The Opelousas courier., 1891-02-07
H BIG CHEESE.
BIZ ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.

@M#s ~
The Saltons were as poor as people
could be, and live comfortably and re-
specially. Mrs. salton said it was owing
to her husbands industry and energy
that they got along at all-wages were
so low, and market prices so high; while
MIR. Salton declared that their cosiness
was entirely the result of his wife's good
management. They were very united
in their affections, and they had three
good children.
But, to Mrs. Salton's regret, they were
all boys. She would have liked a daugh-
ter to grow up in the house, and assist
her. So pressed was she sometimes for
a little mald to sew up a seam, or wash
the dishes, that she told Joe Sheppard,
the oyerseer of the poorhouse, that he
might send her an orphan girl, If he had
a bright and docile one, and she would
try her, and perhaps keep her till she
was eighteen.
"Well now, Mrs. salton, I reckon I'm
lucky enough to have just what you
want said Joe Sheppard. s'It's Sophy
Il xNklGSs DUG y 0UOSG elO Ei1C4Ok4sJ
poorhouse girls. Come to u because she
was left with an old grandmother, and
she had to come. sophy could have
earned her own living, tho she was but
twelve, but she couldn't support her
grandmother, so tn overseers brought
Fem both. Sophy amt 50 chirk an,ee
the old lady died, but she's a good girl,
an o good-mannered girl. Never has to
be spoke TO twice."
IFS. Salton agreed to take Sophy
Nnre.
81 think I'LL have to, Nathan she
said to her husband. 81 feel lazy this
spring; I suppose It is because the baby
is cutting his teeth so hard, and breaks
me of my rest so.n
"There isn't q lazy bone In your body.
With the family, the cow, the pigs. the
hens ana the baby to take care Of, you
have too much to do. 7 only wish you
could have . good strong woman
80, nonsense! ! only want q little lift
now and then. I'm glad you didn't
think it extravagant for me to take Sophy.
She viii do"
Mr.. Salton was a farmer, but he did
not own a farm. He worked for O rich
man named Arthurson, who owned q
very superior farm, and kept q great deal
Of help. He had to work regularly every
day under Mr.. Arthurson's orders. AZ
certain seasons of the year, however, he
would be unemployed. He was subject
to rheumatic fevers, which incurred ex-
pense. He had lost two children, and
he had other misfortunes which kept him
poor. But just now he was struggling
very hard to pay up the mortgage on his
little home. He counted every cent with
this object in view. He had been a lit
Tie surprised that Lizzy, who was one
with him in all his plans, should wish to
take another mouth to feed. Still, he
supposed his wife knew best. She knew
how she felt. If she needed the girls
help she should have it, il they did not
pay the mortgage for another year.
Sophy came just at the right time.
abe was a quiet, colorless girl of thirteen,
doing just as she was bid, and she
seemed to have a knaek with the baby,
80 Mrs. Ealton said she made a good be-
ginning.
Two days after she arrived, Mr.. Arthur
son came riding down to the little house
on horseback. A terrible thing had hap
pened--a dog, supposed to be mad, had
bitten his dairyman's wife; the husband
had gone of In great haste to get a ia
NOUS doctor, and might not be back fol
two days. Mr.. Arthurson's cows had
been just driven up for milking. and
there was no one to milk them. Would
ealton and his wife, who understood the
business also, come and milk themG They
might have most Of the milk, in payment,
until the da;ryman came back, and other
arrangements could be made.
For three nights, Mr.. and Mrs. Salton
went to the villa, and MIXED Mr.. Arthur
sons numerous cows; and then they had
q barrel of milk.
"What had We better do with ii,
IizzYsn asked Nathan Salton.
~ used to have good luck making
cheese when / was 9 girl at home, = said
Mrs. Salton, ST would like to make a
cheese
This was finally decided upon. But
they had no press; so Nathan contrived
q with part Of . hogshead, with
heayy rocks for pressure. It took a
good deal of time and trouble, but the
cheese seemed to be 3 success. 1T
worked very nice, and was immensely
large.
ut win bring . good price if have
any kind Of good luck said Nathan,
s.and will go . long way toward paying
of the mortgage
AL the family stood around and adj
mired tit was 90 big, and promised 30
much. Eophy led the baby, who was
learning to walk, around it several
times. The two boys wanted it cut;
but their mother told them nothing
Wouid be so nice as to sen Il, ana ~ pay
for their house, 80 that nobody could
take their home away. They went to
bed then, and one and III dreamed Of The
big cheese.
The next morning the childrena fasher
aid; l