The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-04-04
Damon and Pythias
By Louise Holland.
Observation-Disclosures
Copyright. 1901, by the Authors Syndicats.l

livery morning, rain or shine, heat
or cod, you might see her as she
passed down the street. One thin,
Nithered hand clasped the handle OF
a very dilapidated satchel, in which
were stored her wares; for she was
peddler in her own small way; and
from house to house she went, some
times to find purchaser for her hand
knit tides, crochetted edging and
slipper patterns, but oftener to re-
ceive the chilling information that
"Wenever buy of no peddlers; mistress
amt to home"
And at the end of the day, as she
would turn into the dark street, and
climb the rickety stairs leading to
her poor little room, life looked very
hard to her-God seemed almost to
have forgotten some of His children
but, as she opened her door, and
from the wall would smile down on
her "her Tom," her wild boy who had
always loved and cared for mother
who she knew would come back to
her some day, hope once again would
fill her heart, and her childlike faith
In the Father would return.
And then she would draw from her
bosom and kiss the little gold cross
he gave her the day he went away.
Keep it, mother, always; perhaps
some day you'll know" he whispered; ;
then he kissed her good-by. The Off
GERS took him away, and she had
never seen him again.
Late, one cold. rainy afternoon, she
rang the bell of homelike little cot.
tage on a street that was strange to
her. The door was opened by the lady
OF the house herself, who, on noting
the tired, worn face, the thin-clad fig.
ure and wet shoes, asked the little
woman in, though a desire to pur.
chase her wares was not the motive
that prompted the action.
She opened her satchel and dis.
played her goods. As she spread them
out before her, two little boys, evi.
oently twins, came running into the
room. The little woman looked ur
Ny Tom! My Teddy" she cried
holding out her arms to the little fel.
lows; then, seeing how startled they
were, and the mothers wondering
glance: Il beg your pardon. ma'am.
she said. "but, oh, how alike, how
alike!"
DO you think SOP" returned the
mother; everyone says but for thei,
helght no one would realize they
we're twins; but my husband was q
'Win, and he and his brother, he says
were exactly like our boys"
And, madam, I am the mother o1
'Win boys, and at the age of these lit
ne ones, they were as like as two
peas"
now strange; tell me about them
Piease, said the sweet faced woman
seeing that love and sympathy were
more needed than money.
III you wouldn't think me intrud
'ng-l never have anyone to talk t.
ana sometimes my heart grows
9 Iuil, it seems as if it must overflow
TO some one.''
John and l were married the sum
mer was IS. John was considerabl,
'ioer than |. In all the country round
ne went by the name of Lucky John,
sn0 we were as happy as could be, bu,
.of one thing-no children came to us
me neighbors' boys and girls wer.
s1o"ing up about us, but in our hom,
he Years came and went, with neve,
nttie child to comfort our hearts O,
ofighten our home.
John never said much, but I knew
now he felt; and the day nv how,
.ame-I can never forget tive hat
ea married then Is yearsJohn hat
business that kept him in town al
y' and, when he came home olt
an.ie brown met him at the door.
49,, Never min yer hosses, lucky John
2 sathia' II this yer house v,