The Louisiana Democrat., 1890-04-02
EVERY BODY'S FRIEND.
That's the Reason He Died with
His Boots On.

Certainly my boy, shall die with m
boots on. 1t is my fate. Nothing ca
do will prevent it. 1t is the Fairburn
DOOM"
Nonsense, Jack. I have never hear
any thing more absurd. Why, you can
have an enemy in the world"
Neither had my father, nor my broth
ers-and-yet-''
'And yet-what?"
"rhey all died with their boots on.
The words were spoken slowly, calm
ly, and with an accent of truth that wa
not to be mistaken. / looked at m
friend in Mortified amazement. l hat
known him many years, and loved hin
as one man may love another in this sci
fish, practical nineteenth century, wher
love and friendship form so small par
OF a mans life, ard business and specu
lation so much OF it. And, truly, Jacl
was lovable fellow. as men go-gener
Gus to fault whole-souled, active, en-
ergetic, manly, fine talker, good
listener, jolly and sociable; in short
every body's friend. He was certainly
nobody's enemy-unless, perhaps, his
own-poor fellow.
His wife adored him. His children
were devoted to him. His home was one
of the brightest firesides in all the
country round. The cook declared that
Mrs. Fairburn had more ''eatin' cum
pny' than any white folks she ever did
cook for, but as the increase in her per-
qulSites more than counterbalanced the
increase in her work at such times, and
as Aunt Milly' was fond of ''cumpny"
herself, and jolly old soul at her best,
she never carried out her oft-repeated
threats OF leaving, but continued to send
In hot "batty cakes" and marvellous
good things" year after year, to the
great enjoyment of every one.
Jacks home was out of town-a de-
hghtful suburban home, replete with
every comfort and convenience; quan-
Titles OF fruit, melons, grapes, vege-
tables, fat poultry, and an artificial pond
iuli OF choice fish. Jacks ''cumpny"
were not always of his own selection.
Inc guests often invited themselves,
always sure Of cordial welcome (for
Jacks pretty little wife, like himself,
was given to hospitality"), but self-in-
/. vited guests are always so charmingIv
demonstrative, so delightfully."- easy to
please, and flatter one into such COM
tortable self-complacency that one is
often surprised into a cordial greet
ing, even when they are a
little Objectionable; and jacks
guests were seldom that. His home
circle itself was an odd mixture of
'nose 10 the manor born, and those to
Whom IT had become home through
courtesy and kindness, and who had no
greater right to its shelter than that
ol belonging to one common brother
nooo' an old lady who had no other
uoi,ie' and who mothered Mrs. Fairburn
ana gfandmothered the children to their
,..., nu,uai gratlfcation; funny-looking
,isue foreigner who seemed perfectly
al home and in no wise unwelcome.
.nough no one seemed to know precisely
rom whence the came, or whittier or
Nhen ne expected to go, and although,
40 iar as could learn, he had no special
.h. slaim on any one; few mongrel dogs
sass, sass mad been given as puppies to the
@n,iuren-dogs @ of no particular breed,
gu au oi no specified use apparently, but
sa ,as self-important ours; ever ready to .
dispute the right of entrance to anv
newcomer, human or canine las their
S Ssh mad never been disputed), in I
aaamfess ,na way, however, as if to simply c
..a naee that they owned the premises I
a aaa mad the selection of the guests ,
one else. S A"o 10 iiiuch as any
him n0Gr o., Jackl Every body imposed upon S
hn a IN some way, even those who loved v
tsn.a m oest They could not help it. The v
d;a p psasion was so great. Those that
Iess s aoa care for him found him as help a
h,a ' =. ~ young rabbit and totally una 9
lesiss their opportunities. t
r.s lelnember one occasion when this
sc,uas, apa,recularly noticeable. A bold un- s
our a.ous ta" woman came to lecture in q
br y ~ owh' She was a person summed =
ssnss o sooa and modest of her own sex.
gay ea sr;, irom her husband; leading a s
dn,;.a mi .rlsolous life; far from her home
one - {, ana her little children; she was
encon,. y p'tied, perhaps, but not to be
sdonsaa sea In the course which she had
fatbs. tbu, py such a model husband and
upon ths . ouf Jack. Yet she wrought "
missoiaesss ne ssympathies of my soft-hearted,
him sa int friend, until she inviegled 7
an a,sis,sa ,oasenting to introduce her to N
and le ,ar.s OF refined modest ladies a
ase,.a aaslemea before xhom she de. y
elssa "a ,asa ssa Q lecture IS called up q n
z 'As lsee ot every gemau pres.