St. Landry democrat., 1890-02-01
MRS. NELSON'S WAY.

Six boys in crowd, talking so busily
that they are perfectly Obvious to any
| thing around. The head speaker, bright
| boy of twelve says emphatically:
"Now, remember, NUNS the word and
| each of you bring ten cents to morrow and
we'll have six books to start with. I'll
get them, and we can meet in our barn and
read th,m. 1t is not in use now, and none
of the folks need know anything about it,
and we'll see if we can't read in peace,
without all our mothers and big sisters
throwing everything in the fire and max
ing such an eternal racket
These boys, as you will see, had caught
the disease so common to boys of that age
dime novels. Yes, and of the very
worst kind. Stories highly seasoned with
descriptions of the most improbable ad-
venture. The more unlikely the story,
the nearer the boys thought it approached
the truth and ca III boys heart was atiame
with wild desire to experience some one
of the very thrilling adventures so beauti-
fully described in "The Missing Trail or
Wild Bob of the Rockies" which we'll
thumbed and dog-eared copy had gone the
entire rounds or the boys until Mrs. Ellis.
having discovered it in Robs coat pocket,
promptly consigned it to the flames, and
treated MIR. Bob TO a long lecture on the
sinfulness of such reading, aud threaten
i2g him with a whipping which he'd re-
member, to the longest 3ay he lived if she
found any more.
. This, however, only added fuel to the
fire of his interest in the aforesaid books,
and the fire, though apparently squelched,
only smouldered under Bob's calm ex-
terror, for in his shorn career he had been
obliged, for more reasons than one, to use
little strategy concerning his movements,
as family difficulties often arose and put
an end to many of his most cherished
hopes
The money was collected and the books
bought. The boys became so interested in
the contents as to forget everything else,
even meal time, which was great adver-
tisement for the books.
Harry Nelson, who had one of the best
of mothers, even went so far as to take his
home, and as his mother was not in, ven
tured to throw himself down upon the old
sofa, stick his feet up on the back and read
just one more chapter,
Mrs. Nelson was very polite woman
with her boy. She had always been his
boon companion. had steeied him clear of
many of the shoals besetting boys life,
and between the mother and son existed
the most perfect confidence. AS she
quietly entered the room. she noticed that
Harry was absorbed, and stepping up be-
hind him read, "The Frozen Pirate: or
-" When Harry heard his mothers
voice he sprang up and intended to hide
the book as he bad been thoroughly eau
nod do hr,4 1ka> ha,,
"Why, Harry, what is it,"
''Oh, only book boy lent me-"
sis it good one?"
eyes, its swfully interesting"
"Well, l am glad of that, for if there's
anything do enjoy it is a good book
Just lay it by till after supper, and this
evening we'll read i. together
Harry complied, but feeling all the time
as if there were something wrong about it
somewhere. After supper, Mr.. Nelson
got her sewing and said:
''Now, Harry, you read and Ill sew
So Harry began. He read little while,
but somehow the book didn't seem the
same to him; things came up in the story
that he did not just like to read to his
mother.
s'Do you like it ?" he asked anxiously.
"Well, l can tell as you 90 on; if YOU
are interested in it think | will be-"
So Harry read on. It wasn't quite as
interesting as it had been for some reason
Finally, as his interest tagged, he told his
mother all about it, and where they were
reading them.
"And can you get them all ?" Mrs Nell
son asked. "What treat there is in store
for us Well finish this one and then you
can get another, and they'll last US for
most of the winter"
Harry WINGED. He was firing of it al
ready. He had expected his mother to act
q little as Rob's mother had
Mrs. Nelson went on with her sewing,
and Harry read until about nine O'Clock.
Finally, Harry laid down the book, and
with some anxiety said:
"What do you think Of It, mother?"
ooh, it's very thrilling; don't you think
500"
"Well, yes; but do you s'pose these boys
really did these things?"
s'Why, you must just think how you
would do under such circumstances.
81 should be scared to DEATH" admitted |
Harry.
'sMercy! Would you? Why, I was just |
myself that if bold, hor-
rid man was to step in on us now and say.
Madam, your money or your lifer you
would bravely spring up to my rescue and |
say, Hold there, william! finland that |
woman, or your life's blood shall pay for
The outrage and that YOU would imme-
lately draw out that immense knife you |
got short time ago and made SO sharp,
and stab him to the heart"
Harry's eyes were luminous by this
lime; he couldn't understand his mother
ut all.
But go on, Harry I must hear the rest
IF that before go to sleep" And Harry
read little longer
Ten o'clock came, and Mrs. Nelson be-
gan making preparations for bed For
heir evening lesson she read the first
psalm. In guarded language she drew
Harry's attention to the climax of the |
verses, first, walking with the ungodly, |
hen standing, stopping little longer to
listen, and finally being so taken up with
he attractiveness of evil as to sit down
and stay with it. She did not attempt to
but just sowed the seed and let
t alone; then pressing him to her heart,
she kissed him fondly and said:
GOOD keep you, my boy, in the time of
Coed night"
uop ", L.