St. Landry democrat., 1882-05-27
were ornamented with patches of lime

and plaster.
.:Now,' said Uncle Eben, ''with
something to save your coat-sleeves,
you'll be ready for work.
And he brought out a pair of blue
and-white butchers sleeves.
When these were drawn on, Tom
would have laughed had the gift been
given him to see himself as others saw
him, but, happily, he was thinking
about the work, and to Uncle Eben the
outward appearance was nothing.
The cellar was large, and quite light,
and, being foored with brick, was warm
and comfortable. In one corner was an
old-fashioned, widc-mouthed oven,
where the weekly baking of the family
was done. Near it was the long, hang
ing-shelf, with a cloth covering it, and
reaching over the sides, and Tom i'm
agined the bumps in the cloth repre-
sented the cakes, buildings and pies UNI
derneath.
Here's the potatoes said Uncle
Eben, as they came to a part OF the cell
lar devoted to vegetables. 1.-The little
and specked ones put in the basket, and
carry to the feed bin in the barn. The
good-sized and fair ones put in the
barrels
Then he fell to sorting with great en-
ergy, and Tom, watching his move
ments a few minutes, was able to take
up the work.
All went well until he was returning
from the barn for the third time, when
he heard derisive shout from the store
on the opposite side of the street.
Looking up, he saw his Cousin Jack
coming as fast as paroXysms of laughter
would allow.
This was unexpected, and Tom felt
suddenly ashamed and frightened. His
first thought was to drop the basket,
take to his heels, and find hiding place
in the barn. But it was too late. Jack
was in the yard, and so overcome with
the ludicrous appearance Of his cousin,
that he sat down on the chopping-log in
the wood-pile, and laughed so long and
so loud that it brought Uncle Eben half
way up the cellar-steps to see what was
happening.
40, my eyesn' exclaimed Jack.
"What figure! knew your old yell
low copy-book took root this noon, but
to think you should bloom out in it SO
soon is a little too much for me!' and
fresh laughter shook him until he rolled
off the block and down the slanting
wood-piIe.
"Charltyn' called Uncle Eben to his
wife, "Get ready a kettle of water,
and have it reasonable hot. Here's a
boy in fit!'' ...a.... r.
Jack picked himself up at this, and
walked on little distance.
Industry need not wish,'' he quoted,
'sand certainly it need not" he con,
iinued, If it rigs its followers in that
style Good-day, my suntlower!' and
with a haunting bow he left the yard.
Tom turned back to the cellar. The
work was left, but the pleasure he had
felt in it was all gone. For the firs'
time he was comprehending what a joke
may be from the victim standpoint.
ssHas he been so long?' inquired the
old man.
"Been? been how?" asked Tom, not
understanding.
"Why Observation-Disclosures sense.
ut was not that" answered Tom, I'M
willing to accept the doubtful comfort
of leaving false impression about Jack
"He was laughing at my looks He
is very smart. y
ga poor way of showing it then, il
all can say; but L d rather be on YOU
side of the joke than his
'.But | never thought it hurt SO to b.
on the wrong side" said Tom.
"Not the wrong side at all, my boy,
replied Uncle Eben, ''and you'll find
as you go along through life, you'll
have to take many a hurt, and carr,
many a sore spot, if you hold to tn
right. Why, I'm way past eighty, AM
the other evening [ went down to tn
meeting of the Common Council, al
) those city fellows you know, who ar
running the place with their extraya
gance. I tried to demonstrate wit
them as Christian and citizen, an
what do YOU think they did, but laug
and hiss, and ask for the pattern of m
hat" #s@ q
eyes" said Tom, "lread about
in the paper, and Uncle Dalton said 20
were right, and the people would see
some day"
w ell, nope 81, ttiiu Liy e'efie0 Is
never be ashamed when you know 70
are right"
But what if you can't help iii?
asked Tom, who was in just this tryin
!, position, and had experienced shame
anger and many conflicting emotions
in which he knew the evil outbalance
"Of course" continued Uncle Eber
"bad thoughts will spring up power,I1
fast when you're in a tight place, bl
don't let them keep you from doing tn
square thing. Just hold on, say, an
let the scorner laugh, and after Will
the joke turns over of itself, and
, comes your turn to laugh"
Under the sting of Jacks ridicul'
/ Tom had concluded never to be foun
in such job again, but he changed h
mind as he talked with Uncle Eben, an
resolved to test the truth OF his cop,
L. ~+