The Forrest City times., 1894-11-16

my nuSDandS youngest brother. I'm sure. hannah, you needn't try to dis own him, for everybody in the county knew him. He was the youngest of the family, and no more like the Bal lards than chalk's like cheese. He was idle by nature; and. as his father died when he was only ten years old, it never got beat out of him as it ought to "a ben. Mother Ballard hadn't no more force to her than an old settin' hen. He was her pet, and she certain ly did humor him to death. We'll, it turned out as it always does when one child is petted to extremes and the others taught to work as they ought to do; Mark got lazier and lazier, wouldn't do nothing about the farm, wouldn go into the mills, wouldn't do nothing but read, read all the time: said he wanted to be scholar, which was ridic'lous in poor boy like him. He and his brothers didn't agree, and, finally. he ran away and went to the bad. He ran into debt and took to drink, and as we ain't heard nothing of him for nigh onto fifteen years 1 spose he's dead. No great loss if he is. added Ida, not unwilling to ex- hibit the deep hue of the Ballard black sheep.
 Did his mother give up all hope of him before she died?" asked Laura pitifully.
 "Oh, mother ain't dead. nor won't be for many a year." answered Izan- nah, cheerfully. It was her turn now. not lda's. She's beautifully settled in the Old Ladies' home over to Fair field. One of us goes to see her every year or two. You see, when Abner got married, bein' the oldest son, he and Ida naturally chose to live on the farm; and as Ida had to have her mother with her, there want no place there for anybody else's mother In- deed the two of 'em had always hated one another like poison; so mother had to give up the old house to Abner. She never did like farmin anyway. Mark took his love of idle readin' from her. Seth said he couldn't have her to his house, for there want no room for her; his house is dretful small, and come to get three hired men and Seth and his wife in their attics- for that's all his bedrooms are-it is pretty full.
 The boys thought I'd ought to have taken mother; but, dear me. how could I? I want Twin in the old house, and what with my troop of young ones, baby always in my arms, and my work round the house, l hadn't no time to tend to invalids: for mother'd got real poorly. So we all joined together and got her beau tiful room in the Fairfield home. where she didn't have a thing to do all day but just enjoy herself"
 Laura was so shocked ana pained by this evidence of Ballard heartlessness that she cut short her visit to Clifton, and started for her home the next week. A part of her journey was by water; and happening to fall into con- versation with the lady who sat next her on the boat, she related this incl dent to her, prefacing it with the ques- tion
 Do you know anyone in Clifton?"
 No" replled the stranger, ''nor in any other part of this state. We, my children and l. are simply passing through it on our way home from a visit to the mountains"
 '.l am glad of that, for want to tell you little incident which illustrates the very trait, heartlessness, of which we were just speaking. But of course l shall suppi ess all names"
 Getting excited with her recital, however, Laura involuntarily let fall the name of Ballard as we'll as one or two of the Christian names. When she had finished her story the stranger said:
 Where is this Clifton?"
 "It is near a railroad center called Barnum; indeed, it was called Barnum Mills until few years ago. Perhaps you've heard of the Barnum match works?'
 "Oh, yes; I have. An, here is the place where I leave the boat Let me bid you good-by, with the hope that we may meet again sometime;' and so saying the stranger took her leave.
 Early the next morning this same stranger might have been seen las c. P. R. James puts it} entering the comfortable, if lonely, little room as signed to Mrs. hannah Ballard in the Old Ladies' home at Fairfield
 You once lived in Barnum Mills, or Clifton, as they now, call it, did you not?' the visitor asked Mrs Ballard after the first greetings were ex- changed.
 "Yes; l was ma rried in Clifton and my husband bought farm there He lies sleeping there now, and my three children live in Clifton still Have you come from there?' was the an