The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-10-02

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sometime ''come handy"
Among the useless rubbish slowed
away in Farmer Huf's attic was the
frame of an old carpet loom on which
Mrs. Huff had woven many a carpet in
her younger days; but years had passed
since the loom had been in use. The
moonlight streaming in through 8
window showed Mr.. Huff that the attic
door was open, but there was no other
light in the room.
Harriet Huff I" he called, *'what in
creation air you doing up there at this
time O. night? Hunting some more
tormented old rags? Come right back
to bed! You'll yet your death O. cold
roamin' round at night"
She took no notice of his querulous
remarks, but he heard no more sounds
in the attic. But he was too much
troubled to let the matter rest as il
was, and accordingly mounted the
stairs and entered the attic-room.
There he saw something that caused
him to open both eyes and mouth with
amazement.
At the old loom sat NJ RS. Huff in her
night clothes. In one hand she held
an old wooden shuttle, while with the
other she fumbIed around in grain
bag full OF carpet-rag balls leaning
against a post of the loom. Drawing
forth ball of the ''hit-an'- miss rags
she slowly began winding it on the
shuttle, which she then passed to and
fro through an imaginary warp. The
reed and batten bars were gone, but
Mrs. Huff went slowly through the mo-
tions of using them.
The amazed Mr.. Huff at once noticed
that her eyes were closed. and his be-
lief that she had become & ''stark,
staring, crazy loonytic'' changed into
the more agreeable thought that she
was sound asleep. His eyes rested on
the missing carpet rags, and he men,
tally ejaculated:
Brought 'em up here herself in her
sleep two weeks ago, by Jinks! What's
goin' to become of her if she goes to
maxim carpets both when she's asleep
and awake? Her intelleckshel reason
will give way. That's what'll happen
to her! No born woman could stand
it, and it'll be mighty hard on all of
us. She shan't make nary mother car
pet! I'll buy body bristles for ev'ry
room in the house first! Harriet Diany
Huff, wake up and git to bed where
you b'long"
Mrs. Huff did not waken, and Mr..
Huff hesitated before speaking again.
"They say" he said to himself. that
it amt safe to wake up sleep-walkers
or somnambulances suddenly. Mebbe
she'd have a fit if 1 woke her. though
she don't come of a fifty family. I'll
just see what she does"
A moment later Mrs. Huff slowly left
the loom, and, with eyes still closed,
shut the attic door behind her. walked
down stairs, and returned quietly to
her bed.
''It beats ALL" said Mr.. Huff, as he
quietly lay down beside her, '.but she
shan't meddle with carpet rags no
more. she shan't!"
In the morning she said. while dress
ing: II dreamed bout weaving me
carpet at my old loom last night. I've
had sev'ral such dreams lately"
"Hevp" queried MIR. Huff, dryly.
"That reminds me that I want to show
you something in the old loom room
Come right upr'
"Wait till after breakfast"
''No, I've got more time now"
There you air, Harriet Huff" said
Mr.. Huff. dramatically, as he threw
open the attic door, and waved his
hands toward the bag of rags.
Gideon Huff" she said, as she sank
down on an old hair-covered trunk.
with her hands appraised.
I'D say Gideon Huff if was you,"
he replied; then he went on solemnly.
occasionally shaking his finger toward
her: Harriet Diany Huff, l amt got
much to say to you, but what 1 do say
is solemn and pertickler, and l mean it.
you've made your last rag carpet!
Your intelleckshel reason is givin'
way under the strain of it, to say
nothin' of our buds bein' cut up fore
they're half wore out and you in
stiddy pickle and stew over your color
in and twisted stripes. You drug
them rags up here in your sleep. and
las night | ketched you up here goin'
through weavin' motions in your sleep.
Your mental brain powers is becoming
exhausted over carpet rags, and you've
got to give 'em up for good and all,
premiums Or no premiums.
So Mrs. Huff, greatly shocked when
told of her performances, did give up
all rag carpet making, although the
beautiful twisted stripe of her visions
and dreams became reality as soon as
the rags could be carried to the
Widow Watts.
Dream-provoking food at midnight
was also wisely given up in obedience
to Mr.. Huff's demand that his wife
should do nothing to impair her ''intel-
leckshel reason"
This is a true story, and the reader
can draw the moral from it. j. L.
Harpour, in Youths Companion.
New Method OF Storing Steam.