The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1908-04-02
BIZ Mrs. Fannie H. Gallagher.


the shed, and we soon became accus-
toned to his presence about the yard
and barn. Mother was pleased with
his work; the yard was as neat as a
pin, the barn in fine order, and Mol
lies glossy hide free from a speck Of
dust Even father and brother John
had, for the first month, no fault to
find with our dusky friend.
But Mats moral character was at
this time quite as commendable, in
mothers opinion, as the work Of his
hands.
mat asked me for Testament this
morning; / do believe he is getting in
terested," she remarked one day.
The next week she was still more
pleased
NAT showed me letter he had
written to his old mother. suppose
you girls would have laughed at it,
for he had copied the Ten Command
ments and a whole page from Eze-
kiel; but It shows his reverence for
the Bible and his love for his moth
err"
After a time, however, some Of Mats
other Characteristics began to appear
I'm little afraid your boy is Of
the new broom order, mother" re-
marked the head OF the house one day.
Things are not so spick-and-span as
they we're. 1 stumbled over the gar
den shears this morning-just where
he dropped them last night, 1 suppose;
and Mollie's name looks as though
she had gone hay hunting for herself,
poor little ponyi"
Mother was beginning an apology
for him when Nat himself appeared
at the door.
1T beats all, missis, where dat hose
has gone dis time}' said he, giving a
jerk TO the rim Of the hat he wore.
Il hung it up sure on de peg last
night, but dis mornin' faint to be
found" M
The barn was searched, the shed.
the cellar, but to no purpose; and we
had to conclude either that the hose
had wiggIed itself out Of the yard or
been helped of by human hands.
Those rascally boys who called me
names through de fence last night, I'll
bet dey did it, was Mats quiet re-
mark as he walked on to the barn,
after the fruitless search was over
The whips gone again, Mis- Al
len" was the next announcement. 81
just tied Mollie. while ! ran for the
cushions. and left dat whip ali right;
but kinder thought heard boy
scud round de corner as 4 was com
ing back, and sure enough-de whip
was gone"
y do not believe a word about the
boys" said mother, more severely
than she had spoken before to her
duslIy servant. This is the third
whip you have lost or broken since
you came here. The next one that
disappears shall charge TO you-and
remember. Nat. will not have an
untruthful boy about my house"
Dropping into a chair on the plaz-
"a, mother remarked as she united
her garden hat; I'm getting a lit
tied troubled about Nat. he is GER
tainly very careless lately
"Carelessi I don't believe a word
Of it," said brother John, looking up
from his paper. "He is lazy, good
for-nothing fellow. mother: and, more
than that, do not believe he is
honest. Where did he get that new
hat and red-and-yellow necktie, to say
nothing of the new boots found IN
the barn? He has not had a cent for
a month. you know as well as I, for
father advanced him money weeks
ago to get that coat he wears ] be-
lieve he has traded OF the hose and
the whips. too. or sold them. Just let
me catch him touching a thing Of
minel"
But, while mother would ind fault
with Nat herself. she would allow no
one else to; SO she quoted verse
about charity" to John. and vent
Of 20 her own room. IN a few weeks.
Sister Kate was 20 be married. and
ihe usual hustle Of preparation so
hiled our minds that RAT ceased to BE-
me object Of interest he had been
short time before, end. as ihe wedding
dag drew nearer. De proved himself so
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