St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-11-19

was. uuuCIESOlup ItpdlI5, t1Hu ~ was
thought best to have the services at the
house. Noticing several arrivals, one
OF the boys asked gravely Of the pastor:
How soon are you expecting the
dancers?''
They supposed every crowd must
dance.
These uncouth savages numbered
three: Jim, Mike and Pug; the latter
christened Benjamin. but taking his
name from the shape of his nose.
There was a young lady, Dolly, who
had attended the academy, and was a
welcome guest at the village parties.
She had taken charge of the household
after her mothers death. Dolly tried
to keep the boys in check, but they
scorned her poor show of authority.
and she gave up in disgust, her
interest in them diminishing in
proportion to her increasing fancy for a
mustached young clerk, who, be it
known, was proportionately smitten
with her charms.
Also two little ones, Nettie and Char
lie; too young to be either noticeably
ignorant, or more than ordinarily mis-
chievous. Still they were handsome
family. Dolly was very pretty, with
red lips, and rosy cheeks, and complex
! ion clear as ivory. Her eyes were
black as sloes, and her hair We'd with
the ravens wing. The two little ones
were lovely little blondes, when their
faces and bibs were clean. For the
others it was a puzzle to guess what
they might look like, with proper care.
| Their faces and hands were never free
from traces of mother earth; their hair
grew in all ways-one's black, another S
faxen, the other a mass, red as Goals of
fire, bristling as so many brush heaps
tangled and unkempt. They were tall
and strong, and when pressed into serv-
ice could work pretty well, though
they were almost sure to manage to do
more mischief than their work amount
ed to.
The idea of Farmer Hazlett marrying
/ again had not occurred to any of his
old neighbors until the deed was done.
Then Poor Dolly!'' and "Those
wretched boysn' was heard on every
! side. To be sure, there. were not want
ling those who had the courage to say,
And the poor woman who is to have
charge OF them!' But, as usual in all
cases, the most of the sympathy was
3wasted on those who had least need OF
ut.
& Dolly took the matter quite philo-
Esophically. She had loved her mother
dearly; still, having good sound sense,
she saw that a woman's hel Up was need
Ted in her fathers house, of all others.
True. she had no hope for those boys,
hut could not bear to think the little
zones would 60 to ruin by the same road
and by the elder boys guidance.
b Then, too, the young clerk had an
increase of salary; and, under the cir
Ecunlstances, what more natural than
that their hearts should turn to home
Hall their own? So it happened Dolly
Twas not averse to her fathers mar
Eriage-on the whole. rather glad of it;
and, when she met her step-mother
for the first time each knew each other
for friend. The little ones welcomed
the new member of the family with at
Election; but the boys held aloof. with
|curious chances and unfriendly airs. Ii
this woman thought to have them in
Heading strings she might as well find
out her mistake at first.
Dolly's wedding occurred just two
weeks after the homecoming of the
new wife and mother, and it was the
occasion of the first real outbreak on
the boys part.
Mrs. Hazlett was a tall, fine
looking woman, and they had
been inspired at the first with a
wholesome respect for her; still, as
the days went on, and she seemed
pleasant and kind, they came to think
she would allow them their way, as
their own mother had been glad to do.
Dolly invited her young friends, and
Mrs. Hazlett determined the cuisine
should be as near perfect as possible.
So the preparations were made, and
the cake was very miracle OF beauty.
This Dolly put away carefully, under
lock and key, and before Mrs. Hazlett
retired, she viewed, with asatisfied air,
the loads of dainties on the pantry
shelves.
The morning dawned. The guests
arrived, and soon the momentous<ho hour
came, when Dolly-sweet and fresh anc
fair, in her white robes and blossoms :
was united to the man of her choice.
Then followed the usual congratula
tions, and mayhap tear AZ two from
the pretty eyes of the bridesmaids, and
amid the buzz and hustle the housewife
stole away, to oversee the completion
of the wedding breakfast.
| But with what amazement she glanced
in the pantry, so daintily arranged the
| NIGHT before A farmers despairine
Glance over wind-tossed field of ripen,
| ING grain was scarcely comparison.
| Pies devoured, the aaky crust
sprinkled over the ashen floor like rose
petals, cake despoiled, and preserve:
dripping everywhere.
| A long look Of amazement, OF slen
CONSERVATION; but an old neighbor
i looking over her shoulder, struck the