The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-04-09
The Elder and tho Children.

1870 4-eA HaA
The Elder and tho Children.
The presiding elder Of certain din.
trict OF Kentucky, in other years, was .
New England man. named Hawkins.
He was genial, social. easy going man.
making friends wherever be vent, and IL
he did not display great sruditias-is-Ais
se.monising, he at least preached with
epirit and understanding. On . certaia
occasion the elder paid his drst visit to
an outlying settlement OF bic ,distFiet,
having been notified that while thsre. be
would find quarter with Brother Buford.
The day was just closing when he arrived
at the dwelling OF Brother HufoEd. spd
his host, expecting him, was on hand to
receive and welcome him. which WAS
done Hospitality. His horse was given
to the care of servant, and with his
saddle-baes upon his arm, be t0llowsd
his guide into the house, whers be was
presented to Mira. Bufosd. plsas.st-
faced, smiling woman, In the prime OF ils,
who welcomed him in manner that
made him feel 1t homo at once. She
took his saddle bags and gave him seat,
and with her husband sat down Tor
chat. Aaas VA tfkANilG 1f8S
Tho day was declining and the night
creeping on. and 90 the candles had nos
yet ben lighted. the low studded room,
shaded by the broad root Of tho piazza,
grew to be quite gloomy a. the converse
,ieRtRsqf.o55qstSsssd ". yTseE hsdtiIkse. eIt6a
civilization and the spread OF the gospel,
when door opened, letting in the CRATE
full aroma or broiling chicken and griddle-
cakes, and also giving ingrssa to . bevy
of children--six OF them. The elder, .
little near-sighted At best, in the gathsr-
| ing gloom could only distinguish that the
children we're all young. part boys and
part girls. The foremost Was boy. who
came boldly forward, and whom the elder
caught by the arm. 's
"Aha, my little one, what 10 yonr
name p 'i 7s1t
"Josnny Buford. SIR" fiee
"A One boy, declare" And he
kissed the sturdy shaver upon the cheek.
He knew such things we're pleading
to parents, and then he was fond Of chil-
dren. I stsWo9 ai w wassas d8 a tNf
T, The next was girl. a@aasa@}
Nov my little lady, what 10 your
name? "A 81
lin Sissy Bnrord. sir n
"And hope you Try to be . good
little girl" And ho gave her aleArty
smack. .fs8...
And 50 he vent through With the lot.
| He heard the host and the hostess litter,
and he fancied that the good woman had
her handkerchief cover lisS eouth, and
that the chair in which Mr.. Buford sat
shook as thoughts ocoupsut had an agus
| it, ,.-., &. 49, .,
"A fine lot Of children declared the
elder, "what treasures they nre to houss-
hold. All how pity the man and the
wife who are condemned to live on, year
after year, without blessed children.
You must b. proud Of your family. Broth
!. er Bufo,d."
AT this point Mrs. Buford could con-
tain herself no longer. The compress
ed handkerchief Was II no avail. She
burst into a laugh, long and haarty.
and her husband uproarously followed
suit. .sss
The elder was astounded. What could
II meany &@Fr.#
Just then two servants entered, one 70
bring lighted candles, and the other 10 an
nounce that supper was ready. le
And then the good elder saw. There
stood the six children-beautiful children
their ebon faces cleaning In the can
die light like SO many aces Of spades-
little woody -hesded nigs, every onel Nj
and Mrs. Buford had never had childreu
of their own. and they had petted thess
juvenile darkies until the jetty little
rascals had become as iirepressible OF
the premises as 30 many favorite cats snC
dogs.
Mrs. Buford laughed again when sh'
saw the elder vigorously wiping BIZ
hps; but over the well filed suppei
, table the tide of telling was soon turned
to forgetfuIness of the ludicrous tss'
, pas. F5&%