The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-12-07
How cozy the little place Iookedt It

How cozy the little place looked! 1t
was q pattern of neatness and domestic !
comfort. The table was laid for sup
per- asnice crisp loaf being fanked by
a piece of cheese (placed upon, q small
plate in order to make It look more,
than it really was), ,ands yes! really a
gigantic cucumber. Polly, who ,was1
kneeling before the fire, vigorously APP
plying the bellows and melting the Goals
to a perfect fury Of fame, had not /
lighted candle, and certainly none
was wanted. I
Il aWhy, you're rather late, father,
amt you ?''. inquired the girl, springing
to her feet, and giving old Abel such
sounding kiss. that it might almost have
been heard on the pavement outside, if
any body had been curious enough to
listen. >. '"sI'ye been home . long time. III
b" Wen, Polly, I've been to the say
inSs- bank, and afterward to Alderman
bury-you know. where, ! took FIVE
pound ten; and Mr. Baker, junior,
spoke so kindly that the time slipped.
BY, and twas o'clock afore I knew
where was, almost. y ,aial{1n
"Heaven bless Mr.. Baker for those
kind words" I" responded Polly, giving
her, father another hearty kiss as she
unwound the woolen comforter encir-
cling his neck. Then, after d pause,
| she asked: ssDoes not that make ninety
pounds you have paidp'' "a
!" Yes. ninety pounds. Its . good
deal, amt itP All saved, too, by You
/ and me, Polly ''!4 4as 1aiss..fa s5Ia3
80 father, I don't do much to it, II
you weren't to deprive yourself Of com
forts, why. We shouldn't have paid off
IL "Don,t say that, Polly. II it was not
for your earnings, how could Iput my
wages into the savings bank, as I do
nearly every ,montha"'i aa'a 4o0 ,
"Well, daddy dear, you know it's
only you I've got tolive for" said the
s. Wssss aFSaly tbat4 that You say say u replied lidld Old
Abel, highly pleased with his daughters
remark, but determined not to be hood
twinked.' 81 How about Tom SmithP
D,ye 4. mean so too say ypg don't carr for
L. f'sHush! Don't speak SO loud.'' 10
Polly .blushed, and looked half fright
ened toward that corner of the room
lWhere the big bureau cast its shadow.
! "Why, there's nobody can hear"
lh.ssYes, father, the children might;
and children Sometimes, make o lotsof
| 1nischief,'' observed that little wiseacre,
Polly. Then, with. a desperate inten-
ton of changing the subject, she said:
"You must have q great-coat, this
winter, or you are sure to have the
rheumatics, as you had 'em last year.
Oh, saw /. beauty in the Horseferry
Road, to-night-so. thick, with nice,
twarm lining inside, and the price only
eighteen, shillings. Secondhand, pf
course, but almost as good as new"
-. OH l think j can do without it, this
year., Let's save the eighteen shillings,
and send it 70 Mr.! Baker, junior: :"iiF
No, / shan't. allow any thing OF the
sort. I'm Just as anxious as you are to
pay our debts, butI'd rather work my
fingers to the bones than that you should
suffer another year as you did last"
"And I, too," added q strong, man
ly voice, which, seemed to issue from
Mr. Webb's sleeping-place. al
i Polly gave shrek, then burst into q
ringing laugh that seemed to fill the
room with joyous harmony, like the
, sound Of bells upon d frosty night
and Abel, turning suddenly in his chair,
. saw the burly form of Tom Smith
emerge from the dusky corner. Y $50
"Hallo, Toni" shouted Abel. IssSc
! you've been listening. Well, luckily
you ain't heard no secrets. Il suppose
4 - nhs hot
makes mischief, as Polly says" '.'il'
} This retaliation on his daugh struct
| Webb as such an extraordinary master.
, piece of witticism that he fairly roare6
J with laughter. By and by, Tom Smitl
. roared, too and when he had his laugh
out, finding that Abel's attention wal
: still engrossed by the wondrous. joke
: seized the opportunity to throw Hi!
: arms around -Rslly y's.-waist, at which
. the, damsel, who did not. like b9ins
/ laughed at, told the devoted lover t(
.sa-done, and not be 50 silly.n isiiii I
"'Well, what brings you here3n in
: quifed Abel, whose 1ahgh had now sub
: sided into . gisgle. and winkiagsat hi
3 young friend.
! Why, father, he saw me home, ,'an,
b brought the cucumber for. present :
i 9ssMy stars, that's a beautyi Tn
& much obliged to you. Tom, for thereA
Z nothing I like better. Some peopl
( says cowcumbersi ain'tgood, that yoi
' ought to peel 'em nicely, and then fin,
q 'em out of the window; but taken witt
: little Of the rfffd on, bit Of ingun
/ and lots Of pepper, I dom stthink there
j, much; harm i'm ,iem-tleastwaSs the.
. don't harm. me" And apparently Gu
al cnmbers were thoroughly inhocuo1s t
J, Mr.. WebbrWhp sneedilFr drew his chat