Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-03-13
MA 7:
By Mrs. Fannie H. Gallagher.

There he lay in the barn-loft, on
the hay; the whites of his eyes were
an ne could see at first in the dark
nezs- zfterward the light of our lamp
xkosed. a dusky face framed by a
1nxkier mass of woolly hair.
What are you doing here, sir?'
asked mother.
lis a good place to sleep, MISS,
and hadn't no better, so thought
I'd turn In"
This was our. first introduction to
Ext-
Emma Lawrence, our next door
Bighbor, was sitting on the front
steps with me, on this particular eve
ming, when we were Joined by Mr..
Perkins, the young gentleman oppo-
saxe- Our conversation was suddenly
xnserrupted by Nora, our maid-of-all-
work, her eyes distended, her face
uke marble.
Sure, ma'am, we'll be robbed and
mMdered In our beds, for there's a
Hzn out in the loft-a live man! !
9g him with my own eyes!"
g "A man in the loft? And what were
ysu doing there, to find him?"
zzked, incredulously.
Il was after givin' Mollie bit Of
Azy, ma'am. and a pail of water; for
fhe pretty creature hadn't a wisp of
ne one nor a drop of the other in her
s1alL But the soul was night fright
aned out Of me, for what should |
ne. when l planted my two feet up
an the loft, but a mana live man
hiding in the hay! And he's there
This blessed minute. ma'am, for /
licked him in myself"
what shall we do?" | asked, In
dismay. Father and Brother John
are out of town, and there is not a
nan about the house but yourself, Mr..
Perkins, would you dare to face the
G.emy with only a force Of women to
helD your
-Dare?" he. repeated, assuming an
xir of'high tragedy:
Come Roderick Dhu
And Of his clan the boldest two,
I'll write the falsehood on his crest!
What shall l do to prove my cour-
age.''
Take the lamp and go ahead; En-
ma and I viii follow with Nora"
SEEKING umbrellas and canes as we
passed the hat rack, we hurried across
the yard to the barn, which We found
securely locked, as Nora had said.
Our courage held out till we
climbed the loft; then Emma and I
1egan to tremble, and even our va
Hant leader seemed to hesitate lit
Gle.
Are you afraid?" l asked. in
stage whisper.
An emphatic shake Of the head was
HIS only answer, for we were quite at
NE top Of the stairs now. He raised
the lamp high, and we looked about
- The pickering light at first
Showed only great rafters festooned
With cobwebs; but at length we caught
sight Of the dusky face of Nat, who
Iy nearly hidden from sight on a
great pile of hay, and covered with
'ths fragments Of an old rug. How
4he whites of his eyes did shine In the
Gloom, No wonder Mr.. Perkins nearly
dropped the lamp.
-Wky. bless mel" said mother, just
appearing on the scene. 81 do believe
n Is the very hoy | hired this morn
ing to tend Mollie and keep the yard
In order. He was to begin work to-
MORROW. How came you here. sir?"
she asked, turning to Nat, who by
this time was sitting upright, rubbing
His sleepy eyes.
Its a good place to sleep, missis.
and I hadn't no better, so thought
I'D turn in!"
Really, mother was in quandary.
Che could not turn the POOR fellow in
90 the street at O'Clock at night, but
Emx.s words, robbed and murdered
In our BEDS" would come into her
mind, as the young woman had not
Jailed to suggest that possibility to her
ss wei as to us. At length. it was
decided that he might finish his nap
On the hay, II he would consent to be
Hooked In.
And so Nat became member of
our family, newer of wood and a
drawer of water. Mollie's guardian
and mothers man-of-all-work. A lit
tie room was fitted up for him over
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
Hes glossy hide free from a speck Of
dust. Even father and brother John
had. for the first month, no fault to
sind with our dusky friend.
But Mats moral character was at
this time quite as commendable, in
mothers opinion, as the work of his
hands.
NAT asked me for a Testament this
Dorning; do believe he is getting in
-tEested," she remarked one day.
The next week she was still more
pleased.
Nat showed me a letter he had
written to his old mother. suppose
yUu girls would have laughed at it.
for he had copied the Ten Command
ments and a whole page from Eze-
kieI; but It shows his reverence for
fhc Bible and his love for his moth
M."
After time, however, some of Mats
nfher characteristics began To annear