St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-23

| - ~~~~~A
merry little song, as she scrubbed the tin
until they shone like silver.
The little bark was bounding home
ward just as the great fiery sun wa
passing from sight behind the giant pines
to fill the matted aisles of the dense wood
with golden beams that played peep will
every seadow.
Reginald secured his boat, stretched gu
his net to dry, and scrambled up the twist
ed path to kiss the little mouths tina
seemed to grow sweeter and dearer every
year.
What willing little hands to help him of
with his rough pea jacket and heavy can
vas hat. He glanced down at the happy
little faces, that were radiant with Joy anc
health, as he removed the heavy boots
| while busy fingers placed his house slip
pers convenient. "Can money buy suct
happiness, or can it replace the lost HEAVIER
ON earth, never, never, fool, to waste time
in such dreams, such silly dreams, fab
despise myself for displaying so much
weakness. Where is Beulah F., wife7 il
is time she was at home, for the sun is
quite down. Oh here she comes now"
Slowly, very slowly, a beautiful Cir
soothing and coaxing an old man who was
bent with age, his iron frame had defed
the killing frost of time for nearly ninety
years, how patiently she humored every
childish whim. Come Uncle Paulinus
you only want me to coax you home, you
see the night will soon be here"
"Ah Beulah, the sun is just rising, but
the black clouds won't let it shine, and oh
Beulah how fast the storm is brewing,
| from little cloud no larger than your
head. Avast there lads, to the ratlines,
| like monkeys In with fore, main and
| mizzen sky sails y
Yes Uncle Paul, they are all in closely
reefed, as you ordered"
"Beulah, she will be thrown upon her
beams end and ship some heavy seas.
Hush listen that's Ned on the forecastle,
when he whistles look out for breakers
ahead, never knew it to fail"
"But, Uncle Paul, the good ship is in
port and every sail reefed We hove
ahead of the breakers that time"
Are we, my child? So we are, if you
say so; but, Beulah, don't you hear Ned
on the forecastfe? %
The old man lived with the family. He
was a half. witted, harmless human that
they found in an old cabin in the heart of
the great gloomy forest. How long he
had been living there, no enc could ever
tell. Busy rumor said that he was one of
the piratical baud of LATTE.
His mind was gone, as well as the greater
part of his face. Three ugly cutlass
gashes did not add to the beauty of his
weathered features, that had received
many hard knock. He was useful to the
little family, for he cleaned the fish and
performed other little household duties,
while Beulah was his idol She had cared
for him since she was little child
Beulah F. advanced to her father With
that winning grace that crowns sweet six
teen with all the airs of princess, and
drew his head down to kiss his cheek a
dozen times.
"Well, papa, what luck to day. Did
you make good haul so that you can buy
me that dress and ribbon? You know the
Copildikes are going to winter at the man
sion, and have house full of invited
guests. 1t will be quite CAV, and l am so
glad, for have been terribly lonesome,
wandering through the woods l went to
the island to overhaul the mansion, let in
some sunshine. The orange grove is in
capital condition, just in the fix for the
visitors to rave about. / put the men to
work clearing the hedges and walks The
family will arrive in week"
"Beulah F., you shall have the dress. I
will run into Lake Charles with load of
fish to morrow. Have your list ready, for
l will be out and gone before you are up"
Night had hroden the fsherman's cot
tage in the double gloom of the old forest,
but inside all was cheer and comfort. The
fire cracked and sputtered in noisy way
Griselda was darning some little stockings,
seated upon one side of the table; Beulah
was studying her lessons; Uncle Paul was
sound asleep upon his little pallet in one
corner of the room; the children were all
in bed, while Reginald was thoughtfully
gazing into the bright fire, as if his life
depended upon the amount of thought he
could extract from it's depths.
"Griselda, | am sorry the Copildikes are
coming, they always make me feel so
cheaply by the airs and style they put on.
know what you are going to say, but I
hate their patronizing way. It is all very
nice and polite, but tell you it cuts all
breakfast caps, which hide bald spot on
the top of her head, and all of the gray
hairs besides, with her gold eye glasses.
1t just kills me, the stunning way she
sizes you up. feel like laughing in her
ting nose skywards, as if the odor of fish
extended to the stars, and she was trying
to use the star clusters for gold embroid
cred handkerchief"
"Papa, they have been ever so kind to
US. We have had the use of their library,
no one could have enjoyed it more than
you have. They never forget us when
they give those handsome entertainments.
You are too hard on them, my father"
MAY be am, Beulah, may be am, but
am going to lay in good store of bay
rum and cologne hate to see the old
lady's nose wander among the stars. |
will send for a fashion plate to see which
one of my suits is the prevailing She
must give me weeks notice, SO that l
can get the camphor smell out of my suit.
I don't want to enter the parlors to remind
them of an antiquated back number of a
clothes press, or cholera epidemic"
"You know, papa, you are only too glad
to go. have seen you; it is like draw
ing tooth to get you there and like draw
ing ten to get you away.
The fsherman's wife darned in silence.
Somehow, she felt that their coming
would bring the world into bis heart, only
to make him more disconnected with his
Iots Sne nau peen very nappy IN tneir
little out of the way corner of the State,
for it had raised her from the grave. They
had all been happy. Poverty never
pinched, because their wants were few,
and enough is as good as a feast.
Mamma, what do you say7 Don't you
think papa should make himself as agree
able as possible? And he can be SO enter
tanning when he wants to. Besides, | have
no one else to escort me. wish had
big brother, but have not, and that's the
end of it.
The charming face was nestled upon the