The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-02-28


so simply said:
''Gerarda is looking very badly. All
this dancing and racketing around is
not good for her. But the young people
of the present day have no discretion.
Modesty seems to have gone out OF date
along with generation for their elders"
That was all l said.
But il seemed to have no effect, for
Gerarda still went on teaching. She
began to look worse and worse. All the
color left her face; even her lips were
pale, and her mouth got pinched look.
Then she got a hacking cough, and /
used to hear her going coughing along
the street from her dancing school, She
had not been to see me for the longest
time--treating me with marked disre-
spect. But at last could not bear to
hear her, so just ran out to the gate
and gave her box of lozenges.
She thanked me; then she gave me a
a wistful sort of look and hesitated, as
If she wanted to say something, but she
evidently changed her mind, for she
passed on.
One day was walking along the
beach. Winter was beginning to break
up. and there were bright patches of
green to be seen here and there. The
sky was blue and white, with flying
clouds. and the water around the piers
was shining in the sun. Every thing
looked so peaceful and happy that
couldn't help wondering why people
can't be peaceful and happy too and fol-
low the golden rule.
had had very trying morning.
In the first place had been to see
Mrs Jones. When went into the sit
ting-room there was fire cracking on
the hearth and could see through the
door that there was one burning in her
room also Now, as Mrs. Jones is poor,
and as had supplied her with food for
the greater part of the winter, thought
/ had right to say:
''Dear me. Mrs. Jones, shouldn't
think you could afford to have two fires
burning at once-and such mild day
too"
She turned as red as q beet and
pressed her lips together, but she didn't
say any thing. fear Mrs. Jones is far
from being sweet-tempered.
Then went to Sister Harriet's. Her
daughter Ella had just met with quite a
severe accident having been thrown
from buggy, while out driving. and
her arm broken. To be sure it was
painful. and the shock had made her i'll.
but then she should not have been so
foolish as to have gone out behind Ned
Pennywick's young horse. reminded
her of this
"You ought to be very thankful"
began.
killed?" she cried. Really, Aunt Ma
ria, my gratitude is not SO easily
aroused"
sat down on the bed beside her. Per-
haps l may have drawn the cover rather
tightly over her feet but she need not
have given such flounce.
my dear child, it might have been
your back or your neck" said.
well, 1t wasn't"
''But it might have beon."
'Maria." said my sister at this point,
s'too much conversation Is not good Tor
Ella. The doctor says 1t makes her
feverish."
So left there and went to Mrs. Crit
tenden's She was in great trouble.
She and her husband had not been mar
ried long. but they had bad heavy
money losses, and he had been obliged
to leave her with her mother while he
went out West to seek employment
had brought her some wine jelly,
and after had given it to her said:
"Cheer up, my dear. 1t might he 30
much worse. Suppose he was dead?"
'Oh, don'tr' she cried.
SWELL, but it might have happened.
In the midst of life we are in death,
and think how dreadful it would have
been to see him lying in his coffin in
stead of his being just out West, where
you can hear from him twice week.
Does he write twice week?"
''Only once" she said.
sOnly once-dear, dear!" said L II
should think ned write oftener."
HE is too busy" she replied.
Then, to divert her mind from her
own grievances, began to tell her
abott my new housemaid, Clarissa, and
how many things she had broken in the
last week.
Three saucers and a teacup-no!
three teacups and saucer" was say
ing, when l happened to glance at her,
and saw that she was not listening to q
word was saying.
She seems to be poor, spiritless
creature, and made up my mind that
would not go to sec her again in a
hurry.
Indeed, 7 came to the conclusion that
there is very little gratitude in the
world. You can go around wearing
yourself out trying to do good to others,
and never get word of thanks.
/ thought l would go on to Mrs.
Stones, as she had asked the ladies Of
the church to meet at her house and
talk over the new altar-cloth. When l
stepped upon the gallery the front door
was ajar, and a sound of voices camo
from the parlor; but no one seemed to
hear my knock. ! paused moment,