St. Landry democrat., 1888-06-09

one Sunday into his pulpit without his
manuscript All, what wretched
week it cost! DR.. Bland had no chill
dren. The little Downeys had romped
and cried twice as much as usual.
Looking about, in his turn, for rest.
less child, Ephraim at once found one,
and nearly lost his wits in consequence.
But his effort was success, and his
congregation congratulated him warm.
| ly. But he would not repeat the per.
formance-for performance it was to
him, since his was not the gift to speak
without that preparatory memorizing.
The church was never in so prosperous
a condition. Poor people were crowd
ing into it to hear the 'tgood news. -
But these things did not ''fill the
ticket" as the fat dea con said, and he
was asked to resign. That week his
father-in-law died. and bequeathed
only the memory of unfailing love to
his heirs. In eight months Ephraim
was as far from settlement as on the
day he resigned, and he had just twelve
dollars. His oldest child was dropsical
from scarlet fever, and Ruth would
soon add fifth to the group. Mother
Foster, deaf ard childish, was to come
to I've with them. 1t was the begin
ming of winter, and in ten days a
mon his rent would fall due. Worst of
ALL his late charge were angry that he
did not leave town. They had a new
preacher, who recited his sermons even
more glibly than DR.. Bland, and his
black side-whiskers gave him most
stylish appearance. He was, too, in
vesting in corner lots. 1t was embar-
RAISING to have Mr.: Downey going
about seedy and sorrowful.
Il s'pose you'll go home pretty
soon?" said Deacon Padgett, that fate
full morning. 81 think myself you
can't go too soon.'
Il have no home to go to-" said
Ephraim, thinking with a swelling
heart of the little house at Smyrne,
now closed to him forever.
Then you ought to have some place
you call home" said the deacon, wrath
fully.
When evening came, feeling the
house was too small to hold him, cum
bered as he was with worries, Ephraim
went out for a walk. He was soon
striding along in the open country, but
what to do was as impossible to decide
as ever. The strident rustling of the
dry leaves accented the mournful sigh
ing of the north wind, which still had
the herby fragrance of iron-weed, as
tiers and golden-rod. At last he stood
on the narrow bridge that spanned
North creek, and as he looked down
into the still blackness of the pool the
stream made at this point. the tempter
of souls assaulted him. "Why not leave
the question to be solved by others?"
was breathed in his ear. '.Down in that
quiet spot, where the eddy holds all |
that comes to it for weeks, you will lie |
long undisturbed A mist obscured |
the stars. Not one was reflected, a |
glimmering shadow, in the dark depths |
Lower and lower he bent, drawn by |
something he could not resist Rest |
was just beneath him, and he was very
tired. His hands hung limp, one foot
was over the bridge, when sleepy
bird called family to its mate in the
cedars. Instantly brave. clear an
swer came. IT had been one of Eph-
RAIN few pleasures to note the ways
Of birds, and his attention was aroused
in an instant. Then great wave of
shame came over him, and crying
aloud, he fell upon his knees in the
dust of the bridge.
Il asked the Lord what l ought to
10, he explained to his wife the next
lay, when he had told her that he had
spent half of his precious hoard of
money for a quantity of wares to stock
MS father-in-law's old rag.cart, which
mother Foster, quite regardless of pub
ic opinion, had brought with her from
smyrne. He heard me, Ruth dear,
ind saw fathers old cart as plainly
Is / see YOU
The Annex Chronicle, being on the
pot, and feeling sympathy in its plural
BOSOM, said nothing. The Church Or
IAN, being far from the spot, and quite
gnorant of the circumstances, and
rritated perhaps by the publicity given
he step by the Zoar Scraper, which
lever neglected the making of para
,raph at any cost to other people, if at
mall cost to itself, made Ephraim the
ext on which depended biting
ermonette. Kind hearted, stupid
'wacker, now DR.. Twacker, asked the
eason.
1T is because my father-in-law is .
cad, wrote Ephraim, humbly. 81 !
ways had refuge under his roof.
'acations. when people expected me {
0 leave town, and I had no money, .
nd always when l was without a I
barge, we went to fathers. My SAL |
ry has never been beyond the point of t
ur living expenses. You will there |
ore understand, without my going i
lrther into detail, that when father t
oster died, and his home went into v
Their hands, with no money, no @
barge, and no trade, had no choice, o
nee seven helpless beings depended o
pom me for support - F
The first week on the rag-cart Mr.. n