St. Landry democrat., 1882-07-01

had intended to do from the first; and
the patient little wife, having learned
this fact, would generally oppose the
measure, and then toward the end of
the argument would give her consent
with as good grace as possible. How
ever this might have worked on the feel
ings of Susie, she loved her husband as
only true wife and mother can, and
they were happy couple. SO it was
settled that they should buy farm and
move onto it at the earliest moment;
and Mart went out into the country with
Mr.. Bemis, the land agent, to look at
the old Davis farm, a tract of about for
ty acres, with good house and barn
and all other necessary attachments.
The land was worn out and almost
worthless, but Mart did not know the
difference, and thought the place Won
derfully cheap at an even fifteen hum
dred dollars, half down, and the balance
to be paid in one and two years.
The next day Susie and Freddie We're
driven out to inspect the premises, and
they, especially Freddie, thought it
would do, and the bargain was closed,
and the trio returned to the city. That
night Mart dreamed Of large cribs of
yellow corn, great bins Of wheat, and
saw visions of fat cattle and fat hogs,
and plump chickens, turkeys, ducks
and geese; and last, but not least, he
saw bag of GOLD so heavy that he could
not lift it, and then he started for Eu-
rope with his family.
But suddenly he aWoke; the sun was
shining in at the window; Susie had
dressed and gone out, and Freddie was
drawing his papa's new pantalOons
across the floor, with one of the sus-
penders broken, and the contents of the
direction.
What are you doing, you little vii
/ lainP' shouted Mart.
But Freddie only opened the door and
scampered out into the hall and down
stairs, taking the trousers with him.
After Mart had recovered his panta-
looms and promised Freddie a sound
thrashing if he should ever be guilty of
the like again, and had eaten his break
fast, he took another ride out to the
farm. When he returned he was the
possessOr of team of horses, two cows,
pigs and fowls, had ordered the Davises
to move out within ten days, and the
| house to be repapered, painted, ETC.,
| etc. After all this had been done they
had over two hundred dollars left,
which, according to Mart would be
more than enough to last until early
vegetables were large enough to send to
! market.
Winter advanced, and Mart was the
happiest man in the land and Freddie
nd II,
In due time they moved onto the farm,
bag and baggage. When they had I'M
packed the last load, they went out into
the barnyard to look around. The pigs
squealed, the chickens cackled, the
ducks quacked, and the geese chased
Freddie onto the topmost board of the
rail fence, by way of an introduction.
He called to his father to come to the
rescue, but that dignitary was deeply
absorbed in watching the two sleek
cows feeding in the pasture adjoining.
and paid no attention to the screams of
his son and heir. Susie, however, was
more attentive to the wants of the
youngster, and scared away the geese,
and quiet was again restored.
Z The oldest Davis boy had been in
duced to remain over night and part of
the next day, just to show Mart the run
of things.
Susie wanted to hire a good stout
tend the stock, etc, but Mart poohed
and poohed at the idea, and said he |
would do all the work. during the win
ter, and then have more than half the |
time to read. as
I The day on which the Oldest Davis
boy left. he traded large mastiff which |
he valued at fifty dollars to Mart. for a |
watch, and got a pocket revolver and |
three dollars to boot. Mart was proud /
of his other acquisitions and strutted |
about continuously, Boosting about the
wonderful bargains he had made, but
this capped the climax; he walked about
leading the, dog by the rope-it would
not follow-and he talked so incessant-
ly about his wonderful bargain that his
presence became almost unbearable.
- What is the dog good for?' inquired
Susie, not knowing what else to say.
"Good forr' calculated Mart. ''Well,
now, If that isn't a question! Well, for
instance" he said, "you know that we
have a very valuable team of horses in
the barn, worth more than ten times the
price | paid for this dog?'
eyes, wy
swell, suppose q thief should hap
pen along and take fancyto this team,
and that the dog should fall in and not
only save it and probably other proper
ty, but secure the thief. for whom there
might be reward Of a hundred dollars
or more" ua
Saying this the learned man tied the
dog to the door knob, and folding his
arms, stood looking at Susie, awaiting
an answer.
Il had not thought Of that said the