The Opelousas courier., 1891-06-06

e"uates, Out wax candleS, WIN Cne loV
lest little shades: they are so nice"
asked about her mother, to chang,
the subject, and we talked about her an
the old neighbors until she went u
stairs to put the baby to bed. She sal,
she thought she would not com down
again, if I would excuse her, as she wa
SO very tired. soon went to nv ow,
room and to sleep, from which I wa
awakened by a great clatter and rumpu
on the stairs, made by the young Wood
as they went down.
soon our ears were saluted BY tn,
faint crack of that rifle. followed by tn.
squealing of a pig, and the loud shouts
of the boys.
Hugh fastened down, half dressed,
and found one of a choice lot of Berk-
shires with a broken leg, and Herky-
Herkimer his name is-dancing a regular
war dance around the wounded animal,
and as pleased as pleased could be, to
think he had succeeded in using his gun
with such effect as to bring down his
game.
OF course the pig had to be killed. As
good luck would have 1t, the hired man
had a big fire and lots of hot water, so
he and Hugh set to work at once TO
dress it.
Hugh took the gun and locked it up.
Herky was very indignant, but Hugh was
firm.
Just as breakfast was ready, there was
a sound of crying and screaming outside
the kitchen door, and John and Ollie.
the two youngest of the Woods, came in
wet to the skin, their clothes dripping
puddles of water all over my clean floor.
They had sailed chips on the water in the
horse trough, quarrelled aud tumbled in.
Ellen sent Marguerite up to change their
clothes. and the rest of us sat down, the
baby keeping up a fretful whine all
through the meal.
After breakfast I said to Ellen that
she would have to entertain herself as
best she could, for | had all the work to
do, as we could get no girl.
She took the baby into the parlor.
and ] heard some of the youngsters draw
iEg tortured tones from nv organ. I
had forgotten to lock it, but I resolved I
would do SO at the first opportunity,
and | did.
Being IN the pantry after a time, mix
ing bread, l heard a great racket, and,
glancing out, saw the four Woods bows
standing in my new hammock, while Ted
and Bob were trying to capture them.
Two of the Woods boys held open knives
in their hands, making feints at striking
at those on the ground. It made NV
blood run cold, to see them swinging
and swaying about On their uncertain
foothold with those open knives.
took my hand out of the bread, and
calling my two boys, went with them
out to the barn and begged Hugh to
take them with him into the field, which
he did.
l baked pies and cake, and prepared
The vegetables for dinner, making hurried
visits to the parlor between times.
When my bread was in the oven, and
, big kettle of beans bubbling on the
stove, I went up stairs. It was half-past
Ten, and the thermometer marked ninety
1egrees on the north porch. / hurried
he work in my own and the boys room,
md then stepped along and took a peep
INTO Ellen's room. | was in hopes they
had cleaned up their rooms, but, what q
lght! they had not done one bit of
work. In the middle of the floor, on
ny new carpet, lay those wet clothes,
ust as they had been showed down over
ne feet OF those boys. / picked them
lp, and on the ~fawn-colored ground of
~ carpet; was d big blue stain where
aeh suit had lain. Clothes Uttered the
hairs and bed, the trunks stood open, a
owel stood over the edge Of the wash.
owl, leading q tiny, trickllng stream of
rater to the floor. The bed had not
ven been ieen thrown open. I put the
pom in order, and as I stepped into the
all to go into-the other guest room, nv
rst breath gave me a smell of burning
read. flew down stairs and was Just
| time to save the whole baking from
] had barely time to hurry on the
inner, and when it was ready I was too
and tired to eat.
] sat at the table, and when the rest
ere all gone, / drank a cup OF tea, and
,e a little.
] dreaded the dishes, but that great !,
lie OF crockery must be cleaned, and !.
ght away, too-so at it / went. !
When the kitchen and dining room
ere once more in order, / went up and |
ade the bed of the Woods bows. {
Done at last, / went to my own room,
Ithed, changed my dress, and went
,wn. Hearing Ellen's voice on the I
] went out then and found her q
ring to quiet the baby, who is teething I
d the hot weather makes him very
oss. &
ssWhy Cousin Annie where have you q
all day, and what have yon been q
ing to get so warm and redan asked /
slen, as ! sat dswn.
] told her / had been baking. ]
sfBakinga what makes you do it, :
by don't yeu buy hread2 I never lei :
ok bake when it is so hot :
] said that in the country we could
{ buy bread.
'.oh, dearl I wouldn't live in the :
for a%nythingi" said she. :
thought ! would like to try my ham :
SO / asked Ellen to move hon !.
air around to that side of the house. =
As We came in sight of the hammock, =
odd Marguerite in it, with my lovely =
y of Longfellow, which Hugh gave q
last Christmas, turned backward and 2
.ed together as she read it. That was Il
much far nv enIanimifu and 81