St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-03-19

in two Or three Of the farmhouse with
. pleasant wonder, for within them
dwelt such peace. purity, kindness and
nsideration -, one may often seek
for in vain among the mansions OF the
The railway which now cuts the road
into unpleasant sandbanls was In those
old days . hoped-for inprovement, but
had not become mateFialised IN even 20
much Is the first rail; and that de-
licious valley. in which all the sylphs.
imps and fairies must have disported
themselves in the moonlight every mid
summer festival, lay 20 quiet 20 peace
full. so exquisitely contrasted with the
superb heights which rose towering
above, had often SO charmed me that
my soul was lifted in Thanksgiving 70
God for, such . manifestation of His
eternal freshness and beauty.
1 had just finished the last line Of .
song when saw . boy, about thirteen
or fourteen years old. sitting upon .
stone, crying Is II his heart would
break. He was small for his age,
could sec 1t once. He was singularly
handsome. His curly brown head was
noble in form, he was fair In compiler
ion, his features were almost classic.
His feet were bare. red, swollen and
scratched, but the insteps were slen-
der, the nails delicate and the ankles
not those Of . countxy-bred lad. In
moment noticed that his clothing WAS
fine, and although simple, elegant In
cut and make, while his stockings and
shoes were equally good. He WAS
dusty and badly burned. his hands red
and sore with constant exposure to the
sun. His appearance astonished me.
and said 70 him:
"A rather jolly morning to be weep
ing like that, seems to me"
He started and looked up through .
pair of deep brown eyes 90 strangely
melancholy that for . moment he
seemed like an old man. He ceased
crying, but sat still, not answering .
word Something within him, some
thing within me, was at that moment
touched to instantaneous life. felt
hat I loved the lad. have often won
dered what it was that made me sud-
denly sit down beside him. put my arm
around him and pat his head. was
long past forty, I was . bachelor. ]
hadn't very many friends. for I had not
been rich until . week before. Ny life
had been a long. hard struggle. .
serious. earnest work toward grave
end. and into my existence had crept
but few flowers OF affection and but
one root of love.
II guess" said I. Yankee fashion.
that you and l are . pretty lonesome
pair Of fellows, somehow"
He looked me in the eyes . moment
and then impulsively hid his face in my
breast, while one arm stole around my
neck.
II am," said he; i've been lonesome
ever since I was born"
Well, SO had I. Maybe that was the
link that Joined MS. had had no home;
no father, no mother. ! was . self
made man, what there was of me, un-
til that fortune had como. So I said
the truth simply: so have 1.
Have your" he cried. eagerly.
Then you will understand! You will
know all about it! You will not blame
me. You will tell me what to do"
"Why should I blame you, my boy?
What have you done?"
Il have run away-more than hum
drcd miles"
He looked at me doubtfully, wistful-
", to see how / would take It. I took
il coolly. Boys often do that" I an
swered
He looked little crestfallen-not 90
much of . hero But in moment try
ing to justify himself, he asked:
what makes emf"
Usually . harsh, un<ind father; too
much whipping; too much work, too
little play: or else. cheap story paperA
Are they never lonesome enough to
die? Don't that make 'em. ever"
Il never heard so. Did IL You? Come. |
you had better tell me all about It.
You see I've been about 50 myself"
He wiped his bonny face. sat down
on an old log and said: my trouble -
our family. You see we ere real folks
Ny neutrality-suspicious. was some
body awful grand and rich. He was
fathers side, you know. Then his
mother was an Endicott I've heard
about her and her father and his moth
er being awful rich and grand ever
since I was in my crib. Then mother.
She is . straight descendant Of the
of Hammerstesd. They had
earls and barons and dukes and things
al back to william. They cxu him
william the Conqueror. but call him
Did Hill. I hate him! And mothers
folks were linked In, somehow. with /
he old Squire Leith' family. oh.
Euess I sha.t forget the names! I've
heard 'en nine thousand seven hundred
o. -AIen n