The Opelousas courier., 1900-02-10

NAASS AAS "S~A.
limbs under Marthy AIMS 20O-piece
quilt-the quilt which Marthy AIMS
grandmother had worked with her
own hands and which brought her
fame and fortune at the county fair
nearly so years before; the fame con
sieted in the verdict of her neighbors
that she was "a pesky smart weman,"
and the fortune in a new iye-dollar
gold piece.
But so years of constant exhibition
and subsequent use had brought the
high and mighty Counterpart down to
an everyday sort of quilt, and now
Silas would fain have covered his
sleepy head with the same, aud stolen
40 winks more, but there was work in
the west lot, chores about the house,
and outside OF all that Marthy AIMS
shrill voice was calling from the bot
tom of the back stairs that it was
"time he was stirring" The west lot
and chores shrank into insignificance
alongside of Marthy AIMS voice.
You'll find your store clothes in
the company room, and your bill ed
shirt and clean socks in the press"
This from the invisible Marthy.
"Going to have company today?
There's a heap of work over in the
west lot that I somehow ought to get
TO" answered Silas from the head Of
the stairs.
Marthy AIMS eyes opened wide
with establishment. For the first time
In their married life Silas Higgins
proposed working on a Sunday, but
'she shouldn't do 1t, no, he shouldn't
do 1t if she could prevent it, and it
was very likely that she could"
Marthy AIMS voice was awful in its
solemnity, "The Lord will send down
His wrath upon you and your children
unto the third aud fourth generation"
As t1ers were no heirs to misfortune
or otherwise, this was q dire threat.
''You'll be o byword among your
neighbors, working on the holy Sab
bath"
She was now the visible Marthy, for
mounting the stairs she stood in the
bedroom door, in one hand a fork, in
the other a dish towel, while righteous
indignation showed forth in every
gesture. silas beat a hasty retreat by
putting his head into a bowl of water.
Splash, splash! Reckon / must
have slept kinder hard, Marthy Ann"
splash, splash, 'lost all count on the
days and thought it was a Saturday"
splash. splash.
Marthy Ann retreated somewhat
Modified, but on the fourth step she
turned back to that the
''bacon was done to a turn and the
coffee billed"
All during breakfast Silas was very
quiet.
SIT do beat all how a man can get
so turned bout" he said. Reckon
we'll have to buy M of them new
tangled calendars over at Hicks
store"
"No need of them sort of things
round here, Silas Higgins. All the
calendar that's wanted is the work
done regular like. Pears you've got
no faith in my reckoning"
Silas had all faith Imaginable, and
fastened to inform her of the fact.
while he offered his best team to go to
meeting.
"The parsons laid up with rheu-
mitioks," replied Marthy, ST saw
the doctor driving over yonder yesie--
day, and he reckoned the pa-son
wouldn't get to preach in a fortnight.
There comes Pete now: wonder what's
bringing him over here!"
By this time Pete had opened the
kitchen door on a crack, thrusting his
frowsy head, and presently his whole
body, into the narrow space.
u say!a he began, at the same time
describing a circle with his bare toes
on the floor. "No, pa says will yer
loan him q team; thers is O heap OF
hay wants hauling, and be celebrates
on some rain fore loug."
sLaw sakesI'' said Marthy Ann, be.
fore silas could speak; whats hap
pened to the men folks! Guess yoar
don't know Of such doingsi Yer
GO straight home and tell yer pa we'll
not lend q hand to such wickedness
nd evil ways. He's ent his wisdom
S1eth, I reckon, a good time past, and
oGght to be knowing better. Now
y6a can give him that message
straight"
Pete stayed only long enough to
take q good stare at Mrs. Higgins.
then lost no time in leaving her au-
gust presence. A few handsprings
anda couple of somersaults brought
hin rapidly to his destination; there
be was not long in stirring up the fam
lily wrath by delivering his message in
q decidedly graphic and efficient man
Q The little Browns declared they'd
get even" and getting even with the
Browns meant q surplus on their side.
Meanwhile. in happy ignorance OF
what the future held in store. Silas
sat contentelly smoking his pipe on
the front porch. After the diahes had
been washed and pnt in their place.
Marthy Ann ioire him, bringing her
Bible. To be sure. she was no great
hand to read, particularly aloud, for
Silas corrected her pronunciation, and
II Marthy Ann had any weakness ii
was to oe at all times and In all places
right; but today, realizing that there
VI much evil influence abroad, she
felt IL incumbent upon her to reat
soma good, wholesome truths to SiIas.
and try to keep him in the narrow
path.
She had just finished the ten CON-
mandments, laying particular stress
keeping the Sabbath day HOLY. |
when q carryall came lumbaring alonr