The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-28
A MODERN KNIGHT.

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-Ise, ,ahs ioqa,d. III nhrper. ioung i'"pis.
A MODERN KNIGHT.
Tom Perciyal was reading; his sister.
Su.y Perciyal. and Jchoshnpliat, lls
brother, were both In the room. Susy
was blinding her eyes nnil pricsing her
fingers over an endless seam In shirt
which Toni intended Ia honor her by
wearing. Jcho.llaphat, adorned with
Ion. bcarl manufactured from tli. con-
tents OF his mothers cotton.wool bnH
AMI spcctaclcs conliscatcd from his
crandfathrrs pockets, was lccturinS to
an array Of the ,lining-roOm chairs, IN
emulation Of the wan icring patriot who
addressed crowded meeting In the Mu-
sic Hall last week.
II wa. nn old. wcll.thumbch book that
Tom was reading. II was filled with
stories most wonderful To hear, of the
golden days Of chivalry. when every
body was n knight. and every knight
fell 10 fighting with every other knight;
when beautiful young ladies were very
often lost In the woods. and every
knight that happened tocomr n'ong and
fin [ them was instantly seized with u
desire 10 knock hall dozen Other
knights on the head; wien there wcrr
cncnantments and spells oil fairies upon
earth: when tn human race consisted
entirely Of gentlemen and ladies'; AMI
when disagrccablc people. VINO VIII
have coarse hands AMI ragged c.othcs,
were never heard Of. Altogether II was
u most charming book =,
"Do pull up that curtain. Sue! i
haven't got but half a streak Of light In
this corner" remarked Tom. lie con-
sidcrcd employment good for his sister =
health. and used kindly iO prescribe for
Lrr. even when her business was most
prcs sing. That Susy, rising in haste To
obey his orders. should lose her thlmblc,
break her needle aud tip over her work
basket dill not in the least rlillln MS
composurc. Great minds are never dis
turbcl by triI'c..
An, but they were pleasant reading
these stories, There were the wonder
ful adventures of Sir Launcelot-
Launcclot the brave and bright. fairy
gunrlet. iron.armcd. deadly in stroke
and gracious IN pardon; he who was The
pri,le of the good King Arthur, and the
knights Of his Table Round; who for
many long year loved the Queen,
Guincvcrc the Beautiful, rs never
O.-en ..e ,ovcd .i--f"-s. ,-ho fonght
with the iicrcc,t and strongest OF
knights that trod the shores Of "Alcrric
England" and led warriors into battle
and conquered kingdoms: who faced oil
enemies, all hardships. all danger; who
would have yielded life itself Tor her
sweet sake. a.,
"Sworis. and daggcrs"' exclaimed
'rom nj last. "Whnt q stupid age We
do live in. No chance for o chap to be
ANYTHING or do anything. The fair sex
are not Appreciated; they are not prop
srly defended. will be their cham
pion-I will tight for them-l will die
for them"
"Oh. Tom! please do look out; you've,
rot your feet ON my scwins!' cried
busy.
"Nfakc those bution.holcs smaller
than the last" said Tom. tripping out
Of labyrinth Of cotton and putting on
his cap. -.
"Dcar as the sisters mt our iircsiles"'
shouted Jchosliaphat. bringing down
both fists on his desk with force that
Knocked on his spccincles. "Whcre'rc
are you going, Tom?"
"Nherc are YOU going?" asked Susy.
LAYING down her work. Tom looked
impaticnt. Il Was impossible. you
know, TO make q girl understand his
great schemes Of adventure.
"Oh. won't you take me out skai-
lng?" pleaded Susy. 1--WE got my new
skates. and can't learn because can I
90 alone. All the other girls brothers
90 with them; | did want ~
Couldn't possibly" interrupted
Tom, sporting his fathers cane. "Iyc
got SO much business on hand to-day;
It's out Of the question-out OF tho
question"
"Sue." said Jchoshaphat, mediiaiivc'
~. "what are youp" -.
"What am IL A girl. I suppose"
"Wlll thcy fight and die and bleed
for them?" began Johoshaphat again,
gcs,urinc irantically at his audience,
while he set them up against tbewal
Tom started out for u walk. shoulder
iny his cane like u musket; then he ie-
flcctcd that knights did not have mus
kets, and tried 10 carry II like 4 sword;
but il got between his feet and nearly
tripped himup However. this was bu I
q slight drawback In tho career Of glO-
nv upon which he had entered. He
would find all the fair maidens who
were plunged in distress; he would be
their deliyercr; they would smile upon
him, and he would wear their fayors.
He would revive the old dead days oi
chivalry; he would be dubbed Sir Per-
ciyal, a new hero OF romance, before
whom even Launcelot's fame should
pale. .,,
"Have you found any Of 'em yet?"
called voice behind him. And there
was Jehoshaphat. lie had followed,
unseen. all the way. and was now walk
Ing demurcly IN his brothers footsteps,
those unuttcrablc spectaclcs across his
nose. AMI u huge umbrella shouldered
after the manner Tom carried his cane.
81" said the indignant Sir Percival.
..go home to the nursery"
"When's II going to be time to fight
ard dicP" persisted Jehoshnphat. walk
ing on.
"Jchoshaphat," said Tom. sternly,
81 should liko to give you good shak-
"I-I rather think you are.' said Je.
hoshaphat, struggling to free himself
from his brothers hold. 81 thought
big boys never pitched into little ones"
Tom lot go his uuknightly grasp.
aud walked on. He would not waste
another breath on that child-not he.
Jehoshaphat put his spectacles into
place, smoothcd the folds OF his um.
brells. and trudgcd along comical
shadow Of Sir Percivai. Presently they
met an old woman with basket OF po-
tatoes. She was . very old woman,
and she walked with tottering stop on
| tho ice. Just rs they got up to her,