St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-11-08

but Ralph was not rlch. he was only
poor orphan boy, who worked for Mr..
Harris, the owner of the farm. Joe
Curtis was an orphan, too. The farm
on which he worked was owned by Mrs.
Douglas, widow lady. It was small
one, so small that sometimes this boy
was all the help she had.
One night Ralph asked Mr.. Harris II
he might 60 to the river with Joe. :.
Have you done all the chores?"
asked the farmer.
eyes, SIR
Now Mr.. Harris knew that if Ralph
said so it was SO, and he granted his
request at once.
Ralph found Joe bringing IN the
wood for the next morning.
"Joe," he said, evil you ask Mrs.
Douglas if you can go to the river with
me9S
Joe gave a very ready assent. He
assured Mrs. Douglas that the chores
were all done, and received her per-
mission to go with Ralph.
Knowing something of Joe's habits,
Ralph said, just as they reached the
gate. ''Are you sure the chores are all
done?n
eyes, / believe so,'' was Joe's care
less answer.
ssrhe barn doors are open. Doesn't
Mrs. Douglas expect you to shut them
| at night?"
1T doesn't make bit of difference
and she won't see them, for they are
out of sight from the house. 7"
81 should shut them, if l were In
your place, y said Ralph; and then. the
| barn reminding him of eggs, he asked,
Have you brought in the eggs, to-
| dayp"
mo, I forgot to look. But the hens
don't lay every day, so Mrs. Douglas
won't think anything about it.
''Let's see if we can't find any, before
we go to the river" said Ralph. Il
like 20 hunt for eggs"
They went, and soon found several.
Ralph, not satisfied with this, contin-
| ued to look around, and soon discov-
cred nest with ten eggs of which Joe
had no knowledge.
"Only think! we have found sixteen!''
said Ralph, exultingly, after counting
them. 'Worth looking for, | am sure J"
Two years passed, and each of the
boys went on his own way; Joe neglect
| inc his duties with little or no COM
i Function. if he felt sure his unfaithful-
/ ness would not be discovered, and
Ralph performing every duty carefully;
and vet, during this time, the difference
between the two boys seemed of little
account. Ralph seldom got even word
of appreciation from Mr.. Harris, and
| Joe usually contriyed to escape CEN
sure.
At the end Of the two years Mr.. Har-
ris received q visit from an old friend,
who was q very busy man when at
home, and it was great treat to him
to spend a whole week in quiet coun-
try farmhouse. He was q close OBJ
server. and one thing which did not es-
cape his notice was the faithfulness
with which Ralph did all his tasks. He
spoke of it to Nj. Harris.
Eyes, Ralph is pretty good boy, :
said Mr.. Harris, rather carelessly, as II
it were matter of course.
Il wonder if you know how few boys
there are as faithful as he is?'' was his
friends reply.
Il want a good, honest, faithful
boY," said friend to this gentleman,
L LUOub bNO tWCChS dlGO1 HIS AStulA AOniC'
:.Did you chance to find such an article
I while you were in the countryP''
The gentleman's thoughts turned at
once to Ralph, aud he answered: Il did
see such a boy. / never saw one more
faithful and trustworthy" And then
| he told him all about Ralph.
'.Do you think Icould get him?"
.Very likely you may, if you try"
He did try, and the result was that
Ralph found an excellent situation,
which proved to be the first stepping
stone to q successful career in the BUSH
ness world.
It has often been said that the rogue
or wrong-d oer is sure to be found out at
last; but it is just as true that the faith
full, industrious boy is sure to be found
4 out in the long run. He may think that
no one observes him, but people around
him have eyes and. by and by. there
viii be place where such a boy is
wanted. and some one, who has been
silently watching him, will bring the
place and the boy together. Catherine
III. 1roUbridge, ~ g0ugregdtioaaaList.