ts. am
looped-np petlicoats. While talke.
To t.Ie wuou -currtrssy7 syIc-.s,Ifu I,tsuT ne
face from tho hre3mith her hands, AM
kept her eye on the .lntter aeginnUi:
to sing III the pan.
| Suddenly she. rose, and taking til.
panhandle from the old woman said
..Let me help you make the omelette
will You 2, nna
The good woman LET go with smile
and Louise found herself alone, in tn
attitude. Of u fisherman who had jus
had a nihble. She stood in the fnl
light of the fire, her eyes fixed ON til,
, melted butter, her AIMS tense witt
effort; she was biting her lips, probi
bly, to increase her. strength.
sits rather hard on madame's iittl
, hands, said the old man. Il bet it.
the, first time ynn ever made an ONE
lette in a, woo@-cntter's latr7isn't il
; my young LADY r. ,f.,a I5i,
Louise nodded yes without turnin.
J hey eyes from the omele:te. 9Th
: eggs! the eggs - she. suddenly ex
: claimed, with such lonk of untasi
ness that we all burst out laughing
''hurry with the eggs! The bntter j
all putting mp, Be quick, or can
I answer for the. consequences"
: The. old woman beat the eggs enel
seticaHy. .a.sa. ,.t.,.4 a49 H. ~ IS
"Thei heyhs. y cried the old mar
"The lard salt T. cried the young ones
F.! Aud theyIsll set to work. choppinl
. cutting, piing up, while L"nise, stamp
ing with excitement, called out, "Mak
} lmstei make haste!Yii !,.g9a ~ ~ 80
J IN Then there WAS a tremendous bull
bling III the pam and the great wor
, began. We were ~all 'sruuud the fire
E gazing with an anxious interest in
spirctl by our all having had a fnge
in the pie. -
The old woman, on her knees he
side a Iarge dish, slipped a knife undo
n the edge of the omclettc, which wa
t turning a fine brown. snow, madam,
you've only got to turn it over" sl
: said. ;siif3 -'.'.H
r ''Just one little quick blow" su:
e geste,i the old man. i''''' -
e "Mustn't he violent" counseled Ill
S yohng one. y"
$ "All at once; up with it, DEAR"
S said.
s "If you all talk at once"
a SNAKE haste, madame!"
II "If you all talk at once never sha
n manage it. 1t is too awful heavy"
: "0he qnick little blow"
II "Bht ! can't; it's going over. O
d gracious!
Ii In the heat of action her hood hi
J fallen off. Her checks We're like
e peach. her eyes shohe, and, though 81
le lamented her fate, she burst out in