St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-01-27

chapter in the Bib'e. and after all had
joined in the Lords Prayer. he COM
menced. as follows:
| yesterday afternoon a very veneer
able and respectable old man, and a
clergyman by pro ession, was on his
way rom Boston to Salem, to pass the
| residue of the winter at the house of
his son. That he might be prepared for
| journeying, as he proposed to do in the
spring, he took with him his light
| wagon and for the winter his sleigh.
which he fastened behind the wagon.
! He was, as / have told you, very old
| and inlirm; his TEMPLES We're covered
| with thinned locks, which the trosts OF
eighty years had VIII tened; his sight
and hearing, too, were somewhat blunt
ed by age, as yours will be should YOU
live to be as old. He was proceeding
very slowly and quietly, for his no Sc
was old and feeble like his owner His
thoughts reverted to the scenes of his
youth. when he had periled his life in
FIGHT NC for the libe ties OF his country;
to the scenes of his manhood, when he
had preached the Gospel OF his Div ne
4
wilderness; and to the scenes of ripper
years, when the hard hand of penury
had lain heavily upon him. While thus
occupied, almost forgetting himself in
the multi tude of his thoughts. he was
suddenly disturbed and even terrified
bv loud hurrahs from behind, and by a
flu lous pelting and gathering of balls
of snow aid ice upon the top OF his
wagon. In his trepidation he dropped
his reins. and as his aged and feeb e
hands were quite benumbed with cold
he found it impossible to gather them
up, and his horse began to run away.
In the midst OF the old mans
trouble, there rushed by him, with loud
shouts, a arge party. of toys in a sleigh
drawn by six horses. Turn o t, turn
out, Old feliow!' - Give us the road, old
boyn-4'W II YOU take for your pony,
old daddv?--sG Go it. frozen noser-
What's the price of oats?' were the
various cries that met his ear.
:. Pray, do not brighten my horse
exclaimed the intirm driver
.ssTurn out, then! turn outp' was
the answer, which was followed by re-
peated cracks and blows from the long
whip of the grand Sleigh with show
ers of snowballs, and three tremendous
huzzas from the boys who were in 1T.
1.-The terror OF the old man and his
horse was increased, and the latter ran
away W tn him, to the imminent dane er
OF his life. He contrived, however. after
some e<ertion. to secure his reins,
which had been out OF his hands dur NC
the whole of the affray. and to stop his
horse just in season to prevent his being
dashed against a loaded team.
..As he approached allen, he over
took Young man who was walking
toward the same place, and whom he in
vited to ride. The Young man alluded |
to the grand sleigh. which had irst |
man to inquire if he knew who the
boys were. He replied that he did; that
they all belonged to one school, and
were set OF wild fellows.
.Aha" exclaimed the former. with
a.hearsy laugh for his constant good |
nature had not been disturbed), do
they, indeedp Why, their master is very
well known to me. am now going TO
his house, and [ rather think I shall |
give him the benefit of this whole story
- A short distance brought him to his
JOURNEYS end the house of his SOIL.
His old horse was comfortably housed
and fed, and he himself abundantly
provided for.
That son, boys, is your instructor;
and that aged and infrm old man, that |
.old fellow, and .old boy who did not
turn out for YOU, but who W uld gladly
have given you the whole road. had he
heard your approach that sold boy
and odd daddy, and odd frozen nose
was your masters father!''
IL is not easy to describe nor to
the effects produced by this
new translation of the bows own nara
tive. Some buried their heads behind
their desks; some Cried; some looked
askant at each other, and many hast
ened down 10 the desk of the teacher,
with apologies, regrets and acknowledge
ments without end All were freely
pardoned. but were cautioned that they
should be more civil. for the future. to
mo ensive travellers. and more respect
Iul to the aged and infirm.
Years have passed by; the lads are
men though some have found an early
grave: the manly boy is in the deep
bosom o the ocean buried. They who
survive. should this story meet their
ave, will easily recall its scenes, and
throw their memories back to the
School house in ederal Street, . and
@ their old friend and we'll wisher,
TT X OLIVER