The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-09-11
CYRUS AND LESLIE.

Ketch Fire."
II WISH" said Grandma Peaseley to
her husband one evening, ''that there
wasn't such difference between
Esther's Cyrus and Susan's Leslie"
"Yes," said grandpa, rubbing his
stubby chin, "Leslie is better lookin'
than Cyrus
Il feel sort O. guilty." went on
grandma, because I've always been
kind O. PARTIAL didn't mean to show
ito Leslie. 'Twouldn't make much
difference if Cyrus wasn't hurt by it.
But to-day, says he, Uncle Roberts
given Leslie new skates. That's nice,'
says l: 'Ye-es, says he; I'm glad
he's got en- Then he kept still .
minute, n then he burst out sad
enough: why is it, grandma, that
Leslie has every thin. n l don'tP
Does God love him better'n He does
me?' That scared me. Mercy, no.
says /. m kissed his peaked, little.
saller face. Folks have different gifts
says L May be when you get to be q
man, Leslie won't have any better
times than you do. God gives us the
chance to make our happiness some
way or other. If we don't get it. it's
our own fault, believe He seemed
to understand that right OF. I'm in
hopes it was the right word for him."
I'm glad" said grandpa, heartily.
Leslie steps of SO prompt aud AM
swers SO keen, that he takes. But /
got an insight into Leslie last punkin'-
plantin' time. / told the boys that I'd
give each of 'em tinted fish-pole il
they'd seed out the punkins. Then /
told 'em how to go to work. They
mustn't put more'n four seeds to hill.
and they must 60 down just such rows.
After . while sort o. sa'ntered down
to see how they were gettin' on.
.Leslie's all through. long ago. Cyrus
says. Smart, amt he? says /. Yes,
sir, says Cyrus. never lettin' on but
what he really thought so. What hills
did he seed?" says |. Cyrus told, and
began to investigate. There the seeds
were at the beginnin', thicker'n puddin'
in every hill. and then they petered out
to none at all. That was one time
Cyrus got somethin' Leslie didnt-for
l didn't give Leslie any fish-pole."
II remember that" said grandma,
'.and it was only boy-like, after all"
tsYe-es," responded grandpa; "only
I'd little rather Leslie hadn't done
it."
The Peckhams' farm lay beside that
of Mr.. Weatherly, Leslie's father. Mrs.
Susan Weatherly was Mrs. Peckham's
sister, and their houses lay less than an
eighth of q mile apart. Mr.. Weatherly
and Mr.. Peckham had built their barns
Just about halfway between their two
houses, and close against each other
Just alike, and warmer and better in
many respects for being built side by
side, though they were long distance
from the house, the boys used to think
in winter.
1t was the day after Grandpa and
Grandma Peaseley had held this CON
versation that Cyrus and Leslie, who
were thirteen and fourteen years old
respectively, were out in the barn!
doing the evening ''chores." Leslie
had finished first, - he usually did
and had come in to gossip little with
Cyrus. 1t was about five o'clock, ans
very dim in the barn, so Cyrus hat
lighted the lantern, and set it on tn
cofnlsheller near by.
"Why, there's Bouncog' exclaimed
Leslie. as great black dog came jump
ing in. well, old fellow, how ar
your He began to frolic wildly will
the huge dog.
Cyrus back was turned, and he di'
not see Bounce spring up to the top o
the corn-sheller He did not see tn
lantern sway and totter-but he di'
hear the crash of glass and then
scream Of horror from Leslie, .
:. Bounce dashed past them and out
doors. Then Cyrus understood tina
the lantern had tipped over AM
broken. There was pile of hay clos
by. The barn was on fire.
The color left Cyrus ''little. peaked
sailer'' face, but his eyes shone lik
plow-worms on summer night
Somehow, . verse came into bis min
about instant in business" He mus
be instant" now.
Like flash he remembered that b
had heard animals would run into fire
Then" he thought, 1--WE can not saw
the stock unless they are taken out be
fore they see the blaze"
II think / can put this out" b
cried, hoaisely. ''Get out the horses
though, Les, for fear ! shouldn'
Hurry"
He rushed for . pail and water. {
winch there was fortunately lare
eistern near, and when he returne