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


that mood. Her manner was earnest, |
yet kind; and before she was through
with her lecture, their faces had
heightened to gravity, and they really !
seemed convinced that their actions |
had been wrong.
The discovery thattheir education had
been sadly neglected was not long hid
den from her keen mind.
The farmer assured her they would
not 90 to school--their very ignorance
was their greatest shame now. Her
course was promptly decided.
The eldest could read tolerably.
First, she coaxed him to read little
scraps of news to her from the village
paper, while she seWed in the evenings.
Mike and Pug amused themselves, ere
while, by plying Puss with broken
spur-but grew drowsy. Even Jim
yawned over the locals. But short
sketches were introduced after an even
ing or two and their interest in quiet
pursuits gradually awakened.
After awhile she discovered she was
growing somewhat rusty in grammar.
Indeed, she feared she was forgetting
what little arithmetic she had learned,
and was sadly at q loss in geography.
The farmer did not see that it made
any difference if she had. Secretly, he
thought grammar would not help make
the butter, and geography poor aid for
housekeeper.
But he wisely let his wife have her
own way, without interference, since
she permitted him to doze in his great
chair during the exercises.
For she needed strong, young eyes to
help her; besides, she must keep busy
fingers at her sewing.
She was very stupid too-the boys
would have to read lesson to her sew
eral times, before she could repeat it;
and then she would blunder, and have
to be laughed at and corrected. This
would have proved dull work to our
young savages, but for these same
4 blunders.s IN
But she amused them, and then they
grew interested, and before the winter
was ended, the evening lessons were
looked forward to eagerly; for they
began study il earnest, and OF their
own accord.
She had been acquiring gradually a
great influence over them, and a hint
now, and word then, which had all
the force. and yet was not command,
had brought their manners up to civ
ilized standpoint.
The winter had been close and cold;
and these evenings with their books had
kept them at home.
Their presence at spelling-schools was
much missed by the clique whose lead
| IN, ,,,;eobiaf thn,r avn,upHly
But spring found them much sobered
down, and conscious of having an aim
in life.
Mrs Hazlett was not fair-weather
Christian, by any means. But she had
stayed at home from church for
months, ostensibly, that part of the
time the roads were almost impossible;
really, that she dared not leave the
bors to their own devices, her work in
their reformation but incomplete,
neither did she wish to take them with
her till she was more sure Of their be-
haviour.
But one pleasant morning in April
Mrs. Hazlett signitied her desire to go
to the village to church.
The farmer started. He liked his
Sunday nap, but Jim, Mike and Pug
ran to the barn and gave the horse ex-
ira care This church-going had been
held up as a treat for some time. They
| knew of the neat, new suits hanging in
! the closet, to be donned for the first
time this morning.
No one knew better the curse of false
pride than this wise woman. But she
also knew it was quite necessary to in
still moderate spice of vanity in the
minds of these lads, trusting her own
good sense to guide and direct.
So, in due time. the carriage was
brought to the door, and the farmer.
his wife, and little ones, seated care
fully, the boys taking the first seat,
that they might drive.
l The villagers stared half amazed.
These manly lads looking so handsome
and neat, and who behaved as decor
Il ously, were scarcely to be recognized
as the same young renegades, who were
4 won't, of old, to be in the middle OF
fevery melee.
i Dick and Ned Carlyle, their whilom
4 intimates, who salurked outside the
church door, stared in wonder, too;
they dared not expect support from
these boys who noticed them only with
a cool nod. * '@ ~.
After that they were never missed
from the family pew. Farmer Hazlett
was fain to defer his Sunday nap till
after dinner.
/ Under Mrs. Hazlett's tu.elage, they
mastered one study after another, till,
first Jim, and year later Mike and
1 Benny, no longer Pug were declared
ready for college, where they acquitted
themselves with great credit.
And proud woman is Mrs Hazlett
to-day. Proud of the noble fellows who
delight in consulting mother at every
turn. Proud, too, in the praise from
husband and friends.