St. Landry democrat., 1884-11-08


section, which the woman said she
hoped we would like, as she wished we
might be neighbours; she found it rather
lonely being eight miles from town and
no near neighbors. couldn't sec as it
made any difference where we took up
our claim; it all looked alike to me, and
l was beginning to think it might prove
a white elephant anyway.
We went to.town to get the necessary
papers and man to help get the
houses ready, for we were to have one
apiece, and we wanted to investigate
the little store. The woman from New
York, whose name was Herder, said
that her husband and brother would do
all they could to help US, and in short
time our houses were ready for us to
enter and take possession OF our long
dreamed-of claims. They didn't look
very inviting, can tell you. We could
find no paper to cover the unsightly
walls, and our furniture was of the
scantiest. We could not make both
houses look inviting, so we used mine
for a kitchen, though we conscientious
ly slept in it half the time. They were
very near together and not far from our
neighbors,
When we were fairly settled and had
had our first meal told Thompy that
I felt like the Swiss Family Robinson;
she laughed and said she didn't see
how could feel like the whole family
without having a stable in the house,
as they always did. Now / think it
shows an envious disposition to always
be making fun of a romantic idea just
because you didn't think of it yourself,
but punished her by putting my revol-
yer in sight in hole which | dug for it
in the wall. She dared not take it away,
so she always passed by on the other
side of the room. We got water from
well belonging to the Herders, who tried
in every possible way to soften the
hardships of our lot, though Thompy
always pretended there were none
that spoiled bread, no fresh meat, no
fruit, and all the horrors of canned
goods were fun. We got fresh vegeta-
bles occasionally from our neighbors, rs
we had no garden, it being too late to
make one. When complained it was
not pleasant, to say the least, to be re-
minded of our Pilgrim mothers and
other pioneers. Because they had to
eat nasty messes is no reason that can
see for my liking them.
Our neighbors were nice, educated
people, and [ have nothing to say
against them, but did think it wasn't
exactly necessary for the brother,
George Bradley, tall, good-looking
Yankee, to be always coming over to
our place on one excuse or another. If
it wasn't to do something it was to see
if we didn't want something, and
Thompy would always stop and talk
with him. Sometimes he would come
over of an evening to hear me play, for
/ had my violin along and he had the
good taste to like music. though he
used to sit and stare at Thompy while [
played.
We spent q good many evenings in
front Of our sod house, | with my violin
and Thompy doing nothing but looking
picturesque, while George Bradley lay
on the dry grass at our feet and stared
at her. didn't mind it for she was
well worth looking at, with her soft
brown eyes and sweet obstinate mouth.
And she was too old for any such nom
sense as flirting, else where would be
our old maids hall? The Herders
would come over occasionally for q
short time, but the baby usually kept
them at home. They had good many
cattle, which they hired boy to herd.
and, what with their farm work and get
ting ready for the long. cold winter,
they were busy all day and very tired
when night came.
The long, monotonous days dragged
by. [ told Thompy that the evening
and the morning were the first day, and
all the others were just like it. She
opened her eyes and looked shocked.
She seemed to enjoy everything, and
fitted about helping Mrs. Herder in q
neighborly way, playing with the ba-
by, analysing flowers, and just Sitting
still and watching the shadows drift
over the grass, and grew SO brown and
rosy.
For myself, I grew almost to hate the
long, still days. and, in spite of the new
er-ceasing winds, days SO alike that you
could not tell one week from another
or Monday from Saturday, to long for
November and our return to the civil
lied world. September came, and /
thought of the changing woods and au-
tumn sound of winds among the branch
es, and it seemed as though it wouldbe
almost like Heaven to see tree. Isaid
50 to Thompy, and she responded BY
singing:
Ger all the wide, extended plain
Shines one eternal day!
/ shall never forget one day about the
middle of the mouth. Mr.. Herder had
been at the sheds near the house stack
ing corn fer the winter use of the cat
tie. We could hear him singing about
the place all the drowsy afternoon, and
now and again his wife would call
to him in her high, sweet voice. George