The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-05-26
HOW FATHER CONQUERED US.

We were a minister's children. Jamie,
twelve, slight, straight as an arrow, with
the peculiar golden light in the gray
eyes that betokens hot temper and bril-
liant intellect, and masses of fine black
hair pushed back from n high, white
forehead. Bright, handsome Jamie,
how loved him, with an unquestion-
ing devotion that taught me early to
Weld my wishes and desires to his inn
perious will and to shield him in all
things, right or wrong, from the severe
judgments of our father. / look back
with feeling of admiration for the
homely little Dot. only seven. with her
long, tawny braids and great eager
ewes, so true to her boy hero.
OF course the familiar expression that
ministers children are worse than any
other had oft been repeated before us,
and as people evidently expected us to
be little heathens we tried hard not to
disappoint any one. Lessons on the
total depravity of ministers children in
general and we two, in particular.
were as daily food to us. We knew that
we were very bad, but we managed to
be quite comfortable for such terrible
sinners.
Among fathers few worldly goods
was beautiful horse, fleet as the wind,
and the pride of his heart Jamie had
often taken me with him to the pasture
to lead :. Eighty backward and for
ward And ON rare occasions when we
had gained permission to drive short
distances for father we had grown bold
and lengtened our drive, always receiv-
ing punishment for our boldness, but
counting it well worth whipping to
hold the rains and feel the air rush
against our faces as Eighty sped down
the street. On one summer morning,
that shown out clear as crystal, father
spoke Of the day as well fitted for shop
ping in Cleveland, a few miles distant,
and as he spoke of train time to mother
announced his intention of going by
rail. Oh the winks, and mods, and sly
motions that told the story so plainly TO
me, and how helpful we grew; of their
comfort how solicitous. At last, with
terrible warning of wrath to be visited
upon us if we ventured to disobey any
of fathers commands, we watched
them aboard the train, and saw it sweep
of down the track, with the fluttering
pennons of smoke reckoning gayly TO
Us. Racing back through the grassy
lanes, tossing books and states into a
fence corner, with my pink sunbon-
net on top of the pile. Jamie
crowned my tawny braids with
his sailor hat and calling me a jolly tar.
helped me to pack our lunch. Before
kind sister H who would come and
get dinner, and mount guard over the
parsonage, could reach there, we had
packed our basket, harnessed our beau
tiful Flighty to the carriage and were
off for day in the woods. Oh! the
dinner in the Old Maids Kitchen, a
cave to be found on the banks of the
Cuyahoga River, famous now rs the
Switzerland of America. The long drive
down the road that stretched away in
the distance like silver wire. The
depths of cool living green. that lay like
shadow in barren land. The moss,
the violcts, the new sounds we heard.
the new visions we saw. The delicious
GOODNESS of the spring we discovered.
The dreams we dreamed of the future.
Oh! that summer day. As it waned
we collected our treasures and unfast-
ening Flighty from the tree where
she had been made safe, we led her to
the carriage, and depositing our bur-
dens we drove gayly homcward. Runa-
ways we were, but philosophers as well,
for we put that fact of our awaiting
punishment as far from our thought as
possible. We expected to be whipped,
but did not intend to suffer the sting
twice, once in dreading and talking
about it. and again in actual pain. As
we sped along through the summer
evening, we decided that life was worth
the living -'.the game well worth the
candle"
Did we feel a presentiment that oul
placid enjoyment of this delightful
wickedness was soon 10 end, that we
finished our otherwise quiet sort of dis.
obedience BY racing through the village
streets, hllzzaing ike young Indians,
and passing every team with chal-
cnge to follow if they could? Flighty
was thoroughbred and perfectly
trained. She kept her head beautifully
or my story might have had another
ending As we drove up to the gate
with a grand flourish, the whistle of the
train in the distance warned us that oul
hour Of reckoning was close Mt hand
After tea was invited to the study and
questioned as to the days wickedness
answered respectfully. and, after be
ing reprimanded. was banished to my
room. Soon after l heard fathers
heavy step in the hall and Jamie's light
FOOTBALLS following. Leaning far out Of
my gable window, / watched them
enter the barn. Ii was glori-
Gus starlight night. and the silvery
wilderness OF the moonlight wrapped the
world in its spell. Once I thought
heard the pleading voice of my brother.
] could hear no more. and slipping cut
into the hall, stole down stairs and on,
10 the barn. The lantern was hardly
needed. tor both front and rear doors
being open, the moonlight lay in great