The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-09-25

want one for? You've only got gal. I
wouldn't have no gal SO much as
teached to read, for my part; makes 'em
think themselves equal to men folks to
have equal eddication. Wimmen is in
tended by Providence to do housework
and sew, and them sort o. things I
don't think it's becomin' for 'em to sit
idlin' over story papers and books" and
he cast contemptuous glance at the
little bookcase and the illustrated
paper in the homemade rack. II never
seen my old mother waste her time
that way. Now, why it's different,
they had oughter read politics and the
news, but psha-"
His wife said nothing, lest she should
say too much, but, when the dishes
were washed, she followed Patty up
into the garrett bedroom, where she had
gone to cry, and lay down beside her,
drawing the patchwork quilt about
them both. Don't fret Patty" she
whispered. 'Tm going to send you to
school,"
"You can't, ma" whispered Patty.
81 shall" said the mother. ''You
know the tall clock that pa left me; it's
ninety years old. l can sell it. The
lady that boarded at Dewey's last sum-
mer, the tall one in the sort of dingy-
green clothes, she offered me hundred
dollars for it. Write to me whenever
you are willing to sell it. she said. I'm
going to do it, and rll send you to the
pay-school on the hill. There!-and l
feel I've a right to do it. There-what-
| vO1Y M mo
"Oh, ma, MAP cried Patty, frightened
by her meek mothers sudden exhibition
of spirit. 'Do you dare, and it's where
the squire's daughters go and the min
ister's girls. Oh ma!-and they learn
French and drawing. Oh, ma! But you
love the old clock. Don't do it for me,
don't sell it for my sakel'
81 do it for myself child" said Mar
tina, rising and putting her hair straight
and settling her collar. ''Now you go to
sleep You shall have rye and Indian
doughnuts for breakfast, and your pa
shan't scold you."
} He never did. What his wife SAID to
him she only knew, but he made no OBJ
, lection to the sale of the clock, and
Patty went to school. The mother did
without her help and all the pot-cheese
money went to keep her prettily clad,
] but every one said how much better
Mrs. Budd looked than she used. She
grew young again in her ambitions for
Patty, and somehow the girl was kept
! at school until she graduated with hon
, ors. ''As we'll educated" thought her
mother, ''as most boys"
Meanwhile. Farmer Budd saved and
scrimped only to make the too frequent
} mistake of money-loving people at last.
The fever for speculation seized him. and
he lost in week the gains it had taken
, half life to accumulate. Nothing was
} left; even the old farm must go. And
despair seized him. He fell ill., and
) after weeks of delirium, awoke one day
| | to a remembrance of the actual state of
f things
: His wife nursed him tenderly, and
t he was kinder to her than he had ever
i. been before.
3 ITS most pity I'm gettin' we'll,
g Martha" he said. ''Ive been such a
t fool. l dunno what can do now but
n day labor, Pm sure, and while had it
: never spent any thing on you. feel
/; sort o different now. l feel as if
t wished I had it again; I'd let you do as
: you liked. It's gone now, and no good
, to anybody. Well have to quit this
home even. You We got right to reflect
f on me, Martha. So has Patty"
/ But we won't, pa" said his wife.
= ''We feel you've the most to bear, and
o we've got a little good news for you.
9 Patty has got place to teach in the
D | academy. She knows mathematics and
Q languages and music. She's well edu-
5 Gated every way. And, pa, she'll have
e thousand year. just think of that
thousand dollars year"
Y ''Whatr" cried Mr.. Budd, mot oul
0 Patty, for teachin'?"
9 "Yes, pa, said Mrs. Budd, ''and she
t reckons she can buy back the farm, she's
going to try, and they've allowed her
: don't know how it's fixed, but we
!. needn't go-and you just get strong, pa,
n and we Il begin again, and may be bet
4 ter"
, Poor Mr.. Budd turned his face ovel
on the pillow and kept silence fol
/ awhile Then he said:
s ma, if all that comes of ga
u D61ng 0uulCabeus N0 u6cH even HOF0 "
an old idiot than thought was. Why
: kin take hold now and try. l wa!
{ thinkin' twas the poor-house or tht
e graveyard now, and / amt been none
too good to Patty, but will be, see if
q won't, after this. Why she's as good al
q a son.
r Educate the girls" he was heard t.
q say at late meeting of his townsmen
9 81 don't say do it at the same schools
e with the boys, but let 'em learn as
n much as they can. Give them the sam;
o advantages. Them that haven't ability
won't learn. Them that have will
= Give 'em chance"
d you've changed your mind since
d heard you talk last" said an old &C
{ quaintance. ''You used to say girl
d hadn't even ought to learn to read"
], more fool l." said Mr.. Budd. ''Wasn'
J. /, ma? I've had good reason to alter m,
d opinion. l don't know better edu
t Gated girl than my Patty, nor one tina
d is more what woman ought to be; no
1 or T1I