The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-11-10
BELLEVUE, La, THURSDAY NOVEMBER TO- 1881

"fes, yes; but, if I mind me- r;ch,
the good Book saws sometime - =
about providing first for anasg 70
household-ehs'' -"
MIR. Weston smiled. II beliav
mere is a passage to that effect, sal
land, went on the deacon. a littl
triumphantly. IF neighbor GRAY wonl,
give certain portion-,'
J "A tlthef interpolated the minister
And not go beyond that,'' continue,
Deacon Larrabee, she'd be better 8,
In one respect, and-no worse off in th
otner, to my thinking. l don't believ
ln-ln lndiscriminate givinp.''
/ "Nor de- l." was the nuiet ra;o;ndor
Then there was silence while naaan,
foam. ~. 0no !"
conp'' Jou' uca
Ien,p answered the deacon. with
pardonable pride showing itself in yoic.
and feature; land it's the finest her,
IN our county. They're grade JERSEYS !,
YES" returned Mr.. Weston. a it'll.
a6sently.. Then, after slight pause
deacon Larrabee, I overheard Tho
conversation between you and Won,
nelghbor Gray this morning. relatino
to Mrs. Sperry and her misfortunes
Poor ladyi she does need substantial svno'
patny- cannot you afford to lend tithe
OF your cows to the LordP''
(which means that I give one q,
them to the widow" uttered the dea.
con, with a wry face s.No, sir: rm
afraid can't. She wanted to buy one
the other day, but I told her I'd none
to spare. 1t was all owing to careless.
ness that she lost her COW. and don't
believe in upholding improyidence.
Get to going on that way, and we'd all
be On the s0wn farm before we knew
it.'' I" : Ano "
Mr.. Weston wore q thouohtfnl
countenance, yet CLEAN of somethino
like amusement lighted up his ewes. ?
..Will you sell me one OF your cows p,
he asked.
81 have no need OF the money
now" replied the deacon hesitatingly.
The minister continued: II heard
you sa. this morning that you would be
glad to give good man extra wages to
help you through your haying, but that
you were afraid it would be difficult 10
procure the needful assistance at anv
price. VIII you take me, and let me
pay for the cow in that wayP''
A twinkle, both genial and uuizzical.
dawned in the deacon gray eyes. For
moment he studied the vounr minis
ter attentively. He was not al ali
what his neighbors would have denom-
mated free-handed, yet he had a Just ap-
probation OF the quality of beneficence
IN other people. Neither was he q
hard man at heart. 1t was only that
the prosperity which had attended his
every undertaking caused him to look
upon the lack of it in neighbor's af-
fairs as an entirely unnecessary evil.
one which prudence and forethought
might overcome. Now he shook his
petitioners hand heartily.
'lt's bargain said he. tsWhen
will you take the COW off my hands?''
Tonight, if you will lend me vour
was the ready response.
BETTER take one of those / haven't
MIXED, said the deacon, with smile,
''and save me that trouble.''
Accordingly, little time later. the
minister, accompanied by the deacon,
ed his recent acquisition down the
'arm-house lane. and away along the
'horoughfare of the sleepy little hamlet
% the tiny cottage where dwelt Mrs.
Sperry and her brood. There they
astened the animal to a convenient
post. raped softly, and departed, with
he peaceful consciousness which at
ends upon worthy deed resting upon
'ne OF them, at least, as a mantle.
Next morning when the deacon, hoe
N shoulder, was leaving his door-yard |
or his corn-ield, he encountered Mrs.
'perry. Her eyes were red, as with |
ong Watching or weeping, and her1
hin lips trembled with the emotion
which she vainly endeavored to con-
eal.
She put out both hands to him.
Deacon Larrabee.n = said she, Il have
ONE to thank you, and to ask your
Oh, have had such hard
houghts of you!-how cruelty hard
My God knows-and my own heart.
Why, almost came to pray that some
readful misfortune might overtake
all because you would not
ell me the COW you meant to give
ae.n
'I-really-I-" began the deacon.
he situation was most embarrassing
ne. and rendered doubly SO by the
that beside the open win
ow of the room Appropriated to his
brary the minister was sitting, no f