Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-09-25
CHAPTER vI-Contlnued.

It plagued" the others, however, 10
see that none of them could get aheao
of Blossy In their noble endeavors 10
make Abraham feel himself light and
welcome burden. She 1t was who dis
covered that Abe's contentment could
not be absolute without griddlecakes
for breakfast three hundred and sixty
five times q year; she it was who nrst
baked him little saucer cakes and pies
because he was partial to edges: and
Blossy 1t was who made out a list OF
"Don'ts" for the sisters to follow In
their treatment of this grown-up
young-old boy.
Don't scold him when he leaves
the doors open. Don't tell him to wipe
his feet. Don't ever mention gold
mines or shiftless husbands" etc., etc.
All these triumphs of Blossy's In
tuition served naturally to spur the
others on to do even more for Brother
Abe than they had already done, until
the old man began to worry for fear
that he should git split" When he
lay down for his afternoon nap and
the house was dull and quiet without
his waking presence, the ladies would
gather in groups outside his door az II
in q kings antechamber, waiting for
him to awaken. saying to one another
ever and again. "Sh. sh!" He pro-
fessed to scoff at the attentions he
received. would grunt and growl
"Humbug!" yet nevertheless he
thrived In this latterday sunlight. His
old bones took on flesh. His aged
kindly face, Ill scanned with care a.
It had been, filed out, the wrinkles
turning into wrinkles. Abraham had
grown young again. With the return
of his youth came the spirit of youth
to the Old Ladies' home. Verify, yer
lily, - Blossy had avowed from the
first, they had been In sore need Of
the masculine presence. The ancient
coat and hat, which had hung In thu
hall 90 long. had perhaps served it
purpose In keeping the burglars away
but this nfeless substitute had no
prevented the Grabbed gnomes of lone
liness and discomfort from stealing in
spinster. wife and widow, they hat
every one been warped by the test!
jest-so-ness of the old maid.
Now, instead of fretful discussion,
Of health and food, recriminations an,
wrangling. there came to be laughte
and good-humored chatter all the da,
long. each sister striving with al he
strength to preserve the new-foun
harmony Of the home There wer
musical evenings. when Miss Abigail
opened the melodeon and played "Ol
Hundred" and Abraham was encoul
aged to pick out with one stiff for,
finger my Grandfather Clock.
Hymn tunes were sung In chorus
and then. In answer to Abe's apes
for something livelier, there cam
ume-tried dittiss and old, old Low
songA And at last one night, afte
leaving the instrument silent, mute /
the corner or the parlor for man
years. Aunt Nancy Smith dragged o,
her harp. and, seating herself, reache
out her knotted. trembling hands an
brought forth what seemed the We,
echo, % faint and faltering 1t was,
Douglas. Douglas. Tender and True
There was q long silence after 81
had finished. her head bowed on b,
chest. her hands dropped to her side
Abraham spoke first. clearing b
throat before he could make the wor,
come.
Il wish I could git q husband Z
every one Of YER" said he.
And no one was angry. and NO OF
laughed: for they all knew that
was only seeking to express the me
sage conveyed by Nancy's playing
the message Of love. love triumphar
which cannot age, which over Il
years and over death itself alwa
hath the victory.