St. Landry democrat., 1883-06-16

demurred John. They'd never stick
to the balustrade! They'd be as hard
to manage as children. an that's a
fac
''They keeps up an awful squalling,
4 Miss, put in Jane, the maid, when the
matter reached her ears. They'll be
worse than Miss Noyes' guinea-hens
and Miss Dunn's parrot, or them chill
dren of Parson Miller 81 never did see
such neglected plaques as they be, = she
added, irrelevantly. Il wonder their
mother don't rise in her grave. But
the poor man-what does he know OF
/ the care of babies, with his sermons and
his prayer-meeting, and his parochial
visits and his poor9 He's off to this we'd
ding or that funeral, or he's reading the
Word to the sick and blind. It's a
shame there's no women folks, but
hired help, to look after 'em. see him
myself one day a-tidying of them up,
and pinning on their clean collars
wrong side out and upside down. ]
s'pose he was thinking Of free-will and
election, like as not. y
81 wish him JOY of them,'' said Miss
Prudence. Il prefer the peacock. .
The first night after the peacock S
arrival. however, Miss Prudence never
closed her eyes,or the bird his mouth, so
to speak; but when he pranced across
the lawn in The morning light, Miss
Prue thought she would rather lose
her sleep than the sight Of 50 much
beauty.
| ssMiss Dunn says she'll have to lay in
a stock of choral and bromide, if your
going to keep the peacock Jane re-
ported; and Mrs. Noyes herself dropped
in to suggest that he could bekilled and
stuffed.
Hell be quite as decorative said
she, without disturbing the neigh
/ bors.
Every two or three days small ur-
chin would appear with the bird in tow,
and remark, demurely: "Your peacock
strayed over to Dickens, and I've
fetched him along home," for which
civility sundry pieces of small change
would be disbursed.
..And who are youpn she asked, when
the same youngster had performed the
same benevolent service some half-doz-
en- times.
Il? Oh, I'm Parson Miller's boy
g His sonp''
"Why. yes uni reckon so.
81 shall have to shut him up,'' said
| Miss Prue. His travelling expenses
will ruin me-
BY this time the poor bird had lost
| most of his fine tail-feathers in the pro-
cess of being run down by the Miller
| brothers and their contemporaries, and
presented Q ragged appearance which
went to its owners heart. So he was
shut up in a temporary pen till he should
learn better ways; but Miss Prudence,
going to look after him one afternoon,
found the two Millers inside the pen,
chasing him about to display his plum
age, while their little sister stood out
side and clapped her hands, and u crowd
of other children stood peeping between
the Stats.
"What are you doing, children'" she
cried.
s.Oh, we've been reading about pea
cocks, and they need exercise vouch-
safed the eldest Miller.
1t seems to me that you need a
stick said Miss Prue.
Father dom t approve of whipping"
chirruped the youngest; g do you, faith
er?''
And Miss Prue lifted her eyes and
met those of Rev. Austin Miller, which
wore a startled, perplexed expression,
while the color palpitated across his
pale face.
My children have annoyed you,'' he
said, with the hesitating tone which
begged to be gain-said.
'sThey have only annoyed the pea
cock" answered Miss Prue, dropping
her gaze, and flushing rosy red in her
turn.
II came in search Of these rogues,n
he went on. Z. Bridget was sure they
were in some mischief did not ex-
pect to find you. =
No, of course not, y said Miss Prue,
ina voice sttdjously matter-of-fact.
81 have read somewhere, Rev. Mr..
Miller pursued, that the only real
happiness which ever arrives to us,
springs UP quite unexpectedly in our
path it is not the result of search. 7
dropped the thread of my sermon,
against my viii, at a critical point to
pick up these little folks. I have my
reward. 2
You are very easily satisfied" re-
turned Miss Prue, in the same remote
voice. She was hardening her heart
against the persuasive tones which had
once been like the music of the spheres
to her.
No, am not easily satisfied. I
have never been satisfied with myself
with some hasty actions Of my own,
should say. Miss Prudence, you have
never forgiven me?'' he spoke half
questioningly, as if he would fain be
contradicted.