The Worthington advance., 1882-03-16

HE Benevolent Conduct Toward the Fatho
off God. Child.


lads all OF them, and he himself, though
his hair was grizzling, was straight 10
poplar.
In the year Of grace, no matter what, bis
wife presented him with thirteenth boy as
a New Years eift--a boy that did not give
eny sign OF resembling his robust broth
ers
you are as thin ss a cat in May, poor
little fellow, said his father, and. besides.
you Rave drawn An unlucky number in the
lottery Of life; bat there il one way to con-
jure evil fortune away from you, and that
is to give you just aud honest man tor
godfather. That will 10 easy enough to
DO"
But when he sat down, and began to run
over the list of his friends and neighb0rs.
he found that the task was not such An
easy ono after all. One man had tried to
swindls him out of four feet OF land; an
other had killed his hens; sthlrd had
cheated him at cards one Sunday as they
were PLAYING at tho tavern after vespers. so
he rejected al ths dwellers in the hamlet,
and then all his acquaintances at Condo.
iice Of the peace and tho priest. the former
because he had decided against Jean Phil
ippe in case about fence, and the latter
because at catechism he gave the first place
iu the class to the burgolnaster's son, who,
saving your presence, was not only not SO
bright as Jean Philippe's own boy, but WAS
indeed an ASS.
ut is not so easy Il task as ! thought, !"
said the farmer, with u sigh, and taking
counsel with his wife. he resolved that, as
there seemed to be TO honest men in that
part of the country. he would take bis staff
and 20 in search OF one. So he Set forth
on his pilgrimage, and presently--of course
it WAS midnight, and he Was passing through
lonely wood-he met q man who. by the
pale light of the stars, seemed to him as
tall and as thin as hop. pole, and who was
carrying . scythe Is long az himself.
whoever yOn may be, good man, said
the farmer, haltine this strange figure. lend
me pipeful OF tobacco. My pouch is
empty.
Without word the mower drew forth "A
tobacco pouch to tho farmer. who, while
tilling his pipe. had an opportunity OF ey-
amining the stranger r'sappearance. He was
a strange looking man, indeed~-if lie was
man at all. His head was bald and shin
lug; his eyes were small and sunken; his
nose was fat, and his mouth immoderate-
ly large, showed = few grinning teeth. His
cheeks were hollow, and his skin was like
cnckled like swinging sign.
~Thank you. friend, said Jean Philippe,
returning the pouch Tho moving bust
ness does not seem to be very paying ole,
TO Judge from your looks; you are leaner
than 1.-THE hen. Take care OF yourself,
you had better, il yon want to make old
bohes."
"Don't worry yourself, frienl NY ola
bones will SEQ yours under the ground"
And the old mans little eyes sparkle.i
like sprinkle of selt cast into the fire.
What are you doing ont OF doors at this
time Of night" he continued, questioning
the farmer.
well, you see my wife just has been
brouhgtto bed OF thirteenth boy, and as the
little thing is only akin and bone, have
wished to see II couldn't better his luck by
giving him just man for u godfather. Now,
Ih've been three days and three nights on
the search and"
And haven't found one?"
And haven't found one. didn't think
righteous folk We're so scarce"
Suppose you take me-" said the mower,
with grin intended fol smile.
You? Are you an honest man? Well
YES, you look lean and poor, and 80 per-
nsps nsm.,y you are. r"' what is your
DEATH"
Death? The deuce! And so that is the
acythe that you---"
Precisely. This is the scythe tnat
Hum! After all. said the farmer, re-
aectively, Il don't see that could do any
letter. Death is just. His scytho cuts
down impartially the rich and the poo.
The great and the humble. Shake hands
nit, Rod-paps, and IN answer that the
christening shall be worthy Of the spons.
or"
Very good. When is Ito Ley''
On Sunday next, ut Qaesne. isaonlt III
Vuire for Jean Philippe, the farmer; any
one will show you the house"
A bargain. Goodnight, friend"
"Good-night. Death'
Jean Philippe went nome with light
heart. "Wife," said he, I've secured a
famous godfather. and if he only takes an
interest in the child. it won't die tsething. +
But as women, particularly when i'll, are apt
TO be easily alarmed and upset, he did mol
enter into any further explanations.
When Sunday came round, Jean Philippe
donned his bottle green velvet breeches
his silver-buckled shoes, and his camlei
waistcoat, TO do honor to the distinguished,
godfather. His wife aud the twelve bows
and the godmother as we'll, wers urrayed in
their Sunday best. In due course the god.
father arrived. wearing long coat tba,
dapped about him like the sail round the
maE: OF a wrecked ship. He was univer-
sally voted lean and elderly, but it was ad.
lnitted that he had a distinguished air.
After the christening, which took place
st Conde- tho little stone church at Macon
hai not then been built-and vt wh,cl
Granther Jacob played King Dagobert" OF
tho chimes, the party returned to the farm
where notable feast was served. Tn,
farmer had killed his fatteet pig to do hon
or to the occasion.
1t was pleasure to sec Death eat. Tt
his own Plate he disposed of az much 81
All the other guests fifteen in all, and al
Flo1nings-aud Jean Philippe could no
help envying him his appetite
When at ten O'Clock the curfew sout del
at Conde, the stirrup- cup was drained, ani
the god father, having smiled benevolent,
On bis godchild and embraced his gossip
bade the family good evening.
Jean Philippe insisted on seeing him home
at least part OF the way, and they set out
arm in arm, 81 nging.
Say, friend" remarked the farmer, q
they walked along, "thougl you have ia.
EfOSAsS1 w AoAkCA "OuOei L0hL yOl
have 80 little fat on your ribs. You mus
have a busy time of it. How much tia
ls to say, how many do you NOW a day
eh2"
"Oh, bout sixty thousand day, 1 should
say, on An average; sometimes, more some
times less."
Sixty thous-apd day! Dear, dear
And how many did you nov down to- day
II it's fair question:"
Not single one"
Not sin. gle one? Dear. dear! Why
there are sixty thousand Christian folk
that ought to be under obligations to me.
"Well, not exactly. You see l take a
nollday now and then, and this happened tc
be one Of my lazy days, else couldn't have
accepted your kind invitation"
But how do you tell whom to cut down
anu whom to leave? because I don't sup
pose you do it at random"
"Of course I don't; but il YOU will como
home With me I will show you with pleas
are. oh, no; it isn't far mere bowshot
from here"
Jean Philippe looked about him, Thev
wore on the verge OF the forest of Baudour.
FROM chapel to chapel, as the saving is.
they had been talking a good six hours
without bis noticing it.
Inc residence Of Death was q mean and
UNN %S-k