The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-12-26
COLONEL BRAIuARD'S Oath.
A TRUE STORY.


raindropS from leaf and twig and slender
grass-blade. Yet, despite tho sweet
piacidity of the morning, evidences Of
the terrible storm ihat ragged all the night
before was on every hand.
The little village OF Marshvillc. Ne.
most conclusivcly bore witness to the fact
that storm in all is furv had visited it,
by its torn and twisted elms. its many
houses without chimncy-tops, its orchards
wherein the halt-grown fruit lay in wind
rows on the short orchard grass, and its
fields Of badly-lodgod corn
The storm was the universal topic of
conversation among the village people
that morning. Groups of men, their
heavy eyes telling OF long hours of
anxious waketulncss, gathered Oh the
street corners, compared notes. Each
told how the house shook and the beds
rocked when the wind put its great
shoulder against TIE house, how fright
ened Hannah ar Martha was, how his
apple crop was dead loss, how that
"splcndid piece of corn of mine would
never straightcn up again in the world,
sir, and what trees on his little domain
were down, trees that lac wouldn't have
taken hundred dollars for!' And vet.
running through it an, was a little vein
Of half-concealcd pride in the fact that
the wind had frolickcd So roughly with
their possessions.
well, neighbours said n chccrv-
faced member of one of these little
groups, Il think there's a good deal TO
be thankful for. We can't expect sun
shine with gentle winds all the time.
s'posc these great storms are jus, as
necessary aS or 'clcaring-up-fircs are
III the spring. Why. Just think how hot
it was yesterday forenoon. Then the
Lord sent big Storm, and all the dam
age ii done was to throw down few
bricks and few apples or 50, and didn't
harm hair of or heads. Now see how
clean and flesh everything is to-day:
! tell you He's pretty good 10 Us, taking
it all round.
"Nou don't believe that anyone had
anything 10 do with last nights storm.
dn Nou, story: qucried IL sarcastic voice.
and Il tail, commanding-loo man
joined the group. Haven't [ heard a
quotation from some old book or other
that runs like this: The wind blowe,h
where il li>tcth:'"
The Others face flushed, but lie an
swcTcd sturdjiy: And this is another
quotation from she same good old book:
And lie arose and rcbuhcd the wind and
said unto the sea. peace, be still, And
the wind cease! and there was n great
calm Its tod Almightv's wind, Col.
Brainard.'
The other laughed scofiingly. while
look impossible TO describe hardened the
lines of his face into iron.
''Well, then, His wind blow down nv
barn last night. Now. call upon YOU
all 10 bear witness To- the thing that
swear! | will build barn that God Al
mighty can't blow down"
The e low on Storvs face faded TO
aShcn gray. He said slowly, And call
upon all to bear witness to this thing.
also, that Colonel Brainard will vet be
utterly ashamed of the oath he has sworn
before YOU"
Again came that soothing laugh.
Don't be - solemn about il. Nci~h
hor story! Ny barn will vet stand be-
fore Your eyes. and | will build it too
strong for God Almighty winds. Do
you hear, neighbour
Awasa Story turned on his heel and
walked away.
The town of Marshvilic was halycd bv
\ wide, deep. sti!l-ncwing river. The
Iur-csi half IF the town was built Oh an
emincncc OF, the south bank of the river.
The Bralnard Place, rs il was called, was
built on the cmincnce on the north bank
N the river and at some little distance
from the village proper. And So. as
there were no houses or buildings of any
il scription to o5s:ruct the view. one
,tanding iii the village streets and look
ne up the river could get Il good view of
he Bramard Place. The second week
ittc7 the great storm the village was all
Sonccrment. -Four slow going, patient
'Xon were dragging an enormous stick OF
imber through the quiet streets.
Hello, Brown shouted one of the :
-lllagers to the teamster. where's that |
zig fellow going?'
That's for Colonel Brainard's new !
'arn, was the reply; and then every ,
'Ody knew that the Colonels oath was no !
die one.
\ few days later the Colonel stopped
It the village store. II was just at edge
# the evening. 1t had not grown dark
S yet, for soft amber light flooded the
kies aud enwrapped the earth. 1t was
ust the time when the store was full OF
illagers making their purchases for the
morrow and getting the news Of the dav
0 carry home.