The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-02-07

could not have wished to nave seen a
more decent, even venerable man. He
was cleanly shaven, for the first time in
20 years, and stood, with his flowing
white hair, erect, triumphant in his char
acter of q somewhat suddenly made
"John Anderson, my Joe, john
Immediately after the marriage they
went on a bridal tour to Scotland, the
bride promising to bring back, if she
ever came back, Highland plaid for
my little boy. She excused herself, on
her return, so much sooner than was
expected, for not doing so on the plea
that she had left Scotland suddenly.
aye may say so," her husband said,
significantly. ssIt was in a hurry, sure
enough"
"Hold your tongue, gudeman," the
''You should be ashamed to mention
it.n
ssI'm not ashamed,' he insisted. cit |
was in this way" he continued, as his
wife got up and withdrew in some heat:
'sShe told me so much about Scotland,
Scotland, Scotland; about the Queen,
and the riches, and the dukes, and the
great cities, and the good eating, and
her kin, and her clan, that agreed to
go. had nephew, too, in Liverpool.
Well, we went to Liverpool, and it is
not much for town-nothing but big
docks, that | could see. From there we
went to Scotland. Whew! Scotland
1t is little bit of country, not as large
as one of our counties. Like it! Whats
was there to ike?'' And my friend
entered upon a vituperation of food,
housing, and clothing there, of town
and country, mountain and valley, Gus
toms and people, from his point of view
as an old backwoodsman, which was as
ludicrous as it was violent.
"No, SRI" he added, at last. "You
don't catch me! / wouldn't live in
Scotland not for Scotland. | told her |
couldn't stand it. She said | must.
told her wouldn't stand it. She said
| should. Very well. | wrote to my
nephew in Liverpool, and found out
when the next vessel was to cross the
Atlantic When the time came, | got
her to 60 to Liverpool on visit, you
see, to my nephew. Of course, she left
her things; but had all mine. As soon
as l got TO Liverpool | sent my trunk
on board and bought a ticket. One hour
before the ship sailed | said to her:
Look here, old lady, I'm going back
home. If you'll come with me, well; if
not, goodbye You see she had to
come. Scotlandtn with unspeakable
disgust. "No, sir. Not for me. Not
if know it!'
And SO they settled down. The one
weakness of the Squire was for drink.
| NJ ,F+ ho1f nf
diligence. Excellent Mrs. Surge ex-
changed her town property for small
farm few miles out, so as'to keep her
husband from temptation. She kept a
supply of spirits; but she also kept the
keys. Every day, at a certain set time,
she gave him exactly so much, and never
drop more.
"No! gudeman," she would say, in
answer to his pleading. "No." And
the grit as of the Scotch granite was in
that unchanging no. 1t was the same
hand, as firm as it was loving, which had,
somehow, suppressed the tobacco-so
, far, at least, that there were no Longer
the traces of it on chin Or bosom. The
, only relic of the habitual profanity was
an occasional "Good gracious, Gran
N.Y." from his lips, when astonished.
, Few things were more delightful to us
| than to accept an invitation for day
, at their farm, which was order and neat
| ness itself. There was sickness in the
, COW, propriety in the conduct of the
l Muscovy ducks, a decorum in the very
pigs, telling of the hand of their mis-
r tress. But the glory of the place was in
3 the transformation she had wrought in
the old Squire. He was as scrupulous-
1 ly neat and clean now as herself. Wher
5 l add that he was Darby in perfect
: keeping with his Joan, what more car
, be said?
And not merely was Mrs. Surge a:
: simple and wholesome as oatmeal. Sh'
rose instantly to any emergency. 1t wa
D during the days of the Confederacy ,ant
. she was said to have closed discussion
e with the wife of a high official, polite
e being the topic, by boxing the ears Q
+ that respectable lady very soundly. Be
}. fore her marriage, she had entertained
It at my request, a very eloquent minister
d on visit to US, and who professed to b
e of our denomination and from Scotland
Y He was ascertained, however, to be a
e impostor, and disappeared. And now h
y returned again, under the wing, this time
F. of certain Bishop, whose Church b
;. had joined. With that individual h
e called on the old lady at her farm, e1
e pecting TO be entertained, as usual Bu
. she saw the wolf through all h
II woody fleece, and literally ran him an
E. the astonished prelate off her place
lie with tongue which she would have r
inforced with broom-stick had it bee
ut necessary. AD intimate friend of her
le q LAWYER of Distinction had entered in1