St. Landry democrat., 1890-04-12
as LIKE As TWO PEAS.

"Why, declare, If they amt jest as like
as two peas" said Farmer Stanwood as he
looked at the two little girls VINO stood On
the platform of the country station house
as he drove UP to it. ''All the rest gone,
air they7 Well, allow Pm leetle late.
Hello Miss Grey, these my two, air they?
I allowed so Twins, amt you? Yes,
allowed So Hop in, girls, hop. in.
Mother'l be waitin' supper on u.s." And
the CHEEKY farmer gave the two girls lift
into the spring wagon, and swang him.
self in with an ease that seemed wonderful
to the city bred children.
After gathering up the reins and shout
ing to his horse to "Get up" he turned to
take good look at the two little ones who
had come to spend week at the farm, in
answer to an invitation sent by Mrs Stan
wood to the Childrsn's Aid Society of the
nearest city. She. with several OF her
neighbors, had read an appeal from the
society in behalf of the fotlorn little ones
whose lives are bounded by the narrow
CITY street and the narrower city alley !;
whose minds hold no better picture of the
holiness of nature than that afforded by
the sky overhead and the stunted, sickly
tree which grows in some neighborlng
back yard, and every spring makes laud-
able efforts to put on its covering of green,
but only succeeds in proving anew how
nearly impossible it is for anything fresh
and natural to thrive in the oppressive at
mosphere of city life. Her sympathies
had been aroused and the invitation sent
had resulted in the sending of half
dozen spring wagons to the nearest station
to meet the little waits and convey them
to their several destinations, Mr.. STAN
woods being the last to arrive. AS he
looked at the two little girls perched up
on the high wagon seat, he repeated his
first remark: t'Jest as like as two peas.
How ever Marthy'll know them apart is
more'n / kin tell"
The wagon ratified on at lively rate,
and soon the farmers turned down q lane
where the maple trees, bending from each
side. formed a green arch overhead, and
drew rein beside gate of split oak sap
lings. over which the children could see q
pathway of large fiat stones leading up
through q grassy yard to white frame
house surrounded on all sides by wide
porches. On one of these porches table
was spread, and just as the farmer shouted
"Whoa. now" an elderly woman rose
from rocking chair beside the table and
came down the stone walk to the gate.
stHsllo, Martha! here's yer orphans, y
said the farmer as he descended from the
wagon and helped his companions tc
alight.
SNow, Thomas, how you do run on, q
callin' them orphans when they amt or
phans at all But dear me, air they
twins 2 If they amt jest as like as two
peas in pod. Come on in to supper
and in q few minutes the children were
seated at q table which was covered with
eatables of which the variety and abun-
dance amazed and delighted the hungry
children.
sI allow you both like milk" said Mrs
Stanwood, as she placed tin cup of new
milk at each plate.
'sOhl yes, ma'am," eagerly answered
the one beside Mrs. Stanwood. The othel
little girl tasted hers and set the tin down
ssI don't like warm milk, she said, in
meek voice which had faint tinge of re-
proach in its very meekness.
ssWhat's your name2' asked Mrs. Stan.
wood, looking at the owner of the meel
voice.
ssNelly; and hers is Mamie" answeret
the child.
There was not much said during tn,
meal by any one except the farmer, as tn
children were too busy eating and Mrs
Stanwood never had much to say. Afte
supper the children seemed tired, and Mrs
Stanwood took them upstairs and into
cosy little bedroom just beside her own
Placing the lamp on the mantle, she bad
them kind good night and went down
stairs. Mamie looked around her wit
delighted eyes "Oh, isn't this the grand
est place, Nell 7" she said. But Nelly wa
peering into the larger room beside th
one in which they were. 3Why didn
she put us in that nice big room to sleepa
she said.
s.Why, this room. is lots big, amt It'll
answered Mamie.
Nelly sighed and went on with her eT
animation of the larger room. tits got
marble burey, and can't see any mors