The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1876-07-19

lie went out to his work, and Mrs.
Prichard returned to Tommy, and
talked with him a long while very kind
ly and persuasiveIy, but all to no effect.
He replied, as often as she asked him.
that he had not touched the gum drops.
At last she gave it up, and, with sad
misgivings, resumed her occupations,
while Tommy went to play with the
cat on the floor,
At noon farmer Prichard came into
the house, and they had dinner, After
dinner he called Tommy to him.
Tommy" he asked, did you take
the gumdrops?'
"No, / didn't" said Tommy.
every we'll" said the farmer; "my
horse is harnessed. Lucy, put the
boys cap on. l shall carry him back
to the poor-house, because he will not
tell me the truth"
Why, | don't want to go back"
said Tommy, very soberly,
But still he denied taking the gum
drops. MI. Pritchard told his wife to
get the boy ready. She cried as she
brought out his little warm coat and
cap and put them IN him. But Tom
my did not cry. He comprehended
that an injustice wa done to him, and
he knit his baby brow and held his lit
tie lips tight. The horse was brought
round. Mr.. Pritchard came in for the
boy. | think he believed up to the
last moment that Tommy would con-
fcss but the little fellow stood stead
fast.
He was lifted into the wagon. Such
q little boy he looked, as they drove
away. The wind blew cold, and he
had to hold on to his cap. Nothing
was said as they drove along, though
farmer Pritchard really felt a little
sorry that he had gone so far. But
he thought to himselfit was best to be
firm at the outset. A week at the
p~oor-house would bring Tommy to
terms. 1t would be a lesson he would
never forget, and then they would
take him back again.
But Tommy had no hope to bear
him up. He only knew that all the
happy life of the past few days was
over; snatched from him suddenly.
He thought of the cold, forlorn
house to which he was return
ing, and shuddered. The help
less old women, the jeering
boys, the nights of terroi-all these
he thought of, when, with pale face
and blue lips, he was taken down from
the wagon and sent up to the house.
Farmer Pritchard watched him as he
went up the steps, u slow, forlorn little
boy. He went in. The matron came
out for an explanation. It war given,
and the farmer drove away.
He drove home. It was not a
pleasant ride. He missed his little
companion /; but he reasoned obdu-
rately within himself that he had done
all for the best. His wife met him
tearfully at the door. The kitchen
looked lonely, as they went into it to-
gether. A top lay in one corner, a
primer was on the footstool. Mrs.
Pritchard put them out of sight.
The farmer laid in a fresh stock of
gum-drops on his bureau at night, and
thought grimly that these were safe.
He retired early, not knowing what
else to do; but his sleep was broken.
Mrs. Pritchard could not sleep at
all. The tears stole through her closed
eyelids long after the candle was put
out and the house was still. She was
thinking Of the poor little boy, even
then, perhaps, covering in his cold
bed with terror. She was usually a
sound sleeper; but this night she could
not sleep,
Suddenly q curious, small sound at
tracted her attention. 1t was repeated
again and again, and now and then
there was a tiny rustic of paper. The
sound came from the bureau, She list
ened intently and her heart beat loud
with excitement. She knew the sound
well.
'Joseph!"s she whispered. "Josephp'
"What, Lucy" said her husband,
in a voice that sounded as if he, too,
had been lying awake.
do you hear that noise, Joseph ?"
It's mice !"
az know it. What ofit?"
cts mice, Joseph, and they're after
your gumdrops."
GOOD gracious, Lucy" groaned
farmer Pritchard upon his pillow. 1t
flashed upon him instantly. He, and
not Tommy, was the sinner. The noise
stopped. The little ~depredators were
frightened, but soon begun again. And
a rare feast they made of it.
It seemed as if that night would
never end. The farmer heard every
hour the clock struck, and at five he
got up and made a fire in the kitchen.
His wife arose at the same time and
began to get breakfast.
L won't wait for breakfast" be said.
"You al have it hot and ready when
we get back. I'll harness up and start
now, SO as to get over there by dawn.
In a few moments the wheels rolled
noisily over the frozen ground out on
the road, and away drove Mr.. Pritch-
ard in the morning starlight.
Mrs. Pritchard brought out the top
and the primer again and made the
kitchen look its cheerfulest. Then che
got breakfast. She baked potatoes and
broiled a chicken and made fritters.
She put the incest sirup on the table
and a plate of Jelly tarts. She laid Tom.
my's plate and knife and fork in their
place and set up his chair. The sun
had risen and the bright beams fell