St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-09-20
inns Mate,

''See here, Andy my ticket is for two
weeks q big orchard. the fellow said, and
sheep and cows and things; milk by the
bucket, old boy. tell you what we'll
do; we'll 60 halves; and jes' take my
ticket, and low you're Jim Benner, and see
if you don't get shipped right off to the
country. Now les say you been there q
week you up ard tells You amt jim,
Banner; what then? Why, they packs
you back to town, and they has me out
stead of you"
Jim Benner, big boy of twelve, was
gravely proposing this plan of transferring
his fresh air trip to his little chum, Andy
Burke, curley headed chap of half Jim's
size and not much more than half his age
But Andy was timid, and doubted his
ability to carry out the bold stroke
"You 60 first, Jim," he said, "then you
let on you amt Jim, and send back for
me; and whites I'll keep your box and
black Shoes
Jim saw the weak point in this scheme,
and doubted very much whether he could
disprove his identity, but Andy evidently
could not be trusted to carry out the first
plan, so the next thing to do was to try
the second dodge. Alas! neither boy
shrank from falsehood they did not know
of that great Father in heaven who hateth
a lie.
30 Jim went to the country while little
Andy took his stand and did his small best
to "shine" Jim's customers; and every
day he watched eagerly around the corner
for Jim to come back and let him take a
turn at the orchard and the sheep and the
cows and the bucketsful of milk
Meantime, Jim had fallen on q soft
place. Farmer Stones was all that the
boy had dreamed Of, and more, and the
poor city wait was treated to the best of
everything.
"Now, Jim Benner," said Farmer Stone.
"you are full welcome to all you can gel
out here, and the only return l ask Is that
you will never use any angry words and
never tell a lie while you are here
OF course jim promised. And there,
now" he said to himself, "Andy's chance
is up, cause | can't say amt Jim Ben
ner 'thout telling lie, and promised not
to tell lie
But as the days went on, and Jim
watched the ways and heard the words Of
this God fearing, God-serving family, he
longed more and more for his little mate
to share his new view of life; and one
Cudf HIlI'S udy, WAllo AOtucE StoAO was
working the milk out of the butter, Jim
made a clean breast of the promise he had
made Andy to change names with him
There were some salt drops on Mother
Stones face that had ,thing to do with
her work and the next day, rs the little
bootblsck watched the corner, Jim ap-
peared with ticket for Andy's journey to
Glover Hill.
I've just made up my mind. " said the
farmers wife, that the two boys is not to
go back to the city You step around
lively, father, and get place for the little
chap, and we'll have work enough for
Jim"
Seems likely that's what the Lord sent
EN- out here for" said Farmer Stone
They was busy keeping some of His com
mandlnents-' bout loving one ano her and
preferring one another-and now He's
passed 'em on to US to learn the rest"
And this is the way Jim and his mate
came to be farm boys, with plenty of fresh
air and sunshine, no stumps of cigars to
smoke, no dirty police reports to read,
out long days of honest work, long nights
of god sleep, ,iet church-going Sab
bsths, and blessed chance to fear God
and keep His commandments.-1he Morn
ina STAR