The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-11-29

THRE DRACONsb wnWsaM
They had rev minister ntI Gesbrook
Old ParsOn Thoruleigh, who h3d kept the
fiock for forty years, had gone to his long
home; and in his stead had come an hon
est, plain-sRoken young divine, with m
earnest, fearless elOquence Of his own.
And now the worn doorstone OF the lit
tie gray church on the hill was once more
trodden BY feet which had long been
strangers TO it The minister boarded.
having no family, At Deacon LanxbeeS.
~He's tn , least bit uncertain on some
points, said the deacon, leaning on his
hOe-handle and talking across the fence TO
neighbOr Gray, who leaned on his hoe
handle to listen-"a bit uncertain. But
like him+I do, no mistake and 1 be-
lieve the Lords going to bless rs through
him 7"
Amen r. was neighbor Gray's hearty
response.
They hOfd q dozen hills Of corn in 81
lence, their hoes keeping time to the
merry song of a bird in the orchard.
Then Mr.. Gray paused to wipe the per-
spiration Fl rom his face.
This hot weather's liable to make sick
ness" said he. Il suppose you've heard
that one of the Widow Sperry's boys is
down with \ fever ?"
Sho! now you don't say so ~ ex-
claimed the deacon, commisersiingly.
Make it hard for her, won't it g''
Yes, particularly when she's so lately
lost her coy. I've been saying that we'd
all ought to take hold and make it up to
her. If ~ more than one COW on my
place / wouldn't stand to talk long. now.
l tell you5 but l lost my two best ones
last Spring If / hadn't"
It might have been uniutentional. that
sudden facing about Is Mr.. Gray threw
his glance toward the hill pasture where
his neighbSr's herd Of COWS was quietly
feeding. At all events, the deacon could
scarcely help noticing the action. And
be understood its purport An uneasy
flush mounted to his face as he struck
vigorously into the next hill.
She ought to have kept her COW ont
OF the road. Ny cattle never get into
the mill-pOhd and drown. Ifthey should,
| wouldn't expect anybody TO make 'em
up for me. She'd no more call, had the
widow, to Jet her COW run, than I'd have
to turn my whole drove out"
It's pretty hard case, nevertheless,r ?
said Mr.. Gray.
And then the fragmentary convefsa-
tion, tossed piece-meal back and forth
across the fence Is the neighbors went
steadily on with their work, drifted into
Indifferent channels.
There had been an interested listener
to the collPquy narrated aboye. On the
shady side Of the waIl which separzted
Deacon LaFrabee's orchard and cornfeld
sai, book ih hand, the Rev. Mr. Weston.
He arose, is the chat which AOased to bis
hearing began 70 be Of crops md haying,
and walked slowly away along the Or
chazd path with . thoughsfnl smils nPon
his face.
That night, when the deacon took the
shining milk-pails from che dresser and
proceeded TO the farmryard, the young
clergyman followed him. He stood lean
ing against the bars. watching tie yellow
STAR comd oat il the sky. and looking
abroad over the dsason,s Posseaions,
shadowy now, bat subssantial enoaeh By
daylighk
Y0u a1e prosperous mAn. Deacou.,,
4 smile d supreme Satisfaction Over
sprend thg deacon's eenntsnanos - hs
stood for ! moment pssting the sIeek neck
a. : favorike eOw.
We'll. yes.s ? sid hs : abhk IRE n,ads
nysslE 4 pig End pisekfesk -, w
~ 4 had tp ksein Viii = ~
How aaes year nsiehbas Cry 81
nlo.
Gray NslI t1ush eoasll hslsl nexss
y Io1sh - 4 - lives is 60 80 IL
1leskns He's hasi ssiink -
enong ~ Ny - ! esn's - -. I;
thes1ls ! eJes ! poos slensps1 colle6 tnfc
or somn - j q
fas1y nct ~ ;;.sf Ssnelss ssSIt
1Sss - - 49, IN ~