St. Landry democrat., 1890-09-27
Bob and Patty.

"IoS, FaLby.
Here they both let their work drop in
their laps. and through the open WINDOW
looked off upon the waters OF the haroor'
Their work was that of twining herring
nets. They were young people, the
cbildren of fishermen, and lived in adjoin
inc houses. Their fingers were nimble at
net twining, and Bob's father, John Shines,
had often said, "My boy can handle twine
and make net as well as his mother"
while Patty Jones' father had declared,
"Patty's work speaks for itself A num-
ber one II
Bob and Patty now looked of and
watched q vessel at anchor. The mist
was fast enclosing it in walls too thin to
be measured, and yet hopeless barrier IN
the way of many q proud ship.
81 tell We, Patty, that is nice craft on
there. They say it has been all round
the world. saw it's cap'n, and he Is
smart onel Id like to be that csp'n
"Oh. don't KNOW" said Patty thought
fully. D.. ,o
cau'n but now, Patty, l want 10 s'rike on
and do something big"
Not yet, do your
"Yes'
"And leave school7' :,
"Why, YES School don't make you.
ssNo, but it will help you. Be better
for you by and by"
"May be-, but seems to me our life is
dreadful poky."
"Well, I've been thinking about that,
Bob. 1t might seem SO: but there Is al
WAYS something happening"
Eyes, if it was the right kind OF hap
pening." =.
"But 1t happens real exciting. too, II
that Ia what YOU mean. Then this Is the
wav it looks to me; we can't very well 90
ANYTHING more than what we are doing.
| We 90 to school, and We ought TO- Now,
here is the place to strike out and DO some
| thing big in our studies. and do just as
we'll as we can. How Is that, BobF'
Rob nodded his head in assent, but
rather stffiy, adding reluctantly, II
s'pose so.''
"Then I've been thinking 1t all over.
We can do lot of good-yes, We can, at
home-we young folks can. | notice
what a difference it makes when get up
/ in the morning and help mother about
breakfast She looks real pleased. And
at night, if help get fathers supper, and
have it hot, it does him SO much good
and our notifying, Bob, why, it brings IN
II wish it did more say dollar every
time you made loopP
"Oh, we get pretty good pay as 1t Is, ano
we can clothe ourselves with what We
earn and buy something for grandfather
and Grandmother. They say you ara rea
GOOD about remembering the old folks"
This pleased Bob His brown eyes
lighted up as with tapers.
"l tell you, Bob, just as 1t Is we can dt
something; and then, by and by, If there
is q chance to strike out, why, strike ont
But now we will do as well as we cal
where we are, and be rs happy as we can
There, Bobl'
Bob only said, 81 see, Patty you're
wise old gal !"
"Oh, no, very ignorant one
Bob, though, kept his own opinion, ane
looked with admiration upon his neigh
bor. convinced that much wisdom was
stored behind the soft dark eyes, ane
much sense was under the soft dark hair
That night, when Bobs mother wa
tucking him up for the ight. he said, 81
is an awful snug place here in my room
mother. Roof amt very high, but 1t Ii
snug"
Il think SO, Bob"
| clark That the Wlnd I
Eyes, and the rain. How 1t beats o'
the window"
sAwful snug in herel Why, it's goo'
as cabin"
ssI think it is better. Perhaps you ma.
think that sounds like woman. Nov
YOU can lie here and think you are OFF
sea, and yet wake up in the morning
sAnd have some of mothers good bis
cults. First-ratel Mother ! was think
, ng-about-about-"
s'What, Bobf''
u have been sort of tempted lately. an
had half mind to get you and father
let me give up school and go to sea-
sYouf"
"Yes, and strike of"
81 guess you'd better strike down, an
lay good foundation for the other thin
by and BY"
"oh, yes, I have been advised"
"Who advised you 7"
sOh, Patty, she did, said Bob, blush
ing under the bed quilt.
'sPatty is good adviser"
s'I know it, mother; and want to g.
all the schooling can, and help you an
, father more"
sYou are q good boy" and Bob
: mOLQ61, d5 su6 SpOhO, AASoON AAhAs
! '.Bob, you said your prayers :"
"Yes, mother"
"Well want to say one."
So she knelt down and asked God
bless Bob and all under the roof, and tt
. sailors having hard time OF 1t on the se'
I that wild, stormy night. While ST
nrayed. she rested one hand on Bob's for
7 head, In after days Bob could seem eve
q to feel the pressure of that gentle, LOVING
y y motherly hand.
"Try to love your Saviour, Bob. N
! only try, but love-" she said rising up.
81 will, mother"
After she had gone down stairs, Bob ID
: awake for q while, fancying he was In
cabin, and listening to the rush OF Il
: wind and against the winow.
:, At last he fell asleep.
In the night he was aroused-By Il
J stormy wind, was it3
Q No; his father was calling, "BobP
. "What is it, sirf
y e'There's vessel ashoreT
"There isl My yp
The next moment, Bob was out on Il
floor.
scrambling, jumping, hurrying into b
clothes any way, every way, he AZ last W
. equipped. aud rushed out of the hous
Is making his way at break-neck pace
L the beach.
?, People were rushing to and fro. shou
D. D. ing, swinging lanterns, some OF the
" launching boat.
y "You see, Bob" explained neighbt
: s'there's some kind of craft off on &
q Shallers. That boat will bring MS wo
y from it. Look !"
~ A rocket here darted upward from t
10 So o-called shadows, bad place, about