The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-03-16
DEATH.
HIS Benevolent Conduct Toward tho FAthe1
OfIIis Sod Child.

ofuis 6od-Child.
Once upoa a time there dwelt stout and
jovial- farmer, by name Jean Philippe, at
the hamlet of Duesne- naoult, about top,
EQVsAots from Con .!e~sur~r Escant, He
had q wife and twel,v sonN., solid, chunky
lads Ill OF them, and he himself, though
his hair was griZzling, was straight as q
poplar.
In the year OF grace, no matter what, his
wife presented him with d thirteenth boy as
New Years eiit-a boy that did not give
any sign Of resembling his robust broth
ers.
"You are as thin os cat in May, poor
little fellow" said his father, and, besides,
you have drawn IN unlucky number in the
.n.te-y ~ life: bat there is enc wey to con-
sjsle evil fortune away from yoa, AID that
is t, give you just and honest man for
godfather. That will be easy enough to
do"
But when he sat down, and began to run
over the list Of his friends and neighbors.
he found that the task was not such an
easy enc after all. ONe man had tried to
swsrile him ont cf four feet Of land; an:
c.hst had. killed his hers; third had
ohs:tM him ID cards ole Sunday es they
were pluving at tho tavern alter yesCsrs. 80
and then oil his acQuaintances at Condv,
and the notables thereof; yea, even the JUS
uce Of the peace and the priest. the former
because he had decided against Jean Phil
lpps in a case about Il fence, and the latter
because ct cate ctism he gave the first place
in the class to the ,reouaster's son, who,
saving Your presence, was not only not SO
hri1h as jean Phllippe's own boy, but was
indeed IA ass,
"tt IL not 50 easy 3 task rs thought"
stil tho enrre5';; with Sigh and taking
ou,.sel with his wife, he resolved. that, IS
there seemed to be no honest men IN that
part OF the country, he would take his staff
and so il search Of one. So be set forth
On his :oii2liluaHe, and presently-of course
1t Was luldn!grt, and he Was passing through
lonely wood-he met 4 man who, by the
pals light of the stars, seemed to him as
tall and es thin as hop. pole, and who was
CARVING 3 Sc:the as loly rs himself.
Whoever you may be, good man. said
the farmer, hating this stralee figure, lend
me q pipetui of tobacco. My pouch is
empty.
Without word the mower drew forth
tobacco pouch to the farmer, who, while
filling his pipe, had III opportunity OF ex-
aiming the stranger appearance. He was
strange looking man, indeed-if he Was
G r.,n 1T all His heal WAC bald and shin
lug; his eyes We're small end suEken; his
nose was flat, and his mouth, immoderate-
y largs, showed few grinning tseth. His
chee6s were hollow, and his skin was like
parchment, and when he moved his Joints
cracked like i swinging oi8r.
Thank you, friend, said Jean Philippe,
returning the pouch. the moving bust.
ness does not SEEM to be 7ery Gay Ing one,
- ia
than Z t,tne ten. Take care Of yourself,
you had better, If yen want to make old
bo,es."
"Doa't worry yourself, friend; my old
bones will see Yours under the ground"
And Tie old mans little eyes sparkled
like sprinkle of salt cast into the ire.
hat are you doing out Of doors 1T this
time Of nixht;" hs continued, questioning
the farmer.
We'll, you see my wife just has been
brcuhgtto bed of q thirteenth boy. and as the
little thing IS only skin end bone, l have
wished to see il / couldn't better his luck by
Giving him Il just man for q godfather. Now,
1 h .Te been three days ana three nights on
the se"rch and"
e1trd ha7en'I found one?"
AID ha-e1t found one. / didn't think
righteous folk we're So Source
"Suppoge yoa take me?' said the mower,
with. a grin intended 70, smile.
You? Are you IN honest man? Well,
yes, you look lean and poor, and so per-
laps you are. But what is your
nance"
"D-Hth!"
death? The deuce! And SO that is the
scvthe that you-"
Precisely. This is the scythe tnat
",tam' Afte- all, raid the farmer, re-
fectivelC, Il don't see That could do any
better. Death is Just. His scythe cuts
down inp;srti,lIy the rich and the poor,
the great aud the humble Shake hands
on il. god. papa. and III answer tia, the
Christening shall be worthy OF the spons-
or.
"Very good. When is TO be?'
"On Sunday next, at Quesne Raoult. In
q1;re for Jean Philippe, the farmer; any
one will show you the house"
y bargain. Goodnight, FRIEND"
Goodnight, Death"
Jean Philippe went home with light
heat. wife," said he, 1--WE secured
famous godfather, and if he only takes an
interest in the child, it won't die teething."
But as women, particularly when i'll, are apt
t. be easily alarmed aud upset, he did not
enter Into dry further explanations.
When Sunday came round, Jean Philippe
donned his bottle green velvet breeches,
his silver buckled shoes, and his camlet
waistcoat, to do honor to the distinguished
godfather. Ills wife and the twelve boys,
and the godmother as we'll, were arrayed n
their Sunday best In due course the god
father arrived, wearing long coat that
tapped about him like the sail round the
mas: of a wire cked ship. He was univer.
sally voted lean and elderly, but it was adj
lnitted that he had a distinguished air.
After the christening, which took place
at q nde---the little stone church at Macon
had no. then been built-and at which
Grantner Jucob played "K!ng Dagobert" on
the chins S, the atty returned to the farm
where q notable feast was served. The
farmer mad killed his latest pig to do hon.
or to the occasion.
1t WAS pleasure to see Death eat. To
his own riate LIE disposed of as much as
all the other yuests--hfteen in ell, and ali
Femipgs- Jean Philippe could mol
help envyiny him his appetite.
When at ten O'Clock the ourfew sou ded
at Condo, the stilrnp- cup was drained, and
the god father, having smiled benevolently
Oh his godchild and embraced his gossip,
babe the family good evening.
Jean Philip in ed on seeing him home:
at least part Of the way, and they set out,
arm in arm, 81 nginy.
"Say, frisnd," remarked the farmer, as
they walked along, Enough you have Ia
nous appetite, no longer wonder that you
hate 60 little fat on your ribs. You must
have busy time of it. How much that
is to say, how many do you NOW a day,
eh""
"Oh, bout sixty thousanda day. should
cay, on an average; SOIL etimes, more some
ti,nes less.
"Sx.ty thousand day! Dear, dear!
And no y many did YOU NOW down to-day,
if it's u fair question:"
Not sinalA one"
Not sja. gle one? Dear. dear! Why
there are sixty thousand Christian folk
that ought to 10 under obligations to me"
"Well, not exactly. You see I take a
holiday now AMI then, and this happened to
be one of my lazy days, else couldn't have
accepted your kind invitation"
But how do you tell whom to cut down
and whom to leave? because l don't sup
pose you do it at random"
"Of course don't; but if you will come
..sAl>. r -. al