St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-03-20

was as delicious as it looked. [ ma0s
it gorgeous, to suit the tlashy tastes o
those who we're to see it, and in the cen
ter of the large bouquet which crowned
it, stuck little red flag with motto
in gilt letters
"All tastes suited by the Imperia
Cake,' in reference to the varied nature
of its contents. Cato's eyes opened tt
their fullest extent when he saw it.
Je-ru-sa-lem!" he exclaimed, "e
dat amt stunning. I've brunged the
waiter, ma am, to put it on
care you sure you can carry it safe
ly, Cato?' asked.
"Sartain sure, ma am; sides I'm got
a boy out dere to help, eff | gifts tired
| looked out of my window, and there
stood the obnoxious Albert Stark, lean,
ing in an easy attitude against the gate.
post-a very dlsreputable-looking vaga.
bond he was, too.
Tomorrow came, and | saw Celia
marching mournfully from the front
gate with her turban in a hopeless state
of collapse. | knew she was suffering
no common calamity. She saluted me
gravely, and in monotonous voice be,
gan her tale.
give come to tell you bout my far,
ma'am, but l feels like hidin' my pore
ole head foreber more. Well, it goes
off mighty we'll, de supper was splendid,
and de folks was fit to bust wild envy to
see tings got up in sich style. was
rejoicin' at der downfall, like poor
blind sinner CONAN, when | hears a
crash and holler in de yard where my
gumbo was cookin'! [ run out, and
dere was dat wicked Albert Stark and
my Cato sprawled fiat, de gumbo pot
turned ober, and dey was wallerin
in it,
Scalded?n | asked
"Ah, nom. De gumbo wasn't hot.
But dey screeched like dey was kilt.
But dat want any ting otalk bout.
"Accidents will happen when boys
wrastle right into gumbo pot. I'm
comm to de worst.
81 brunged de cake out, and cherry
body shouted when they seed it. l tell
you Satan jest pulled me up wild pride
and worldly glory lookin' at dat cake,
and t'inkin' how light and nice it was.
1t didn't seem to be fedder's weight
when | sot it on de table, and L cried
out
"'Now beat dat eff you kin!
ode chances - twelve dollar was
sold right off, and Ned Bowman he wins
it. Well, Ned's free-handed boy, and
he picks up a knife, and he says
"sEbery mudder's son and darter
wat likes imperial cake, let 'em now
speak up, or cher arter hold DER
peace
"All cried out fur some, and stood
dere a-smilin' and a-watchin' Ned a.
tlourishin' his knife in de air, and
a-bringin' il down on de cake kerfop!
Down went dat knife to de bottom Oh de
plate, and de big cake jest crumbled
right fiat down, noting but a she'll OBJ
icing and little wall OBJ cake. All de
raisins and citron, and white cake and
gold cake, all gone. De inside all
out. 20
Celia covered her face with her
hands, and cried silently for few min
utes.
"Uncle Nose Green he ups and tells
me he had seen dat varmint Albert wild
a big hunk oh fruit cake, and my Cato
was jest stuf1in' his greedy self wild cake.
So knowed fore | found out how it all
was. Dat Albert had 'suaded Cato to
dig cut de inside oh de cake when I was
out bout dusk. 1t was Cato's mishap
to be ober- 'suaded.
"Well, | GIBBS 'em back DER money,
cherry cent, and den | says Re"
"' went inter de far, KNOWN it was
a low-down ting, jes' fit fur de scruff OBJ
de 'arth, and | went into de rattle
KNOWN it was sin, and I've got my
dues. 1 wish you all good evenin', la
dies and gentlemen, and want you all
to cl ar right out oh my house. ca
hooted wild sin fur you, and I'm done
wild it and wild you too"
"What did you do with the two little
thieves?"
"You'd better AK 'em!n she an
swered, with an ominous frown. 81
gave him realizin' sense of what mis-
hap it is to get into low down company.
He's laid up for repairs. Mrs. Marie
B. Williams, IN Youths Companion.