St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-10-17

Ter kept bach myself fer better'n six
years, while you and the babies was
back in the States; aud | don't never
want to do it again. y
As our friends had hoped, neigh
Dor was in town with his team, and
gladly offered them ride out He
could not carry the ducks and chickens,
however, and they were left with other
purchases for Mr.. Parsons or Erastus
to return for on the morrow.
1t was nearly dark when, coming
over the last rise, they looked down
upon their own home, with the orchard
and vineyard and the rosebush that
clambered over the wide porch, fairly
covering it with wreaths of bloom, and
gave sigh of relief at their journey
ended.
Johnny was already asleep in his
fathers lap when the wagon drew up
at the front gate, and Erastus, sur
prised at their unexpected return, came
| out to meet them.
II am awfully glad you have got
back" he said, as they entered the
house; "but / had rather you had de-
layed another day, or at least until
4 ll1u w
wash up all the dirty dishes in the house
tonight if it took all night to do it, and
now you have come and caught me
with it undone and the house in ter
rible fix
Mrs. Parsons laughed. "Didn't
tell you, John, that I ought to come
home and see to things she said. "a
man don't know anything about keep
ing house."
| .'But you can't guess what I've got, -
broke in Johnny, now fully awakened
and conscious of where he was. 'FThree
big white ducks and two little banty
chickens, n I'll bet my banty rooster
can whip your big Shanghai
ooh, no! so you are sporting man
from the city, are you?' returned
Erastus, taking the lad up and hugging
him. swell, you wait until you get
your chickens home, and if they ain t
too awfully tierce-looking I'll put up
my old bob-tailed Shanghai against
your bantam rooster, and if the banta
ticks, you shall have them both and I'll
get you a iack.knife in the bargain, and
| if the Shanghai whips I'll have the
banta and the white ducksi What do
you say; will you do it?"
This was poser to Johnny. He had
been very certain that his bantam could
whip the big, clumsy Shanghai, whose
| cowardice was proverbial among the
members of the family, and who was
\ only kept for the ridiculous appearance
which he cut with his long legs and
| tailless body, for which latter old Bose
was generally held accountable, but the
ready assurance with which Erastus
offered to back ''old Bob" as they called
the Shanghai, against the bantam,
aroused fear of the result; and much
as he coveted the jack-knife, he feared
to risk losing the bantam and the ducks,
and no amount Of bantering could in
| duce him to agree to the wager. He had
a better scheme in his head. He waited
until the chickens were turned loose in
| the barnyard, and when he had actually
seen the Shanghai in full retreat before
| the vicious attack which the bantam
made upon him, he claimed the jack
knife and refused to remember that he
had not accepted the offered wager.
The vacation between the fall and
winter term of school was so short that
Jennie and Lucy did not attempt to
spend it at home, but remained in San
Francisco, and thus were absent fully
six months without seeing any member
of their family. They wrote every week,
however, and often more frequently,
and were SO well pleased with their
school, and the family in whose house
they were was so kind, that those at
home had no especial anxiety about
them. They were kept supplied with
money, and occasional boxes of home
baked pies and cakes, or a jar of fresh
sweet butter was sent them by steamer,
and every few days Erastus or Mrs. Par
sons wrote to them, thus keeping them
fully advised as to all that was going
on upon the ranch or among the young
people in the neighborhood.
Their father did not Write-he had
never been much accustomed to write
letters until he left the States and went
to Che mines; and here his opportunities
for sending letters had been so few as
to prevent frequent exercise of what
| little talent he possessed in that direc-
ton, so that now he felt no inclination
to apply his stiffened fingers to the use
| of the pen, but was content to hear read
the letters received weekly, and with
sending messages Of love in those Of
Erastus and his wife; but as the time
approached for the return of the girls
for the long vacation he was eager for
their coming, and was at the landing
| waiting for them more than an hour be-
fore the steamer was due; and when she
came, hurried on board the instant the
gang-plank was lowered.
How'd do, Jennie; how'd do, Lucy;
glad you're back again. Give your old
! father hug" and he gathered them in