The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-08-14

eiectlon,s ike as not -
81 wish him joy of them" said Miss
Prudence. Il prefer the peacock"
The first night after the peacock's
arrival. however, Miss Prudence never
closed her eyes, the bird his mouth, SO
TO speak; but when he pranced across
the lawn In the morning light, Miss
Prue thought she would rather lose
her sleep than the sight of so much
beauty.
'tMiss Dunn says she'll have to lay in
a stock of choral and bromide, fvou're
going to keep the peacock Jane re-
ported; and Mrs. Noyes herself dropped
in TO suggest that he could be killed and
stuffed.
He'll be quite as decorative said
she, without disturbing the neigh
bors''
Every two or three days a small ur-
chin would appear with the bird in tow,
and remark, demurely: "Your peacock
strayed over to Dickens, and I've
fetched him along home" for which
civility sundry pieces of small change
would be discussed. t-H
And who are you?" she asked, when
the same youngster had performed the
same benevolent service some half-doz-
en- times.
ZIP Oh, I'm Parson Miller's boy"
Ellis son?''
"Why, yes 'um-I reckon So"
80 shall have to shut him up,'' said
Miss Prue. His travelling expenses
will ruin me-"
BY this time the poor bird had lost
most of his fine tail-feathers in the pro-
cess of being run down by the Miller
brothers and their contemporaries, and
presented a ragged appearance which
went to its owners heart. So he was
shut up in temporary pen till he should
learn better ways; but Miss Prudence,
going to look after him one afternoon,
found the two Millers inside the pen,
chasing him about to display his plum
age, while their little sister stood out
side and elapped her hands, and crowd
of other children stood peeping between
the Stats.
What are you doing, childrenp" she
cried.
''Oh, we've been reading about pea
cocks, and they need exercise vouch-
safed the eldest Miller.
g It seems to me that you need a
stick" said Miss Prue.
g Father don't approve of whipping
chlrruped the youngest; do you, faith
er?o
And Miss Prue lifted her eyes and
met those of Rev. Austin Miller, which
| wore startled, perplexed expression,
| while the color palpitated across his
| pale face.
"My children have annoyed you," he
said, with the hesitating tone which
begged to be gain-said.
| "They have only annoyed the pea
cock" answered Miss Prue, dropping
her gaze, and flushing rosy red in her
| turn.
81 came in search of these rogues, ="
he went on. "Bridget was sure they
were in some mischief did not ex-
pect to find YOU
"No, of course not" said Miss Prue,
in voice studiously matter-of-fact.
81 have read somewhere" Rev. Mr..
Miller pursued, 'sthat the only real
happiness which ever arrives to US,
springs up quite unexpectedly in our
| path-it is not the result of search.
dropped the thread of my sermon,
against my wiki at critical point to
pick up these little folks. I have my
| reward. "
"You are very easily satisfied" re-
turned Miss Prue, in the same remote
voice. She was hardening her heart
! against the persuasive tones which had
once been like the music of the spheres
to her.
mo, I am not easily satisfied.
have never been satisfied with myself
with some hasty actions of my own,
| should say. Miss Prudence, YOU have
never forgiven me?'' he spoke half
questioningly, as if he would fain be
contradicted.
Il never thought of it as anything
TO forgive she said, and her voice
melted and broke little in spite of
herself. 50 It was so long ago." a little
proudly, as if she would not let him
suppose that it signifed. az see now
that fate or Providence was kinder to
us than believed. don't think was
intended for a domestic life," as her
eyes fell upon the three harum-scarum
children in their torn frocks and mis-
chief-the children who might have
been her own, but for their mother 8
double-dealing.
Austin Miller smiled q little sadly as
his glance followed hers.
"They are torments to the neigh
bors, I fear" he said; "but they are
all the comfort have" holding hand
to them. "Come, children, make you1
bow to Miss Hildreth, and tell her you
are sorry"
''But we are not a bit sorry" said
little Amy sFThe peacock is 50 beauti.
full, we are glad we coined. We mean
to do it again"
j Truth is no longer at the bottom Of
a well" said Miss Prue, with real
smile dimpling her face as she said
goodbye.
/ H Deacon Bracket could have seer
the manuscript of Mr.. Miller's sermon
as he reflected in his study that evening,
he would have supposed that the words,
Come again, dear dream,n scrawled
on the margin, referred beyond doubt
to the dream of Jacob when he saw the
angels of God ascending and descend.
ing.
Them there Miller boys be enough
/ a. r-r,1 apf 20 81