The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-06-06
The Black Alpaca.

There was no denying it. Lucy Ann
Hobart was queer
From the prim, low-posted. white
fence, enclosing her story and half
house, surrounded by a profusion of
flowers that traced their ancestry
back to the hollyhockS, marigoids,
phloX and morning glories of her
grandmother. to the square front par
Tor. closely shaded with lowered green
curtains-a proper pretty pattern
thirty years ago-there was every in
dication of Miss Hobart S sympathy
with ancestral worship.
Strange she doesn't have that little
old-fashioned fence removed" was the
often-repeated soliloquy of Mrs. Eli
jah Hobbs who lived next door. 1t
does seem so out of place when there's
nothing but green lawns on both sides
the street. l don't mind the flowers so
much, but that straight up-and-down
white fence reminds me for all the
world of an individual graveyard"
Yet the parlor," declared Miss En-
erson, who was visiting at the Hobbs
''is the queerest When l was in there
yesterday, it was too hot to stay in the
kitchen, so was taken into the holy
OF holes, and it seemed as though
I'd stepped into the last century. There
were hair wreaths framed on the man
tel piece and such quaint green glass
candle sticks.
But the whatnot in the corner
you should see it, Such variety of
object as it holds; it is rightly named.
Daguerreotypes, shells, samplers,
bunch Of wax flowers-really, I can't
begin to name all the things those
shelves contain. If 1 had the money
she has, I'd let the dead bury its dead.
&nd be more modern"
No, she's too odd. If she did that
she'd be like other folks, and that
would never do for Lucy Ann Ho-
BART and Mrs. Hobbs glanced out of
her window across her own neatly
kept lawn to the little white-sentinel-
ed cottage on the adjoining lot.
In spite of all Miss Hobart's queer
ness" she had as kind nature as
could be found in Hebron. She was
always helping some one, but in such
a way that her left hand never knew
what was being dispensed by her
right, to suffering humanity.
However, Miss Hobart's philanthro-
py had never extended beyond the
boundaries of New England, rarely
beyond her own state.
III folks everywhere looked out for
the suffering right around them, there
would never be this continual calling
from place after place a person never
heard Of" was always her closing ar
gument against foreign missions, no
matter how urgent were the needs
presented.
Il don't know whether to ask Miss
Hobart for anything or not" hesitated
Alice Randall of the soliciting corps,
as the aid committee was about to ad-
journ. She's always refused in other
cases and there's no reason why she
won't in this, unless their being a New
England family may carry some
weight"
There won't be any harm in try
ing" suggested Mrs. Thompson. Its
such destitute case we mustn't lose
any chances. If reports are true they
haven't clothes enough for the chill
dren, to say nothing of food"
In the spring of 1897, Rev. E. B.
Hammond had volunteered to open
mission school in the Indian Territory.
1t had prospered much beyond their
expectations until the failing health Of
the overtaxed preacher and teacher
compelled him for time to abandon
his cherished work.
IF we can only get along through
the winter" he said, encouragingly.
Il am sure can go on with the work
in warm weather"
Instead of improving, he grew slow
" though steadily worse. but not once
did he or his brave little wife lose
faith in Hin who sent them to do His
work.
IF we could only have nourishing
food for just you" said Mrs. Ham
mond, glancing from her husbands
couch around the destitute appearing