St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-09-20

..Oh. you wouldn't, and then Gilman
said he saw it after YOU
well, that does not prove he took
it"
"Thcn he ought TO prove THAI he did
not take it.
"A person may be innocent and yet
not able to prove it. l think You ought
to take Gilman's word and something
may turn up to show his innocence.
A good deal of harm is sometimes done
by suspecting people and treating them
as guilty while there is really no suth-
cient proof for it."
Il KNOW" asserted Billy, shaking
his bull dog head.
That winter, the weather was bitterly
cold. The winds were like saws and
how they cut into folks. And didn't
they cut into the poor Bentleys' Oh
that fraii home was SO penetrated by
the sharp winds putting their teeth
deep into Gilman and his mother!
Il guess" said Gilman, after a heavy
storm. MIR. Ventress could give me q
lob shovcling. and l can buy you .
warmer hat. l can pay Mss Stubs.
the shop keeper, little money down,
and 1 know she will trust me for the
rest"
ooh. don't you think of me.''
81 must. l will so to Mr.. Ventress
now.''
Fifteen minutes later Mr.. Ventress
was accosted by Gilman: 'Couldn't
you give me job at shoveling?"
"Well. yes. guess So
Billy Ventress heard this, and com.
ing up to his father whispered:
Don't"
"W hy not9 Speak out!'
II think Gilman took my knife"
81 didn't" said Gilman.
Then" said Mr.. Ventress. Il guess
will look into this. and Gilman. ii l
conclude 10 do anything, / will let you
! know"
Gilman went off sorrowfully, and had
no occasion afterwards to he in hap
pier mood through Mr.. Nentress' kind
ness.
\ few days after this, DR.. Clough
met Mr.. Nentress.
..AIany sick people, doctor?'
"Yes. Mr.. Ventless; and have just
come from the Bentleys'."
..Who is sick therc?"
Mrs. Bentley. She took cold lately,
and has fever. The fact is, Mr.. Ven
tress. she has not had clothing enough.
| believe her boy, Gilman, tried TO earn
her warmer hat. somebody said, but
couldn't do it, somehow"
"Ahemn'
When he went home he said TO his
wife, Il guess you had better go to
Mrs. Bentley's to see her. believe she
is sick"
Too late, Mr.. Ventress. too late!
| Your wife's kind words and wife's kind
deeus could not turn back the burning.
ravaging fever. any more than few
pailsiul of water will stop u fire when
July under way. The fever wasted the
body to Il skeleton, and long time it
took the forces of Ii e to make Mrs.
Bentley a stout, well woman again.
Spring came, spring with buds and
leaves, spring with birds and sunny
skies. spring that suggested to MIR.
Peck: "Plato had better take the hay
stack down. We need the hay"
Gilman Bentley CHANGED to come into
The yard.
"Ah. Gilman" said Plato. Il was
going to take the haystack down that
we put up. and do you Know we packed
it so solid really think must take a
saw to its top and saw it .open' 1t
would seem As if something was inside
that did not want to get out and was
just bothering me-
Gilman laughed. 'And saw out a
dragon?' he asked.
I'LL try it,
Plato had mounted the haystack when
Billy Nentress entered the yard.
..Oh. Billy" shouted Plato. 1--WE are
saving out the dragon Shall come
to his teeth soon."
LET me know when.' replied Billy.
Halo, l have struck something
hard-those teeth, l guess. What's
what's this?'
Plato now held up, not the teeth of a
dragon, but something that could cut
as effe iually-a four bladed knife!
"Billy's knife!n cried Gilman.
Look
And Billy looked.
| But what a look!
| Billy had some very interesting
thoughts that morning, and you can
imagine them.-Rer. EdUard n. Rand.
in interior.