St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-09-25
TONY'S CLOTHES.

ow lie Was Provided for on this Morn
Ing OF the Picnic.
Il can't mend these any more, said
grandmother. holding up very sorry
looking pair of small trousers. you'll
have to put on your Sunday suit for
every day now. Tony
"Yes'm," answered Tony.
And don't you slide down am more
trees with rough bark.
"No'm," replied Tony.
..And you'd better go down to Sarah
Jane Green's and see when she can
come and make your new suit.
"Yes'm." said Tony. .I'll 60 now.
fore get my clothes dirty"
The only difference between Tony's
Sunday snit and his everyday suit lay
i'm the fact of the former being in good
order.
His suits were always made by one
pattern. owned by Sarah Jane Green.
Tony grew so fast that Sarah Jane al
ways had to cut her pattern larger. and
sometimes she forgo. to enlarge every
thing. so that the suit had curious
look, which, however never troubled
Tony at all.
The trousers were sure to be baggy.
and the jacket rather short in the back.
with sleeves so long-''to grow in, )"
grandmother said THAT they were still
too long when worn out.
When the everyday suit was past all
mending. he took the Sunday one for
every day, and had new one for Sun
day.
I'm very sorry. Tony" said Sarah
Jane. when Tony reached her house;
..but I've sprained my wrist. and don't
know when l can come..
Tony looked dismayed.
1.-The picnies to be in two weeks, "
he said.
..Oh, I'm pretty sure to be well by
! that time. I'll keep it in mind. and
You'll be- pretty sure TO see me.
Tony lived on a sheep-ranch with his
father and his grandfather. and one or
two hired men, Until about year
ago. il had been twenty miles to a post
oflicc. and neighbors had been so scarce
that weeks would sometimes pass with
out their seeing one.
But now railroad camc within four
| miles of them, and little bit OF VIII
lage was springing up at the station,
so that Tony and his friends felt al
most like city folks. they sometimes
| declared.
The picnic Tony spoke of was for
the Sunday-school at the station. which
Tony attended, thinking nothing of a
| four-miic walk.
He had never heard of one before,
but grandmother knew all about pic
nlcs. and talked great deal concern
| ing them. leaving his mind in an ex-
cited state looking forward to wonders
and delights to come, in which rail-
road ride and plenty of good things to
| cat stood out from all the rest.
| A week passed, and Sarah Jane did
not conc. Tony took to giving a peep
at the brown cloth. which lay ready
for h,s suit. and then climbing to the
top of the tallest h.tching-post outside
the door. to watch anxioiisly for her
stout figure and jolly. round face.
One day he saw wagon in the fal
; distance. and his heart gave 4 great
bound. for there certainly was a woman
in it. But, As it drew near. his JOY
turned to curiosity. The face and
form of the stranger were not bit like
those'o of Sarah Jane But who could
it be?
..Is this Tony?" she asked.
"Yes'm.' said Tony.
II. anu your Aunt Eleanor" she
said. II have come a long way 10 SET
you.'
| Aunt Eleanor was his mothers sis
ter. Tony found it so pleasant to be
near her. that he spent several hour:
in the house. almost forgetting his suit
She told him all about her boys. anc
asked all about what he had learned
seeming surprised to hear that he had
read the Pilgrims Progress. the
Life of Washington. and half o.
Jays Lectures. which were the onl,
books OH the ranch.
..But | don't like Jays Lectures
very WE'LL" he admitted TO her. a
which she laughed. and told him to e
out and play.
Then Tony climbed on the post AGAR
and watched 50 long and anxiously fol
Sarah Jane tina. Aunt Eleanor came on
and asked him about il. And Ioni
found courage to tell her all his fear
about his new suit.
The days wen: by. and still no Sarai
Jane. Tony took again the long wall
to see her. and learned that she hat
gone over to her sisters. a long wa,
off. but had left word that she wouls
come to Tony's grandmother the frs
day that she was able to sew.
Tony's heart sank lower every day
but hc remembered that Sarah Jam
could do wonders in the way of hast
with her needle, and SO did not quit
despair.
But the day before the picnic came
and grandmother began baking .
sorts OF nice things. Tony took . las
look at the brown cloth. and then weI
to her with a swelling heart.
You couldn't do any thing with m
old clothes. could YOU. grandmother
F, he said. turning round aud rcund b.