The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-12-26


raising Tomorrow | need a good
deal Of help about this one. can tell voul
Come uP, nci-hbors Story, | Shall
count On you anyway. You'll be there,
won't you:'
"Not |, Colonel" answered Story.
seriously, but pleasantly. I'm Just as
much obliged, but | amt flying in the
face of Providence this year"
The "raising" was grand success,
and all who attended it came back with
the most vivid accounts of the strength
Of the new barn and the immensely of its
timbcrs
In "A day or two afterward. Colonel
Brainard again stopped at the village
store.
" Story :" he called. "c come out here,
cant you: want TO sec you about
little matter"
Story rose TO his feet and walked out
to the Colonel's carriage.
"What is it, Colonel 2"
Braiuard put his hand on Story's
shoulder and pointed up the river.
well, Story, | want YOU to see some
/ thing, for Of course you haven't noticed
! it before; | want YOU to see that frame
up there on the Brainard Place ! What
do Won think of it? -
81 think it is n pretty strong one,
Colonel" was the frank reply: "ln fact,
| know it j.. for have been told over
and over again by the best of Judges,
that from ri1gcpole to plate. and from
plate 10 sill, it is just as strong as huge
beams, iron rods and steel bolts can
make it; but, Colonel, You and | are
both lumbermen; and more than once we
have seen great tracts of timber, through
which the wind had hcwcd itself path,
and do you remember ever seeing a tree
left standing in any one of those
paths: And did YOU ever think of what
a tremendous force it must have been
that took hold of those big trees and
pulled them up out of the ground Just as
quick y and easily as a dentist would pull
tooth? If were you, Colonel, guess
[ would take it all back, and not pit
mans little strength against the mighty
arm of the Lord"
.'lf You were mc.' said the Colonel,
mockingly. But your not me, Story,
and |, Brainard, don't take back any
thing | say, very often. You re on the
losing side, Brother Story! Don't forget
that
AS the days went by it became evident
that Colonel Brainard did not intend that
Amasa Story should have chance TO
forget it. Every time he saw Story he
never failed TO remind him in the most
offensive manner of the fact that the
barn still stood firm and strong upon its
foundations. - and will stand, Brother
Story, until time rots the timbcrs and
rusts out the bolts
And Story would answer checrily:
The Lord has got lots Of patience,
Colonel
Winter came on. Colonel Brainard
and Amasa St0ry both engaged in extern
sivc numbering operations in the great !
forests in the northern part of their ma
tive State. and did not see each other 7
again for some months: but with The re-
turn of spring, logs and lumbcrmcn came (
down the river.
Colonel Brainarl got home first. He :
WAS in the hest OF spirits. His winters /
work had brought him n great deal of :
money, and naturally he felt rather iubi-
liant. As soon as ne heard that story
had got home he made al haste to go to
the village.
'lIclloAStory" he shouted as soon as
he caught sight of Storv's CHEEKY face,
when did you gc; home?"
just come, Colonel" answered the :
other heartily. What's the news? .
Everybody all well mp to your placc?'
Pretty well, Story; pretty we'll: and .
come 10 think Of ii, ncighbor. why didn't .
You inquire about the barn. also? Don't
forget that barn. Story. | want vou to
keep an eve on that harm" said tic Col .
oncl with the same old hooking infection
in his voice.
Story colorcd furiouSlv. He had for
fottem all about their discussion in his
JOY AT Gcttin" home. and his pleasure in
seeing his old friends; and to have his
friendly inquiries met in this way. was
almost too bad. But. controlling his
temper, he answered with something of
an effort:
No need Of me. Colonel. The Lord
has got His eve on that barn fast
enough
Somehow the Colonel could not seem
w ~ li'St h'LiS OUT OF MS mlnu. al
though the impression they made on him
did not hinder him from attacking hi.
victim every time he came within sound
of his voice.
Matters went ON after this fashion
until midsummer. One day about the
last IF July, the sun rose in the morning
just ike q hall of rcd-hot iron. All the
forenoon the very air had quivcring
As though it were pantingin
the intense heat. and the glare of the
was binding. But, in the
afternoon. Il soft haze came into the air
and some ilecv clouds crcpt over the face