St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-11-16
they'd never before seen when tho fair
ope0ed two weeks later. :

night, and each night she sat up until
very late sewing on the green and
crimson and yellow and blue and black
and white rags for the stripe in heu
carpet.
1t was after midnight on FRIDAY
when the last ball was sewed and
wound and weighed. and ready to co
to the weaver's on the morrow.
''The stripe can't be improved on !
Jest kno~." said Mrs. HUFF, as she pu,
the rags away in stout grain bags. and
tied them up. but can't decide ius,
how to have the colors in the chain
warped, or whether to have the light
ana dark rags all mixed up. or separate
IN the hit-an-miss part. l do wonder
Il ! can't dream it out tonight? I'm
all tired out, and l dream best when
I'm that way. Mebbe if eat a big
piece OF gooseberry pie and a piece OF
cheese fore l 60 to bed. I'll dream
something uncommon.
Il read the other day of great poet
who wrote half a poem, and couldn't
finish it to suit him. end he went to
bed and dreamed the other half all
out plain as day. and got up in his
night-gown and finished up. I'm sure
| II person could dream out a fine
poem. I'd ought to be able to dream
out common rag carpet pattern"
thus reasoning to herself. Mrs. HUFF
ate her pie and cheese and went to
bed. and. being very tired. soon
dropped asleep.
She was sleeping heavily when her
husband called her in the morning.
Her first words when she arose were:
well. it didn't do any good. 1
didn't dream any thing about that
carpet. although ! did dream of forty
other things. l must hurry up my
work. and have Gideon take me and
the rags over to the Widow Watts,
and see myself that she understands
just how that carpets got to be wove."
But when, two hours later, she went
into her little sewing-room to get her
rags and chain. they were not to be
found.
Gideon" she called to her husband.
who was putting the horses to the
light wagon in the barn-yard, shave
you carried them rags ont 70 the
wagcn?"
NO" called back Mr.. HUFF; Il amt
seen your old rags I'll be glad when
have seen the last OF 'em, and you've
done a-settin' up O. nights a-puddlin'
over 'em. and underminin' your con-
stitution and your health"
well. they amt here" said Mrs.
Huff, land left them here last night,
all ready to be carried out Hammer.
We you seen them rags?"
NO" replied Hannah. the hired
girl. Il amt seen a solitary thing of
en-"
That's queer" said Mrs. HUI, irri-
ably. They never TUX legs and
walked of of their own accord. Sam,
don't s'pose you've seen any thing of
ny rags?"
Sam. the Farmland. happened to
pass the open window at that moment.
''Your rags. Mis- Huff What rass?"
'Why, my carpet rags"
didn't know you had any," replied
sam. briefly. as he went unconcerned-
y on his way.
Then began an active search for the
ags MIR. Huff was called in. and so
angular was the disappearance OF such
'ulky articles that he Joined in the
earch with considerable interest.
'.lt's the queerest thingr' said Mrs.
huff. for tho fifteenth time. as she
coked into places in which the bags
4 rags could not possibly be. ats
ny opinion" she said at last, that
has stolen those rags. They
ever got away alone; any one with
ommOn sense knows that" |,
No trace of a thief could be found,
nut one could easily have come and
one without the family knowing it. as
he doors and windows were seldom
astened. In fact some of them had
cen left wide open the night before to
Omit the cool air at the close of a hot
ay. II
After an hour of unasliing search s
[rs. Huff dropped YEARLY into a chair.
nd said. in a choking voice: well,
,ey're gone. and gone for good. and |
rs my chance of getting the prize at t
he fair next week. Somebody must
ave stole 'em. l reckon now that q
alisty Horn will get the premium with 9
err carpet" II
well. well, what If she does?" said
r. Huff. consolingly. you've had 3
three years hand runnin' and you'd a
lght to give somebody else a chance.
,yhow." a
They all have just as good chance {
J I've had. T" replied Mrs. HUFF. ..And
lie premium amt nothing at all COM
ared to the loss of that carpet that l Y
I'd callated sure on putting down in L
e settin' room this fall" q
The rags were not found in the days |,
at interviewed before the fair, and
RS. Calisty Horns carpet aid get the c
st premium. Il
And such a looking carpet as it
as" said Mrs. HUFF, somewhat spite
lily. 1.-The rags was half an inch
ide. and she'd go. too much cOpperas n
her cOloring, aud the stripe was n
'thins to compare 10 what mine would q,
i've been" :,
Her loss and defeat weighed heavily O.
Mrs Huff and Sl,1 law awal,o a lonU |