St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1885-04-04
any how, for the mail has been gone
these three hours"

any HOW, 1Or tne nQdll HIS Uecu SOu0
these three hours"
Tomorrow repeated the little girl
in dismay. 20, sir, mother won't sleep
a wink tonight if she knows that; she
said day might make it too late, and
that if you would read it, you would
know it must 60 in haste"
..But that's all nonsense, child"
said Mr.. Higgins, beginning to lose
patience. There's no such thing these
days; letters now all 60 one way and
in one time, and that's deal quicker
than they once did. But you run home
now, and if you like you needn't tell
your mother anything about the wait
ing, nor the eggs either I'll put q
stamp on for you and send it as soon as
| can"
The little eyes beamed like stars
through the falling tears. so, sir. if
YOU wouldI" she cried, '.and when my
hen lays three more eggs | will be sure
to bring them to you.
She turned quickly to the door, but
pausing there, as if with an unconquer-
able impulse, she looked back, saying j:
'.And if you please, sir, do make it 60
fast, for that's what she said-in haste. "
THAT child has got more heart than
head" thought Mr.. Higgins to himself
as he silently watched her depart with
out making further efforts to explain
mail regulations. He knew the little
customer quite well as the child OF
Widow Carson, who had come to the
neighborhood just after the first of those
terrible floods that had sent SO many
homeless ones back from the banks of
the treacherous Ohio. 1t was said that
her husband had perished in the waves
after placing his wife and child in
safety, and here she had lived ever
since in little log cabin not far from
the store, where with her small patch
of corn and potatoes she supported, as
best she could, herself and Jess and the
little yellow dog. But only a few days
previous to this, Mr.. Higgins had felt
compelled to refuse her any further
credit, till the bill, slowly lengthening on
his big book, was paid up, and it was
doubtless because of this that she had
not sent to him at once to ask the ad-
vance of stamp for this al1-important
letter.
Meditatively he looked at the en-.
velope, with the address scrawled in SO
tremulous and unpracticed hand that
he doubted much whether it would ever
reach its destination, and the words oi
Jessie returned to his mind-..She said
if you would read it, you would know
it must 60 in haste"
1t seemed sufficient permission to
the kind thought in his heart, and open
ing the awkwardly sealed covering. Mr..
Higgins with difficulty made out the
words written evidently by hand
tremulous with emotion:
81 have just heard you were seen in
Rockport yesterday. looking for jess
and me; it seems too good and wonder
full to be true, but write at once to
say that we are here, and God grant
nv letter may reach you in time. will
write in haste on it. and T will pray
day and night that He will make it &C
quickly. for jess and are in such neec
that unless you come to us soon, l de
not know what will become of us. VIZ
have mourned for you so long as dead
that can scarcely write now for the
beating of my heart at the thought o.
seeing you again.
Though Mr.. Higgins was OTTER
called rough, cold man, yet there wa:
certainly a strange moisture in his eye.
as he closed the letter. In a moment
he had taken in the whole situation
Jessie's father, then, was not dead a!
supposed, but had been separated from
his wife and child on that terrible night
and had lost sight of them. The sorrow
ing woman had just heard that he hat
been seen seeking those who mournet
him; but it was evident that he was no
long to remain at Rockport. What
this chance of reunion should be lost
These words, Il will pray day ant
night that God will make my letter e
quickly" and the wan, anxious face Q
little jess rose together before Mr.
Higgins mind, and with suddel
movement he rose abruptly, saying hal
aloud: 'And my name is not Huggins
it don't go quick, quicker even than sh
thought.''
Striding from the store and lockin;
the door behind him. Mr.. Huggins wa
seen little latter riding rapidly to tn
nearest railroad station.
81 want this telegram sent at once.
he said, handing slip of paper to tn
clerk, on which was written.
| ITO John Carson, Boatnan's Tavern. Roch
EJess and are here: come at once. and il
| 'MARY CARSON"
RockpOrt was only hundred mile
away, and Mr.. Higgins cast many a
expectant glance next day along tn
road leading from the station. An
sure enough, about half an hour afte
the three o clock train had whistled.
sun-burnt stranger with eager. anxiou
face. came down that road and hurriedl
entered the store.
"Can anyone tell me where Mar
Carson lives?" he asked nervously. 9
Mr.. Huggins. -
..Yes, nv friend, and will lead yo
q part of the way myself answered th
proprietor, promptly. land without losin
q moment the two were soon in sight
the little log cabin.
.sThat's the house, said Mr.. Huggins
s.vou can easily find the rest OF the wa
alone. - and with these words he turne
back,.;leaving the stranger to master
onward.
He heard the little dog give its quicl
yelping bark, and . backward gianc
Showed him Jessie already at the gate
and the mother standing with claspe
hands motionless in the doorway; bu
this was all, and you and Mr.. Huggin