Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-11-10
THE DRAGONS I'lTHE,
by ADA CARLETON.

nock lot Iorty years, had gone TO his long
homo; and in his stead had come an honest,
plain spoken young divine, with an earnest
fearless cloquencc Of his own. And now
tho worn door stone of tho little gray
church on the hill was Sonco more troddcn
by feet which had long been strangers to
it. Tho minister boarded, having no fam-
lily, at Deacon Larrabee's.
"EIe'a tho least bit uncertain on some
points," said tho deacon, leaning on his
hoo handle and talking across the fonoo to
his ncighbor Gray, who leaned ou his hoo
handle to listcn,-" bit uncertain. But
like him-I do, 20 mistake; and l be-
lievo tho Lords going to bless us through
him"
"Amon!' was Ncghbor Gray's hearty
response.
They hoed half dczon hills of corn in
silence, their hoes keeping time to the
merry song of bird in the orchard. Then
Mr.. Gray paused to wipo the perspiration
from his face.
"This lot weather's liable to make sick
ness," said he 81 suppose you've heard
that one OF til" Widow Spcrry's boys is
down with the fcvrr?'
"Sho! now you don't say s !" exclaim-
cd the decon commiseratingly. ">Iake it
hard for her, won't t?'
eyes, particularly when she's so lately
lost her COW. I've been saying that VIC all
ought to take hold and make it up to her
1t la moro than ono COW on my place l
wouldn't stand to talk long, now, tell you;
but lost my two best ones last spring. If
/ hadn't-
It might have been unintentional, that
sudden facing about as Mr.. Gray threw his
glance toward tho hill pasture where his
neighbor's herd of COWS was quietly feed
ing. At all events, the deacon could
scarcely help noticing the action. And he
understood its purport. An uneasy flush
mounted to his face as no struck vigorously
into the next hill.
"Shc ought to have kept her COW out
of tho roud. My cattle never get into the
mill pond and drown. If they should,
wouldn't expect auybody TO make 'em up to
me. She'd no moro call, had the widow,
to lot her COW run, than I'd have to turn
my whole drove out"
cts pretty hard case, nevertheless"
said Mr.. Gray
And then the fr0gmentsry conversation
tossed picoo meals back and forth across
the fence as tho neighbors went steadily on
with their work, drifted into different
channels.
There had been an interested listener to
the oolloquy narrated above. On the shady
side of the wall which separated Deacon
Larrabeos orchard and oornfeld sat, book
in hand, the Rev. Mr.. Weston lie arose
as the chat which foated to his hearing be.
gan to be of crops and haying, and walked
slowly away along tho orchard path with
thoughtful smile upon his face.
That night when tho deacon took the
shining milk pals from tho dresser and
proceeded to the farm yard, the young
clergyman followed him. lie stood lean
ing against tho bars, watching the yolIow
stars come out in the sky, and looking
abroad ovor tho dcaoon's possessions,
shadowy now, but substantial enough By
daylight
You are prosperous man, deacon"
smile of supreme satisfaction over
spread tho deaoon's countcnance as he stood
for moment patting the slock neck of a
favorite COW.
"Wcll, yes,'' said lie; "but I've made
myself A pig aud pitchtork, sir, was all
had to begin with"
"How does your neighbor Gray get
along?"
"Gray! well, truth to tell, he'll never be
forehanded If ho lives to the ago of Me-
thusclah. He's hard working man
enough, but why tits I can't tell you;
there's never poor creature comes into
our town that doesn't head direct for John
Gray's. Must be instinct teaches 'om; for
he gives to 'cm all, deserving or not He'd
take tho coat off his back if twas needed.
He's good neighbor-a good ncighbor;
but ho'll never get anything to speak of,
ahead"
"But lay up for yourselves treasures 10
Heaven, whore neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and whero thieves do not
break through nor steal" quoted the min.
ister.
eyes; but, if I mind mo right the
good Book aays something too about
providing first for ones own household,
--eh?"
Mr.. Weston smiled. IL believe thoro isa
passage to that eifect,' said ho.
"And," went on the deacon, little tri.
umphantIy, "if Ncighbor Gray would give
y certain portion"
IA titbe?" intcrpoiatcd tho minister.
rWAud not 60 hey md that" continued
DeQon Larrabee, "he'd be botter off in
oneSspect and no worse of 10 tho other,
to mNbinkipg. don't believe inn
a,'s@gQiuate eiving.'
m "Noi\fo |, waa tho quiet reioinder.
Ihen tNV WAS silence while Deacon
. LarfaOeo sed another pail with snowy
no" man COWS have you, deaoon7'