Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-03-13

the new broom order, mother" re-
marked the head of the house one day.
Things are not so spick-and-span as
they were. | stumbled over the gar
den shears this morning-just where
he dropped them last night, suppose
and Mollie's name looks as though
she had gone hay hunting for herself,
poor little pony!"
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"
The barn was searched, the shed,
the cellar, but to no purpose; and we
had to conclude either that the hose
had wiggled itself out of the yard or
been helped off 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 off 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 all right;
but | kinder thought l heard a boy
scud round de corner as l was COM
ing back, and sure enough-de whip
was gone"
Il do not believe word about the
boys" said mother, more severely
than she had spoken before to her
dusky 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 chair on the piaz-
"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
Careless! don't believe a word
Of it," said brother John, looking up
from his paper. "He is a lazy, good
for-nothing fellow, mother; and, more
than that, I 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 l found in
the barn? He has not had cent for
month, you know as well as /, for
father advanced him money weeks
ago to get that coat he wears. | be-
lieve he has traded off the hose and
the whips, too. or sold them. Just let
me catch him touching a thing of
minei"
But, while mother would find fault
with Nat herself, she would allow no
one else to; so she quoted a verse
about charity" to John, and went
off to her own room. In few weeks.
Sister Kate was to be married, and
the usual hustle of preparation so
filled our minds that Nat ceased to be
the object of interest he had been
short time before; and, as the wedding
day drew nearer. he proved himself so
useful in many ways that we quite for
got our fears and acknowledged him
a very necessary member of the fam
lily.
Uncle Joe, our bachelor uncle, was
to perform the ceremony. Very par
ticular about his dress he was, and
the week before the wedding, carried
his vest to the laundry, saying. with
twinkle in his eye, to the proprie-
tor of that institution:
See here, my friend; | am going
to marry lady next week, and l want
this vest on that occasion. You just
see that it shines, will your"
THAT | will, sir. and long life and
prosperity to yourself and the lady,
SIR" said the man, touching his hat.
With great satisfaction, Uncle Joe
surveyed his vest on its return from
the laundry. calling Kate in as she
passed his door:
'I1l be such handsome man when
get myself up in that vest, that
you'll wish you had taken me instead
of Harry"
Judge of our surprise and dismay,
when. in the general confusion that
accompanies a morning wedding, I'm
Gle Joe's voice was heard anxiously
calling:
Eliza, Sister Eliza, Have you seen
anything of my white vest? | put 1t
here in this drawer, and 1t Is gone!"
1T cannot be possible, joe" said
mother. hurriyng in, best cap in hand.
you've forgotten where you put 1t"
I'm not so old that I've lost my
memory. replied he. little testify.
for his good humor was being severe
ly tried. please look yourself; may
be you'll have better luck"
In vain mother searched through
drawers and trunks till she was out
of breath; the vest was not to be
found.
Father offered his very best one,
but. Uncle Joe shook his head.
Mine is the latest cut-just your
style, uncle" urged John; but 1t was
OF no use.
Arraying himself in his ordinary
black vest, Uncle Joe whispered
through Hates key hole:
Il think. after all, you'd better take
Harry: for all my glory is departed
the white vest is no more!"
To Nat was assigned the important
position of doorkeeper. and he per-
f0rp,ad hic drtiac In most ma sfar.y