The Opelousas courier., 1884-01-12
PEARL.

eyes, papa"
Scan you take care of mother al
dayP"
"Of course | can, papa. Are Vol
going awayg
"Yes, Sam and / have to go afte
those yearlings. But let everything
else go for mother, dear. Always re
member that. If she's the least bit
nervous toward night, don't leave her
a moment, my bird, but let the ami.
mals take care of themselves"
Pearl lived OIL the shores of the great
Mississippi, far down, where Jack
Frost never gets a very tight grip on
things, and lets go very early, as
Madam Spring comes smiling about
Her father was getting poorer and
poorer year by year, as his worn-out
land grew less productive with every
season of slack tillage, until he found
1t hard to wiring from it a living for
his small family. The stock dWindled
Sown to few poor ilLkept creatures
which looked as if ~forlornly wonder
ing within themselves whether it were
really worth while to live or not.
Pearls father had something of the
same look himself, which increased as
bis wife grew weakly, and suddenly
sank into the condition Of gentle inva-
lid, content to be waited upon, with
out, perhaps, ever pausing to ask
whether she really stood IN need of it.
You may think Pearl must have had
q very sad childhood, But she had
eve known any other place nor any
other children, and was SO happy in
her own bright, unselfish little nature
as never TO have suspected anything
depressing in her surroundings. Pearl
throve as nothing else on the place
throye, wen under the burden of care
which came to her too youngstown
ering back upon her mother so many
caresses and such loving care that it
would be hard to say which looked
most upon the other as child.
III get your breakfast, pet. Wait
till you see what I've got for you"
Pearl skipped about in great gIee at
being left in charge all day. and, after
the usual amount of small fussing,
carried in the tray with a face full of
anticipation Of her mothers delight.
aThe first branch Of Grape myrtle. ]
found 1t peeping out in the sunny cor
ner Of the old pasture. You dear little
mamma dozen kisses on her thin
hands-sif you could only go with me
to : all the beautiful things! But
III bring you every one. Papa
thought that no had found the first
magnolia bud the other day. hut /
won't take a single taste Of egg. There
isn't enough for you.
aJust q taste, little one"
Mot one Bit. See what a great
stronething / ami You must have
the good things to make yoa WE'LL
The lassie set her foot down, and
mamma never dreamed that there was
something almost heroic in the refusal
Of the tempting morsel, the little girl
having just turned awayfrom her own
uninyiting breakfast Of bacon and corn
bread.
aThe river looks curious, mamma,
DEAR she said, chatting oyer the Wild
flowers she was arranging on the table
as she spread their feast. q went
out into the boat TO play. and, when i
wanted To get out the water was be-
tween It and the shore, 50 ! had to
jump.
"lRhy, Pearl, are you sure?9'
Yes, mamma; and l was afraid I
conldn' get Il In again; 50 / united 1t
and held The rope Till II foated to the
little buoy, and then I pulled it III and
Tied II. Il was hard work, too
aCan the river be risingq I wish
they were not away, daughter
The helpless woman looked out Of
the window with i troubled face. The
foods of The gear before had done but
little Injury III their neighborhood.
the land lying much above the river
level But she knew that this was
due 70 the strength Of the levees many
miIes above. and remembering having
heard people aay Chat they never
would atana arotller pressure III high
water. TheriEeF was not ret ~ high
as she nad seen II but she observed
with SOME ulleasiness that It had adj
yanced upon them pereeptibIy during
the Inst few hours
~ don't belieFe the levas vim