The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-05-24
CLEn.
By Percy T. Griffith.

termed the Hnine OF America. riohi
many lowroofed farmhouse came the
: welcome sound of the dinner horn,
calling the weary toilers in the fields
to their midday meal. Relieved from
their irksome studies, merry stream
of children trooped forth from the vii
lage school. some repairing to their
homes nearby. others fiocking together
in groups, to eat generous luncheon
beneath the shade of the great over
hanging oaks.
Their joyous laughter, echoing afar,
rippled through the closed shutters OF
a small cottage not far distant, whose
evident gloom strangely contrasted
with Natures gay, spring like spien-
dor. IL reached the ears of group
seated in the best room" of the little
house--a group composed Of three
persons. Of varied ages, whose coun
tsaances each expressed a different
emotion.
ORC, a specialized old gentleman, az
tired In clerical garb, who listened
with manifest approval to the matter
Of. fact tones of strong minded look
ing woman of perhaps 40. with re-
pressed malice and well simulated
charity struggling for mastery on her
brow. The last of the trio was slight
figured child. whose ordinary half
girlish, half-boyish face, surrounded Dy
golden, curly hair, now seemed Won
drouslv mature and almost manly in
its righteous wrath, while the old cler-
gyman spoke
my child, what you suggest is
impossible. You could not live in this
cottage all alone, now that your moth
er and brother are dead. You are
barely IA years of age, and we have de-
cided 1t to be for your best interests to
Ito stay-with Mrs. Anderson.
You mean, sir, that we are bound
out. You might as well say the words
at once. Why should l fall from the
status of free citizen to that OF
pauper and a slave? Did not my poor
mother leave all this property. which
YOU benevolent people have just sold
for over $500? And IL went into this
bondage. what opportunity should |
have for study and Improvement! You
know mother always wanted me to go
to college and be teacher or a mi-
stefan or an author or something great,
but don't see what chance | would
have il followed your PLAN
what did I tell we, parson! What
did tell ye!" cried the sharp-visage1
woman with uplifted eyebrows
That's what comes of sendin' child
to school when it faint no more than
five wears old and a-makin' Of it study
all it's life to home. What goods a
person what's spent their life on
book-larnin'? Tell me that"
"Oh. Mrs. Anderson" deprecated
the minister. who priied himself on
his knowledge, education is surely
valuable" -
"Yes, 1 know al! that allus
thought so, tse. / wuz gi-~a-good eddi'
nheE6 myself. but 1t warnt none Of
this new-fangled book-larnin' that this
obstinate child's got. My mother, al
any rate. warn't no fool, which is more
than you can say of some peoples
mothers, even II they be dead an gone
though it faint for us poor mortal'
to say where they're gone. | might
give mighty sure guess where some
peoples mothers is gone, what never
taught them nothin but book-larniA'
but then, we're all poor. frail human
bein's."
Doctor Wesley" here broke in TIL;
child, ''if you think I'm going to stand
here and have my mothers spotiess
name reviled and desecrated by thai
low-livei-
"Low-liyed, you little pauper in
crate. you!"
YES, >lowrlived, ill-bred. rude, un
couth!" declared the angry young per
son. "Oh. know all about you, Mrs
Anderson. and know why you've go
grudge against her and me. Did yo'
ever hear the name of Francis Sum
ner? All! you see l know-I read al
the letters"
we've been spyin', reading a pack
lies. have We? Just wait till have thu
around things what don't belong t
you"
Il beg your pardon. AS am tn
only heir to my mothers property
they are now mine. And, doctor, lie
Inc tell you what they said. You know
Francis Sumner and my mother wer
engaged to be married and broke !
on. Do you know why? Because
"Parson, II you don't shet that littl
liar up Wilt"
Gently. gently, Mrs. Anderson.
said he old man. Its only natural TO
Glen to be excited after just losin
two dear relatives, and you must max
allowances. Now, Glen, wen leav
you to rest after all this worry an
trouble. And tomorrow mornin
Squire Morgan and will come ovel
and Wen make all the arrangement
for you to stay with Mrs. Anderson
"I'll never go! I'll die first!" do
clared his excited young nearer, pa!
sionately.
"Oh, We won't, hey? Jest wait. M
and my Hiramll take some o. the
high spirits out of We. Goodby. y
little firebrand. Jest watt
That night little figure stole to tn
window and looked out upon the roa
below and the sky above. All Natur
was sleeping.
'How still! 1t murmured. "Ol
. mother! Can you see me now? Am
right in lighting against this woma
who lost You your LIES happiness
And myself-how can bear .livin
with her and her ignorant husband an
cnildren?"
The figure stole to a chest. an