The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1886-03-13
A GOOD lNVESTM ENT.
Miss Fhirhnvon "CnptR Hor Brond
Upon tho Wators"

The yellow hnyc Of midsummer hung
H. radiant pcnnOns over the velvet
slopes Of the lalrhnym farm the river,
murmuring softly over It's pcbhly bot.
tom, flashed up Ike O sheet Of silver,
and the purple fields Of clover nodding
ready for the scythc filed the air with
sweet. slumbcrous scents.
Zine weather for the hayin',' said
Elipkim Fairhaycn. 10 his material
nature Gods sunshine and the grand
glitter Of earth and sky were but the
instruments 10 I'LL his pockets with
sordid gain mere acccssions to "a good
crop Alas! Is not this world full Of
Eliakim fairhaycns in n shape or
another
Miss Comfort F~airhaycn sat beside
him knitting and watching the cumbor-
some frolics Of u pair Of twin lambs, de-
serted by their heartlcss mother, whom
she was bringing up by hand "Ycs, ~
she said, with q mechanical glance in
the direction Of the bcamy west, "Who's
that a-comin' up the path, ! wondcrP'
Zone Of the new hands, ! calculate, y
said Eliakim, screwing up his eyes, "i
didn't gree to give EN- their supper
and board into the bargain a night be-
fore the job begins and I'm blessed II
there amt a little gal along with himl"
"'1aint no hayin' hand said Miss
Comfort, rising and going down the
steps to meet . slender child Of nine
years old, who was leading II pale,
touchdown man, who walked with
difficulty, leaning on Il crutch.
Heart alive, child said Miss Com
fort, whose kindly nature involuntnrily
sympalhized with NIL who were suffering
or IN distress; ''what ais You, and what
do you want hcrep"
please, ma'am," began the child,
eagerly, "if you could give us u nights
lodging poor papa Is SO sick aud tired,
and"
mo. | can'trn abruptly spoke in
Eliakim fatrhayon. This amt no
almshousc, nor yet n charity place. II
yc cab pay Your way, well and good;
II We cant, the sooner you 20 about
your business the bettcrl'
''We have no money" timidly began
the child, while the man, as If stunned
and bewildered by the hcnrtlcss lluency
Of the old farmers speech, leaned up
against the fence, pressing his hand
on his forehead. ''but-"
Then clear ont and be- done with itl''
said Eliakim. rcsuming his seat with
dogged composurc.
Miss Comfort looked appealing nj her
brother III could just get 'cm q
bowl Of milk; Eliakim, and
stuff and nonsense s%onorously
calculated the farmer; II amt a-goin'
TO give In to that sort Of thing. Once
begin. and you'll never leave of. YOU
s~oft-hcadcd womanfolki"
Slowly and YEARLY the two poor
travellers turned and plodded their way
adown the broad. dusty road. the Ian
guild footsteps Of the invalid scarce
keeping up with the tripping pace Of
the child. 20 papa, papa sobbed the
little girl. turning her blue, wistful eve,
10 the white, worn face, chow crue|
people arcl'
lie placed his hand upon her curly,
uncovered head. 'Neycr mind, Essic,'
he said. with n mournful, tender patho.
In his voice; II will soon end. IL ear
not he for long, rs far rs | am con
eerned, poor child But for YOU
He stopped. his voice husky with emo
ton.
They had walked what seemed TO NJ
tie Esther u weary way, when there wa,
q rustic among the wild rose-bushei
that oycrhung the stone wall 1T theil
side, and n voice called hurriedly ;,
them TO stop"
'lt's me" said Miss Comfort Fair
haven, reckless of her grammar
''Eliakim-that' my broiher-he's gon,
over 10 the class-meetin' Mt SPUR,
Dunda's, and cut down through lots t,
oscrtake YOU, ! tell you | cant some
how get your fathers face out o. m,
mind. You're sick, Amt YOU. mis,crP'
II shall soon be quite we'll" he ans
wered calmly, and Comfort fairhaycn'i
moro experienced eve detected the hid
den meaning which tho little girl ncycr
onces suspected. Yes, he would soon b,
well. but il would be In that countr,
where the inhabitants never say II an
sick
where are you goingP" asked kint
Miss Comfort. her voice growing HUSKY
In spite Of herself.
I'VE are going to my grandpapa.'
said little Essic. 'Grandpapa wa,
vcxed with my mamma for marrying
papa and going to England. but pap
thinks he'll take care Of ms now. Bu
! won't stay with him unless papa stay,
too
And she rcsolutely frightened hci
grasp upon the thin. ievcr-burning
hand.
II s'pose you van 10 get to Ions
daleP' said Miss Comfort.
The man nodded.
''1s Il farpm
eleven good miles yet said Mis-
Comforts ''but Ill tell you what-Ii
make Joab get out the wagon. an,
with a good buffalo robe over the seat.
you'll ride easy enough. They'll b,
back afore Ellakim gets through shout
In and p%rayin'-I hain't no patienc,
with that kind o. rsligion-and Will,
you're a.waitn' III bring down I
smack o. bread and meat and = bottl,
Of my eurrsnt wine. faint good q
travel on an empty stomach"
And Eve minutes later Miss Comfort
was carrying her hospital intention,
Into effect. greatly 10 the delight and
appreciation Of the hungry child.
Now. see here" said Miss Comfort,
drawing the child aside, when Joat
erove up WITH the comfortable farm
vagun and stout old horse, II dom
- yea've got more money shsn you
have only enough FOR n rsil
r@11 Hck1(z." AID Fz<<ie. her cosnsn.
- - [4,ll1x. Aat
- AZ! ~ =, Comfort