The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-02-22
MRS, BISHOP AND HER BAG.

Mho' blhhOF AND HER BAG,
family long subjected to malaria.
influences sought, wears agone. health
and strength from soiourn in the bar.
renTegions Of the pines. Many impres.
slons there formed on the mind Of one
Of AS child members still remain; but
cleafSst cut of these intaglios of memo.
ry Is that of Mrs Bishop and her bag.
aud II shall form the subject of this
sketch.
Awcird procession Of three wound
up Me pine-crowned hill to the village
church one evening, each member bear
lnga ilickcring pine torch In her hand.
Arr0yed in scarlet calico, with coarse
locks Struggling on the breeze, what
wonder that to a youthful imagination,
Mrs. Bishop and her two daughters,
Miranda, and Rejoice, seemed, beneath
the fantastic glare Of the torches, to be
Macbeth's witches in the very flesh?
a closer survey, however, under the
cross-barrcd, wooden candle-holder,
which formed the literal "drppings OF
this sanctuary" revealed grim, gaunt
woman and two strong, sun.buinrgiris.
Biass-bowed spectacles covered the
woman g bright eyes, and large blue
bag, whose use did not appear, was
suspended from her arm
''Seem that she caynt stop thought
that bag, some one whispered near;
and from that moment the article
which, in accordance with this state
mont was so necessary 10 Mrs. Bishops
well-bcing, became invested for me
with a peculiar interest
Does your nav want 20 buy any
quilts, sis, rs you knows on?"'was the
question with which was accostcd, as
few days later the mysterious bag and
is owner appeared at our front gate.
IN light and come in, was added,
ere ! had time to reply.
Here, Dood, to boy who rode
Behind. hitch the crittcr an foler
ne.
The specimens OF baudiwork shortly
displayed for our qualification were
gorgeous creations Of scarlet, green and
yellow calico, and bore such striking
names a, Star Of the Evening
Wicked Ways Of the World Pride
Of the Prairie, and "Solomon's Tenn.
pie.
When my mother had conveyed TO
Mrs. Bishop IS gently a. possible, the
fact that we bad no need for the alti-
clcs offered, she replied. Nov ma am,
don S YOU 70 TO thnllin feels put out
about IT, Laws, no. it enough for mo
10 baye ISOLATED fur awhile with the
quality Of | hain't made no sale.
What is your little boys Nance
asked my mother, with compassionate
glance at the little woe.begonc- looking
creature.
"Doodney is the name he was baptiz
by, but VIC call him Dood for short
is il French name2' she further
inquired, doubtless thinking Of the
beautiful name DiCu-donne, or God.
given.
Laws no, ma am. me an his paw i
strong Primi,y Baptises, and wouldn't
never give no chile Of our n heather
name Brother Stuart. an old preach.
er, named the chile, and reckin' it's
mighty good, religious name, cause
Brother Stuart is pow full good man,
He amt in this dcestrick no mo- now,
but he'll be here come next foo,-washin
time, an it'll ies do YOU good to heal
him 'zort and laugh them holy laughs
him"
After a short conversation in regard
to q COW which mv mother thought OF
purchasing, and which her visitor de-
clared "would gin bushel Of milk.
Mrs. Bishop rose to 90,
'Le, me pat these apples in your
bag said my mother, "the little hoy
may Ike them
"Much obloeged ma M but won,
sile the bag. Here, Dool, put them
apples in your pocket, aud don't YOU
begin a-catin' of EN- now" as she
noted the Frightening of the little fcl-
lows eyes.
So the bag went empty as it came,
and its use was not yet discovered.
! will state here, digreSsvely, that
"come next foot-washiD time which
we found TO be ceremony OF great
solemnitv. we heard Brother Stuart"
first 'cndcavor to jiue the two oends of
his mind together by singing entirely
alone thyme six verses in length,
and then hold forth for two long hours
from the text, "A great king r'ared his
bul arks agin city, an the city tuck
an fell, during which he INDUCED
frequently in that peculiar form of ner.
vous excitement called '',he holy
laugh,
After the sale of some butter and
eggs, brought few days later, hut not
in the bag, which Tapped idly from her
arm, Mrs. Bishop remarked to my
mother, IF that there chile was mine, g
abiding to my humble self, I'D set
her on the mantel-board, an. ncvcrtake
eyes often her. She jes' looks to me
like an alabaster image"
Like as not, honey" turning with
sudden inconscquence TO me, you
never seed country dance, did YOU?
There s a-goin to be one out at Mea.
chem's to-morrer night, AMI hope your
mawll let you 60. Me an Nlirandy
! l.g.h \ Al