St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-10-18

| ing DfyODO the IOE6StS III tuc Valleys
one saw such noble mountains lifting
toward the sky their imperial shoulders
of delicate azuro-a row of kings in all
their majesty. ''Shag Mountain" in
the rear Of the farmhouse, ''Swift
Brook" on the other side of the road, 81
| garden crowded with vegetables, aud
those mountain monarchs in the dis
lance, encouraged Uncle lothian to
think he might keep summer boarders.
Opposite the house Of lothian Needs
! lived his brother John. ''Uncle john
as the neighborhood knew him. The
two were very unlike. lothian was 8
man of immense will, and it was also his
boast that he had will enough to keep
him out of wrong. He was not a re-
igious man, and it was his brag that
''he was good as professors round
him, and asserted if they had ''more
will and gumption, they wouldn't be
all the time q mournin' over their
| tumblins' down and gettins' up. They
would stand" On the slim diet, a
professors failings, he would chew
contentedly all day. Ounce john had
as much will by nature, but it had been
broken by much eross-bearing. He was
a man of lovable temper, and that was
the reason why he could and did live in
peace with the man across the road.
He was as prominent in the church as
lothian was out of it. He had gift in
PRAYER that started very low like bird
from a nest on the gound, but went up
swift-winged to God. Uncle Johns
wife, Nabby, asserted that, if she did
say it, ''only the minister could beat
John at praying.
Uncle Jotham's determination to take
boarders occasioned some discussion in
the neighborhood that had thus far OPP
posed all such innovations, and es-
pecially were the women interested.
NabBy though did not care, for didn't
she have both summer and winter
boarder, and was she not satisfied? Rev.
James Stronghold was the unmarried
inmate of the home of John and Nabby,
staying summer and winter. Uncle
John and his wife were ''real minister
folks" and having true Levite in their
house, they were happy. Sometimes,
Uncle John was q little vexed, though
he said nothing. Tt might be at the
table, which his wife piled up with
choice eatables for the parson, and if
she detected q more toothsome bit than
John might have put on the minister's
plate, she would cry, ''Give him that,
John, there's more meat on it. Such
an eagle-eyed guard of the minister's
interests provoked unintentionallY in
Uncle Johns breast the feeling that he
was very remiss, and the daily meal was
kind of penance-stool for him. Hay-
ing such a boarder, why should Uncle
John and the rest of them be critics of
Uncle Jotham's intention? They re-
Trained from any remarks on the course
of the latter. Others were not so alb
stemious.
There" said Elias Perkins wife,
Matilda, to stout Mrs. Priscilla Plymp-
ton who kept the post-office, ''they say
Uncle lothian is sot on having boarders,
and they'll come, bringin' their city
ways and a-makin' remarks about us,
Prissy."
EFT" said Mrs. Plympton, with
look in which Solomon's wisdom was
centered and emphasized, 'Eef, Tidy,
Uncle lothian is sot that way he can't
be upset. He's one of the kind that
have an iron rod in their backs"
lyon We hit it there, Prissy. and you
see his wife Jane, she don't say word
about it Meek as Moses and alters
was. Of course, there are no children
to say a word agin it,
This last sentence was the opening
of gate into long lane.
"You forgit, Tidy"
..About the children? Oh, well,
there's one, but she is not at hum. That's
Ann"
DO you know all about that. bout
Ann?''
II know suthin.''
The desire though to know all was
irresistible. Tidy "hitched'' her chair
nearer to Prissy and this act meant,
Snow tell me all you know, and if you
tell me leetle more than you know,
can stand it."
1t was an afternoon in nature that in
vited to close conferences in society.
All day, the clouds had covered Shay
Mountain with gray cap; the wind
had been mumbling all sorts of threats
at door and window; and several times
there had been furries of crystal rain
against the panes. Few people came to
the little Office to inquire if there were
any mail for them, and with little fear
of disturbance, the two women bent
towards each other. If one was all ears
the other one was all mouth.
you see, Tidy, this was a secret
told me by Mary jenkins that was
Slower, but of course you won't tell. y
'tOh, no-nor'
"MarY jenkins was 7isitin' in Bos-
ton and there saw her that was Ann
Needs, Uncle Jotham's daughter. That
was two years ago and she's been mar