The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-08-31
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INC UIcHOClS Vi tnC DoA0S A0AAAAy eOOH
their seats in the big wagon Father
Balde had just driven up before the
door.
Although it was a week day, all were
dressed in their Sunday best. Mother
Balde wore pretty merino gown, short
wasted, scant in the skirt and with puff
fed sleeves; her sweet face, with smooth
banded hair, peeped out from huge
scoop bonnet, garlanded with roses and
tied with big bow. She wore mits and
a Canton shawl with long silk fringe.
Father Balde's coat was long-tailed
and buttoned up tightly; his shirt bosom
was ruffled, and around his neck was
wound black satin stock. He looked
like the picture of Andrew Jackson,
Abby thought.
The boys, Ben and Joe, were 1fesplen-
dent in new blue "roundabouts" with
brass buttons. AS for Abby herself, she
felt very fine in her pink froek, erribroid-
cred pantalettes, leshorn hat and sandal
slippers Father had just opened his
mouth to say "Get upp' to the horses.
when somebody was seen hurrying down
the dusty cross roads, and two shrill
voices called out, Wait"
1t was Aunt Prushy Becker and her
sister, Miss Rusty. Many years before
these two spinster ladies had been named
Prussia" and Russia" They came up
putting and swinging their green reti-
cules like big hop-blossoms.
WED like to 60 to town and see 1t r
gasped Aunt Prushy. II says to Rusty.
We've seen the stage-coach In Its day.
an "Clintor's Ditch" and now we want
to see TT"
Father and Mother Balde exchanged
glances, then the latter said gently.
ABBY, | guess you and the baby had
better get out and make room for our
n<ighbors."
Abby obeyed without a murmur, fof
that was the way children were brought
up in those days.
fits too bad to have the child stay
at home on account of us" said Aunt
Rusty, hesitatingly.
Tut! tut She'll live to see II long
after you and Prushy and the rest are
laid away in the church-yardi' exclaim-
ed Father Balde, as he started up the
prancing team.
Abby walked slowly up the path lead
ing to the house. Her face was very
sober, and I'm not sure that few tears
did not spot the pretty lavender strings
of her bonnet But she soon grew more
cheerful, especially when Baby Elizabeth,
sleeping in her arms, awoke and began
to smile and COO!
eyes, yes, little sister, you and 1 are
left behindr' said Abby. 1--WE can't go
to town, hear the band play, buy training
gingerbread and candy 'Gibralters' and
see It-but! Well 60 down on the hill
side, and You can roll on the green grass
and I'll read The Children of the Alb
beyp"
Soon the baby sister lay contented on
her blanket spread on the grass, her fat
hands clutching clover tufts, while Abb
hey sat reading. But the eyes of the lat
ter often wandered from her book to the
pleasant scene before her-the broad
flats, green and fertile; the Mohawk
River winding in and out like a silver
thread, and close beside it, the straighter
line of the canal.
Nearer still was something that of late
had especially attracted Abby's attention
"a long row of wooden ties of yellow
white newness and across them steel
rails stretching far up and down the val
ley. The crowd of foreign workmen,
who for weeks past had labored there
with pickaxe and hammer, had gone
away.
But suddenly a shrill sound smote thu
silence sound never before heard
throughout the length of the green vale
Abby sprang to her feet and looked
eagerly eastward. What was that she
saw-that great black something, rumb-
ling and rushing. making one think Of
the fiery dragon St. George slewl
With swift motions is glided along tht
steel rails-there was Strengthening
cab or cart filled with gentlemen wear
ing tall hats and black satin stocks lik.
her father sand then the monster sho
away, leaving cloud of smoke and ;
shower of red sparks behind it!
Abby sat down with thud of salts
faction. well, declared she exclaim
ed. Even if didn't go to the village
I've seen 1t, after allT'
Do you know what 1t was? Why, tn,
very first train that ever passed over tn,
New York Central Railroad Youth
Companion.