The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-01-03

The story had been told and rstold. and
Tony was the hero of the hour. Every
body had something to say about his
wife. She was clearly (iudging from
the evidence offered, which Tony ac-
cepted without question: the best wom-
an in the neighborhood, and Tony was
very proud of her.
For few weeks affairs moved in the
old way at Tony's. Then, one Sabbath,
there was a departure. Tony and his
wife and children went to church. This
was their first appearance, and Tony
was complimented. He declared they
needn't make any fuss over him. He
didn't care for church, but his wife did.
She had remained at home q good many
years to please him, and now he was
attending church to please her. He
was hard case himself, but he wanted
his children to be like their mother, and
he guessed they would be anyhow. But
he was going to help her now. And
then Tony would drop his voice:
''Just think of it! She made nineteen
trips to get me out of the scrape, and
spent ninety-five dollars, all of which
money she scraped together herself. By
jinks, get to thinking about it some
times when am at work, and pound q
horseshoe all to flinders before l know
what am doing. She's wonderful
woman, sir, and-and she's my wife.
She can run the boat to suit herself
now, sir.
Tony meant what he said His wife's
individuality was the controlling one at
the corners. In time there was car
pet on the floors, and then, wonder of
wonders to Tony! common but pretty
pattern of paper on the walls. Tony
became ack-of-all-trades to his wife.
Couldn't he make picture frames,
brackets and other ornamental and use
full articles for the house?" Of course
he could, and he took great delight in
it. He couldn't sit down and tell his
wife, in words, how much he was sur
prised at her better self, nor how CRATE
full he felt, nor how much he loved her,
but he could work it out, and all his
spare time was devoted to doing things
that he imagined she wanted done. He
was simple and awkward in springing
his surprises on her, or in discovering
what she desired, but the very simplicity
of his action made his acts the mora
| pleasant and touching to his wife.
Tony became proud of his house. He
would shoe a horse with the old skill
and carefulness as to details, and would
talk as much while doing it, but now al
the talk was about his own home; and
when the work was done he would
maneuver to have his customer go in
and look round, as he expressed it;
would take him in to show him a new
| fiour-barrel he had made, or q new rat
| trap, when all the time he meant to show
him the paper on the walls, the carpet
on the floors, and the general features
of his cozy little home. He was always
inviting people to dinner now. too. He
made childish parade of his wife and
her accomplishments. This became q
habit with him, and, unconsciously,
| people encouraged him in it.
Tony was no longer a freebooter, and
made no more raids on Sunday. He
''hooked" no more roasting ears or
watermelons. He carried off no more
rails, and was never accused of shoot
ing other peoples chickens or hogs.
As the improvements at the house as
sumed decided shape, improvements
were inaugurated at the shop. The
rambling old building was Strengthened
up and frightened up, the fences were
made new, the garden fourished in
| proper season, and an air of comfort
pervaded Tony's corners.
Tony went to church regularly, and
always took the whole family; and a:
church he made much of little things.
He devoted more attention to keeping
his children quiet than to the sermon.
The children always had their pennies
to put into the contribution-boX; and
the day the baby accomplished the feat
of dropping tiVe-cent coin in the box
without grabbing for the other coins al
ready in was an hour of triumph fol
Tony. There was something pathetic
about these little oddities that appealed
to all the tenderness there was in PEG
pies hearts.
In time Tony would have been in.
dignant had any one asserted that he
was not a member of the church. He
wasn't clear in his mind as to when hi
"joined," but new customs bad crept
into his home, new thoughts into his
mind, and new sentiments into hi:
heart. People said there was a great
change of heart, and as Tony was
proud of the evidences of such {
change, the people were probably right
The movement, with Tony, was steadi
ly progressive. He CROPPED blindly al
first, but in time the resolution of thu
man and his versatility of talen
showed in good works.
He was now spoken of as Mr.. Hard
scrabble, and he neighbored with al
the people. He didn't get above hi
work, but he took his work up to ,
higher plane. Mothers never objected
now to their sons lounging abou
Tony's shop. The boys liked to be witt
Tony, and even the men were glad wher
circumstances made it necessary to q
to the shop.
The great change in Tony's life wa
at first attributed to the reformatory in
fluenoe of prison discipline. But in gooC
time people saw with clearer eyes. H
commenced living better life not 8,
much as a matter of conviction as t,
please his wife. Under this influ
, enoe his convictions were reache,
and the man was aroused. He ike
the better life and chung to it. Tn,
people now understand that the instr1,