The Opelousas courier., 1894-01-20

~N,SssN the setting sun.
~ S<'%W The ragged-look'
WE@M3EY ing cornfieldt
M@@sSs;S:.;.ssGU stretched desc.
'''''S lately away at hit
feet and wore an apologize aspect, as
though ashamed to coll attention to
the meager array of cornstalks and
diminutive yellow pumpkins, which
was their utmost effort in the way OF
crops. It was a prverty-stricken in
heritance enough; land that had 'trnn
out" from lack of enriching; q belt OF
once glorious woodlands, now sadly
shrunk and spoilt by repeated telling /;
and the low, gray farmhouse, un-
painted for many a long year and
showing the ravages Of time and
weather to an alarming extent. despite
all Zedekiah's unfagging efforts at
patching and repairs.
Yes, it was q poor patrimony and
yet Zedekiah loved every tree and
every stone--there were plenty--on
the place and his heart swelled within
him with sorrow and passionate re.
gret at the thought that that terrible
mortgage must be foreclosed next
Monday and Birch Brook farm lost to
the name of Barnes forever.
It had been a desperate struggle to
keep their heads above water ever
since their fathers death, two years
before. Farming carried on by a
delicate widow and a boy of fifteen,
however much energy and good will
they bring to bear between them on
the work in hand, can hardly be ex.
pected to afford brilliant results and
the wet season just passed had '.fn-
ished the job" as Zedekiah himself
would have said. The hay was spoilt
and the wheat wa sprouted and where
the magnificent income of the owners
just suficed to buy the salt for the
stir-about, which the ruined corr
should have supplied, that meant ruin.
And SO the mortgage was to be fore.
closed next Monday and the Barnses
were to be homeless.
ttZed! Zedr" It was a gentle
voice that called, and Zedekiah, with
a shake of his shoulders, forced a
CHASTITY smile of assumed cheerfulness
and turned to greet his mother at the
open door.
She had been a pretty woman once,
and even now, faded and worn though
she was, there was a certain grace ard
gentleness about her, which accounted
for her sons devotion, even though
the little ~plaintive voice and manner
showed, poor woman, that life had
been q pretty hard and bitter strug-
gle.
"Come to your supper, Zed," she
called again, as he came up the tagged
walk with an air Of intense %jaunti-
ness to hide the fact that he was foot
sore and lame where the fints had
bruised through the worn boots. "The
children are that hungry that I can't
keep them quiet, and they ought to
have been in bed, poor things"
Two yellow-haired little girls ran up
as they entered.
s.Ah, Zed!" cried little Mamie. II
amt had no supper yet; wasn't you
bad to stay away 10 longr While
Baby Garry chimed in: "Yeth, Zed
velly bad boy shan't have no supper
hisself I"
Hush, hush" said the mother.
"Children, how you talk One would
think you beggar children to
talk like that"
Zed's forced smile faded into a
quick look Of pain.
sfThey ought to 60 to school," he
said then checked himself at the rec
objection Of the cost Of school books.
He was staring hard at the red I'M
bers of the fire as his mother returned
from giving the little girls their good
night kiss and sat down in her shabby
rocking-chair to the darnlng and
patching, which was the usual evening
occupation. He reused himself again
at her approach he was always trying
to cheer up for her sake, poor fellow!
II guess I've got that place, mother
he said. ~ went to the store MI.
Norton told me of and they've pretty
we'll settled to take me on. The wages
don't seem fabulous, to be sure, but
they'll be something, and then there's
the prospect Of o rise"
"Oh, Zed!!a The darning fell into
Mrs. Barnes's lap. "You poor boy
Yes, the wages are something, and no
mistake, but / can't bear to think Of
you, Just a M errand boy for D
grocery storel"
Zedekiah's sallow cheek flushed.
IT don't zee why" he said, stoutly.
"Groceries are honest enough, and
they re clean, too-a great deal nicer
than q good many other things, think.
Besides, errand boys always make
their fortunes right away. Did you
ever hear Of q millionaire in q book
who didn't begin By sweeping out .
store?"
aAhi if your Uncle Zsdekiah had
only left you all his money, as he
promised" sighed the widow, taking
up the tattered sock again.
hInstead Of only his name and the
old clock, eli, mother?"
nOh! yes! It was too bad Of uncle.
He ought to have been ashamed. And
after making rs give you his horrld
name, tool
Never mind, mother! It's an
honest name, even though the fret
man that owned it wasn't much IN the
way Of q king. He's beendead olona