St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-07-04

w duu Stc SiSteT MaTtIld.
Though Mrs. Martha Tucker had been
like daughter in Mr.. Elderbery's IA
ther's house. she was the child of his
mothers sister. She had been married
five years when he married Matilda.
and had soon afterwards visited them
at the parsonage. When she had in
vited them to come and see her, Mr..
Elderberry had always intended to do
so; but the Tucker farm was forty miles
away across the hills. the stage fare
was an item to be considered, and his
wife always received his remarks on
the subject in silence. Without much
thought about the matter, he had con-
cluded that Matilda was prejudiced
against his adopted sister. and was Sc
cretly vexed; for Martha was the only
one Of his many relatives who had not
demanded some favor of him.
Il don't want to go a-cousining,"
said Mrs. Elderberry, with unconscious
sarcasm.
you've never had . chance" said
Mr.. Elderberry, dryly. 'But we've got
to leave town before Sunday. We will
only stay few days, and think Mar
tina will be glad to see US"
Mr.. fuckers desire to accumulate
money, with his wife's desire to be
known as a perfect housekeeper. had
never been checked by childish fingers,
and Mrs. fuckers naturally unsympa-
thetic temper had hardened into some
thing very frosty indeed. To unpin her
nice beds, and have her chairs thrust
into new places, above all to have extra
cooking going on. and her orderly plans
frustrated. irritated her. If she had
known her cousins were coming. she
would have schooled herself little;
but, as it was, she saw them descend
from the stage with ill-concealed dis
may. and greeted them with the excla-
nation: Il never did"' Il wish had
brought my sermon on the fulfillment
of the law" said Mr.. Elderberry that
night to his wife. ..Martha saws that
leland Vodecker breaches at East Gyp-
sum. remember him and think he
keeps up his Hebrew" But the next
morning Mr.. Tucker hitched up his
colt, and with his wife started for the
ost Office three miles away. 1t was
noon when they returned, so the alb
scence of the sermon on the law was of
no consequence. In the meantime, the
maid of all work had gone out to visit
the wife of the hired man, and, in her
hurry, had left the kitchen door open.
The hens took advantages of the oppor-
tunity, and hoped in quietly till the
place was full of them. BY some cur
ious instinct, Mrs. Tucker OWNED their
presence the moment she entered the
house. There's folks who wouldn't t hear
a whole menagerie in the next room!"
she exclaimed, scornfully, after vigor-
Gus use of the broom. It's precious
few times TIE ever been away from
home; but when I have Ire worked
myself to skin and bones"
At bottom Mrs. Elderberry was a very
determined woman, and when she said
that evening: "Jonas, shall take the
stage tomorrow for Flintville," her
husband knew better than to oppose
her. Two days afterward, when he had
resolved to follow her, he received the
following note from her:
"You must contrive, dear Jonas, to remain
away from home the four Sundays. In the
Orthodox organ for this week It says: Mr..
Jonas Elderberry, the pastor of that bulwark
OF the faith, the Flintville Church. is spend
ing bis vacation trout-fshing. All our pas
tors, can not, we know. enjoy this diversion:
but let each one draw near to Natures heart
instead of hunting up some pulpit to supply
while his church has generously given him
time to rest
We have understood from parties qualified,
it would seem, to give Information on the
subject, that our highly esteemed towns
man, Mr.. Elderberry unless some unusual
circumstance should expedite his return.
will spend his vacation In the exercise of the
piscatoriai art.
After spending the night in painful
consideration, Mr.. Elderberry deter
mined to 60 to East Gypsum, and find
a cheap boarding place, where, free
from the distractions that beset the
parsonage, he might write out some
verses that were singing in his head.
and thus pay expenses. He had weeded
onions all day Monday. and stemmed
currants all day Tuesday. and felt that
in a sense he had paid his board. But
he was conscious that Mr. Tucker and
possibly Martha felt that he was, as
they phrased it, '.iving on them." and
to remain longer was impossible.
II s'pose You'll have vacation every
year. now your church has got started"
said Mr.. Tucker when Mr.. Elderberry
announced his intended departure.
You'd better come out in the country
again. You can board cheap, or work
for your board. if you want to. I'd
take We. l sh'd think 'twould do We
good to git up an stir round after
takin' it easy year"
Arrived at East Gypsum, Mr.. Elder
berry was directed to the house of Mrs.
Mullen, who, it was said, desired one
more boarder. He was met at the door
by an elderly woman, who proved to be
Mrs. Mullen. Senior.
Board? Yes. Professional man?
Yes said the old lady. in high stac-
cato voice, as she led the way up stairs.
1--WE may suit, and we may not. Julia,
my sons wife, gives lessons. P'r'aps
you'll find out one these days what sons
wives are When she ant banging the
piano. or the children amt. the scholars
are The pianos just under this room.'
She opened the door of a torrid
chamber.
There's two sets o. twins. and one
odd. and they rampage all over the
house. That's Julia's idea of govern
ment. The young man in the room
back of this is learning the horn, an
when he's home-an' he alwas is even
ings-he practices, or reads out loud
for his elocution. Probably you want