, 1888-12-27
PARDON'S GOOD LUCK.

Philosophers say that there is no such
thing as good luck. Asa Darwin thought
differently. 4
MY luck. exactly" said he, despair
ingly; II might have known Just how it
He sat on the old stone porch staring
out toward the sunset, his chair tipped
back on its two hind legs, his hands thrust
aimlessly into his trousers pockets.
1t was cold enough to justify the fire of
beech logs that was blazing on the hearth
of the room inside, where Pardon was
tacking up the red moreen curtains that
she had just sponged and mended neatly;
but it was not an easy thing for Mr.. Dar-
win to relinquish the habit of outdoor
lounging that had clung to him all the
summer through.
What is it, father?" said Pardon, COM
ing briskly to the door with a tack ham
mer in one hand and paper of tacks in
the other.
Jones has just gone by" said Mr. Oar.
win. .'He says the old cow has got out on
the railroad track again"
Pardon bit her red under lip.
81 told you she would, father" said she,
IF you didn't have those bars repaired.
"And she got run over" dolefully added
Darwin. "I'm sure don't know what
we're to do without cow. We've always
put lot of depencence on our milk. But
might have expected it. Luck has been
sheer against me ever since John James
died. A man with housefull of gals
cant expect to make no headway in the
Pardon colored up.
You didn't expect your girls to mend
the bars. did you, father?' she asked
81 was calculatin' to speak to Tim Par
sons about gittin' a new pair O. posts put
up" "sighed the farmer.
Wouldn't it have been q safer way to
put them up yourself. father?"
III amt as young as | used to be-" said
Darwin. evasively. And the rheumatics
Is twistin me powerful these cool days. J"
Then" said Pardon, with a certain
you should come into the house, and not
sit there, getting chilled through, and then
find fault with your luck
Mr.. Darwin slowly rose and shntfied
into the bright little keeping room. where
Pardon had spread neatly braided rug
before the iie, and placed broken.spout-
ed pitcher OF yellow golden.rod on the
table.
She looked after him with sigh, half
Of impatience, half regret.
II wish John James had lived!' said
a
20 oo l., assehted fard9n: ,
AIN supper most reaoy SAID the
farmer, iooking Niscontenteoly around;
a., ~ VIII pe IN minute. SAID fardon.
kitchen fire and Fanny has been to Mrs.
Merritt's for little meal TO make some
hot cornbread."
At the same moment Fanny returned
q sneht, oyeierown giri OF fourteen
orsa. less WIN the naste sne mas tnaue.
81. Mrs. merritt is very sorry, SAID she.
out she hasn { any corn-meal IN the
nonss.
ihat enough! SAID Paroon' glowing
scarlet 10 tne root Oh her nair. don
uane ner ior getting tlred OF lending
things 20 us - >,
oat, a1oeo fanhy' enc sends pal
OF RIahani nour 10 make gems. lndeed,
Pardon, she Is as kind as she can be.
rardon ian shed hystericaiiy.
III eetIhR az nara anu 0itter as
sour psrsimmon, SAID she. les, | am
very Riad or the graham hour. !Father
can make out ms supper Without some
thine not Tor relish. ferhaps some Gay
We can re,urn MRS. Merrltts Kndness.
but, on, fannie. bave you hearaE Ihe
req COW got out OF the pasture TINS AFTER
ho0d anu was killed on the track. ar
Fanny ourst INTO tears; m
ola finky! ene exclaimed. is tnere
no END to your Dad tuckf' 80,
PARDON stamped her pretty ili-shod