St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-07-07
her needles flying. IL don't believe
you ever sleep o. nights"'
ssNof piuhtS like this I can't Law

her needles flying. Il don't oeEOvc
you ever sleep o. nights"
Not nights like this, can't lay
quiet my bed" said the old woman.
'Why not?" / asked, growing bolder.
''Spiriis," she cried, with 4 sudden
flame in her eve. They're about such
nights, boy, and they move the light.
and in the morning they're all washed
in-wsshed in on the sand"
'Law. Mother Sheflo. there amt been
any wrecks washed in for long time,
and no spirits have been about in my
day" spoke Aunt Keziah, soothingly.
I've heard tell of 'em often enough,
bu. they must have left these parts y
many a year ago. Its nothin' but the
wind and the bats that puts the belfry
light out"
But the old woman did not eeem to
hear her. She looked straight at the
fire. Her fingers worked nervously
and her lips moved.
Tell about EN- said. and Dolly
nodded shyly. Then Mother Sheflo ut
TERED in rapid monotone the words she
seemed to have been saying to her
6ClI IlCE CN CS NCiC SSAA oA Nu~ AA1AASS.
The wind shrieked in the chimney as
she spoke.
Twas Becky and Mary Anna Steele
and Marthy Allan-your mother, ke-
ziah"-
Aunt Keziah nodded.
"All a-bakin' in the kitchen, a-gettin'
ready for the weddin'. Big cakes and
little cakes, an hams. an pies. an
chickens-rows an rows Of EN-. Marthy
Allan a-reddin' up n putin spruce and
pine over the pictures. an wipin' chiny.
an me in the winder All day in the
winder. lookin' cross the bay. Break
ers like them a-roarin' now. Hear 'em.
Listen to EN-. That's the kind! They'll
wash 'em in! 1t was John Allan come
runnin' up the path. saw the wind
bring him along. He burst in with the
wind and spray. an Marthy Allan
dropped the best blue bowl
There's a boat yondcr.' he says
his boa.-
"'Hush" says Mary Anna, noddin' At
the winder, an John Allan throws up
his arms and runs out, n ! after him,
an Marthy an Mary Anna comm be-
hind. Ay, but twas gettin' dark. an a
monster sea was roarin'. We all stayed
out a-waitin' for the boat 1t got
mighty dark, dark as night. an we
couldn't see = thing. got lantern
out O. the kitchen an climbed the bel
fry stairs unbeknown to 'em all Ugh.
but the bats hit hard an screeched
like all Of 'em was doin' out yonder on
shore! They hit my face and blinded
my eyes, but didn't mind. l set the
lamp in the winder ar went down
again-down. down. 1t shone far ont
to the boat Ugh. how the breakers
fought that night: lie always could
manage boat, couldn't he, keziah?
Aunt Keziah nodded.
Then all Of sudden the light wen,
out-clean out, Keziah.' The old WON
ans black eyes flashed. :
$50 I've heard tell,- said Aunt ke-
ziah.
"All were screechin' for light They
might ha' reached 'em. John Allan said
so. They wouldn't let me go out n the
water with one. I'D ha' done it, but
twas all John Allan a-holdin' me on
shore. But they were all washed in
with the mornin'. Aha, they couldn't
hold me then! Don't let her go" cries
Marthy. a-hangin' to me. But didn't
fling her down, an away I went to
meet 'em all a-layin' on the sand
Come early to the wcddin'!-They
wouldn't let me carry him, John Allan
wouldn't. but went along. an my hair
blowin' on his face. put on my white
frock. an my wreath on my hair
pretty hair, Keziah-'
And again Aunt Keziah nodded
AN laughed at Marthy Allan an
Mary Anna a-cryin' an wringin' their
hand Twas nice mornin.' Go look
the old woman suddenly turned her
eyes from the fire, with return of rea-
son in them-''go look if it'ss set;" and
again I went to the window. and again
saw the line Of light streaming from
the belfry tower.
Yes" l said. Its there"
LAY, then I'll get home" she NUT
tered, and. reaching her stick, she
wrapped her cloak around her and hob.
bled to the door.
"Are you going to ride in the air?''
asked Dolly, whose eyes were heavy
with sleep.
AYE! aye! Hear the pretty baby.
Yes, honey. I'll 60 on puff o wind:"
Maybe you'd best stop here" said
Aunt keziah. But Mother Shefio was
at the door.
Captains awaitin'," she said, and a.
l lifted the latch she gave me tap
with her stick. Mice boy, he don't
throw stones-no, no..
The wind rushed in and swept her
outward into the darkness l heard
the breakers lash the beach, and the
door slammed.
did she really first set the belfry
Light" asked, once moro by the fire
Aunt Keziah nodded.
Long before my time. They say it's
saved many a vessel, too"
what put it ont that night?" again
I asked.
"Your grandmother used to say no
body ever knew. Owls or wind. most
likely. They say the ship might ha'
kept off the cape rock il there been q
light. but before another could be set
it went down."
Oar exclaimed. ana thought
awhile. Dolly's curly head had droopec
forward. and in the freight her cheek
was the color of the big :oses Aunt
Keziah kept for her jar of ;saveS
'What did she mean by y wedding?
l asked. presently. "Whe~s wedding
was it,"
.'Her own" said Aunt ksziah. wind
ing her yarn; lit was his b,at That's
when her mind went, that right She
set light in the belfry every night for
many a year, till she got so old the
parson got her cu. o it and had it done.
She's got some sense left. bot she likes
to tell the story over and over. Now.
go to bed, both o you.'
But Dolly could not get awake, and !
took her in my arms Her head dropped
on my shoulder, and, IS started up
stairs slowly, she murmured:
Coin to ride up m up with the
doves" Resting \ minute on the steps.