St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-07-14

did you know the latch is off the
gate2"
Eyes, wife," answered good-natured
Mr. Wilson, easily.
Ibid you get the flour? / dare say
you forgot it. | wish had told you to
get a hundred pounds instead of fifty.
We might just as well have had hun
dred."
Il got a hundred, wife. It'll be up
this afternoon
"Since I've come to think of it, l
think q hundred is too much; what
made you get q hundred, James? l
never saw such thoughtless man.
What am | going to do with hundred
of four?"
80, I'll fix a place for the other
fifty"
Eyes, and have the mice eat it all
up in an injured tone. mo; | sup
pose I've got to go out in the pantry
now, and spend half hour finding a
place for that -four and she left the
room. With a sigh Mr.. Wilson seated
himself to read the paper till dinner
time. Soon Stephen appeared with
the buttons, which were received by
his mother in an any thing but gracious
manner.
About three o'clock in the afternoon
Cousin Ellen said to Mrs. Wilson's:
''Maria, I'll help you sew those but
tons ON Stephens shirts any time you
are ready"
''Oh, no, / don't mean to sew them
On to-day. only wanted the buttons
so as to have them. What is the mat
ter? What makes you look SO funny?"
as curious expression fitted over
Cousin Ellen's countenance.
Il don't feel particularly funny |
do not know why l should look So"
''Oh, pshaw! | didn't mean funny
that way. | meant you had a very
curious expression on your face
Miss Renter hesitated. Should she
tell this cousin of hers, whom she had
not seen for SO long, the truthp She
decided that it would be the kindest
thing to do.
Il suppose I looked as you say | did,
because was trying to fit together two
parts of a story. VIII you tell me just
why you insisted on Stephen going for
those buttons just when you did,"
Certainly" decidedly, the color
To !, fnn
fectly Indifferent to pleasing me lately,
and its my private belief that he only
started to fix that latch because he
thought I wanted him to go. I've
adopted the plan lately of having things
done at once and then they're done.
Every thing he does for me unwilling
~, so that he might as well do it first
as last
you're all wrong-all wrong, de-
pend upon it, and Miss Renter shook
her head.
..You don't know any thing about it,
Cousin Ellen. You never had Stephen
to deal WITH
mo, but I've had men and women
to deal with, and can see very well
where most of the trouble lies"
II wish to goodness you'd tell me
then. The way / work and slave for
James and Stephen never was beaten,
and they don't seem to try to please me
one bit. :"
''Do you try to please them?"
"Try to please them!" in angry as
tonishment. Don't I work my finger
ends off for them?"
II didn't ask you that. I asked you
If you tried to please them"
IF you'll tell me what you mean (for
it seems very ridiculous to mel, I'll try
to answer"
Then Cousin Ellen talked for long
time and told Maria just what she
thought OF her, but she told her very
gently and kindly. Mrs. Wilson was
more than astonished to see herself in
this light; she, the abused one, Great
ing all this disturbance? She didn't
believe it. However, she promised
Cousin Ellen she would try her way
just to show her that all she, Maria,
could do wouldn't make any difference.
At Cousin Ellen's suggestion, she
went to the door to call Stephen to send
him on an errand.
s.Wait!' said Miss Renter, .'don't
call him while you look like that.
There, now, the wrinkles are gone,
now call him gently and pleasantly"
Stephen looked up from his work
with a start at the new tone in his
mothers voice, but answered pleasant
" in return: "Well, mothere''
Can you go on an errand for me?''
'Can you wait about ten minutes,
because I Twill be done then?''
Not very well, would a little rath-
er that you should go at once.
ssAll right and the nimble Stephen
was off as soon as he could arrange
matters ira shape to leave.
20, well! that's only once" said
Mrs. Wilson, in answer to question
ing look from Miss Renter. He just
happened to be in good humor.' =
DO you know whyp 1t was because
you put him in one by addressing him
pleasantly
Wahen Stenhen returned rather. latar