St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-02-28
The Cl0verburg
~ Comedy. w

NEAR Cloverburg, KY, lived two
IN very respectable old gentlemen.
They owned contiguous bluegrass
farms, each of generous acreage.
Both men were descended from good
old Kentucky stock, and both were
extremely proud of their unstained
and honorable lineage.
Esquire Israel Longacre, who got
his title from having been at one time
q country magistrate, was about 80
years of age, of rotund figure and
strong constitution.
He carried his years well, and al
though possessed of a naturally kind
heart, was at times subject to violent
attacks of choler, during which pc
RODS of temporary insanity he would
neither reason himself nor listen to
the reasoning of others.
He married, late in life, very es-
Unable lady, and had one daughter
q beautiful and accomplished girl
who, at the time of which 1 write,
was just budding into womanhood.
The squire's wife had died four
years previous, and since that time
his household affairs had been man
aged by his only unmarried sister, q
lady Of uncertain age, spare figure
and vinegary temper.
The squire-albeit all people and
all things were usually subservient to
his will-had mortal dread of his
spinster sister, and a wholesome re-
spect for her sharp tongue.
She had absolute control of house,
hold matters, and as the squire
never interfered with her arrange
ments, the pair got along very nicely
together.
Both loved the beautiful girl who
had grown up to wonanhood under
their eyes, and the heart of the old
squire could always be approached
through Nellie, who was the image OF
her dead mother.
The daughter and her aunt-who
reioiced in the name of Dorothea
Longacre-never quarreled, and taken
altogether the Longacre household
machine moved smoothly.
The Longacres' nearest neighbor
was Col. Anson Shortrood, who at
one period of his life rode at the head
of valiant regiment of militia.
The colonel was widower of long
standing, his excellent spouse having
departed this life several years ago,
leaving to him, as a legacy, boy, now
crown into manhood, who was named
Arson, junior, after his father, and
who was q model of industry and
sobriety.
The coloneTs household goddess
was a buxom widow, Mrs. Abigail
Sloan, who was related to the head OF
the household by marriage, being the
only sister of his late consort.
The colonel was IS OF thereabouts,
was tall, angular and bony, and dis
posed to be unrelenting and ''nyleld-
ing in disposition.
The colonel and the squire had lived
neighbors for 30 years, and up to
about six months previous to the &C.
currence am about to describe, were
warm friends.
They fell out over trlfilng matter:
The colonel owned fine flock OF
mer;no sheep, of which he was very
proud. The squire was the possessor
Of a large nastiff dog. OF whose In
te,lipence and good qualities he was
always boasting.
One night an animal, supposed to
he a sheep-killing dog, broke into
tho colonel's fold, killed valuable
huck and mangled several ewes.
when the doughty military chief
tain discovered his loss he was fu-
r;ous. and stormed in true soldierly
style. ..o,,.
sWhat dog could have done it?" in
nuired the son, who had been attract
ed to the srot by his fathers storm
Of words.
"Why, that cur Of Squire Long
acres" bawled his father. He shall
nav me heavy damages, or I'll have
the law on him."
~ don't think" began the son.
.Wel. don't think, them" beloved
h,e father. "I'u do the THINKING"
"But-"
"shut uni" roared the colonel,
Yrothing at the mouth.
And young Arson was silent.
The colonel hurried back to the
house for his cane, and in few
,,,inutes was striding across the field
& the direction Of Squire Longacre's
mansion.
s.What's the matter with your IA
xh~r?, asked buxom Mrs. Sloan, as
ro,,nr Arson entered the kitchen,
there she wan at work, shortly after
The departure Of his sire.