The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-04-05
CHAPTER K.
a PARTY and-My Fourth Peril?

y
faded but sacred Implement always
carefully dried. after using, and hung
in the clothes press. We were drenched
to the skin in spite of the umbrella.
Ii was still raining when we arrived
at the familiar door in Ashery lane.
Uncle Peabody wouldn't stop.
He hurried away. We pioneers rare
Nv stopped or even turned out for the
weather.
Come in" said the voice of the
schoOlmaster ut the door. There's
good weather under this roof"
He saw my plight as | entered.
I'm like shaggy dog that's been
in swimming" | said.
Upon my word, hoy, were in luck
remarked the schoolmaster
looked up at him.
Michael Henry'S clothes sure
they're Just the thing for YOU
I followed him upstairs. wondering
how il had happened that Michaei
Henry had clothes.
He took me into his room ana
brought some handsome, soft clothes
out of a press with shirt, socks ana
boots to match.
"There, my laddie buck" said he'
put them on"
"These will soon dry on me-" | said.
PUT them On-ye laggard! Mlchaei
Henry told me to give them to you.
It's the birthday night o little Ruth.
nv boy. There's big cake with can
dies and chicken pie and jellied COOK
! les and all the like o that. Put them
on. A wet boy ut the feast would
! dampen the whole proceedings.
| put them on and with great
sense of relief and comfort. lhey
were an admirable fit-tOo perfect lor
an accident, although ut the time l
thought only of their grandeur as
stood surveying myself in the looking
glass. They were of blue cloth ana
saw that they went well with my
blond hair and light skin. was put
ting on my collar and necktie when
Mr.. Hacket returned.
We went below and the table was
very grand with its great frosted CAKE
and it's candles, in shiny brass SUCKS
and its jellies and preserves with the
CLEAN of polished pewter among them
Mrs. Hacket and all the children, save
Ruth, were waiting for us in the din
ing room.
Now sit down here, all o We, will
Michael Henry" said the schoolmas
ter. 1.-The little lady will be impatient
I'll go and get her and God help us t
make her remember the day"
He was gone a moment, only, whel
he came back with Ruth in Lowell.
white dress and slippers and gay witt
ribbons, and the silver beads of Mar
on her neck. We clapped our hand
and cheered and, in the excitement
the moment, John tipped over hi
drinking glass and shattered 1t o.
the floor.
"Never mind, my brave lad-no glas
. ever persisted in better cause. Go
bless you"
We ate and TESTED and talked, an
' the sound of our laughter browne
! the cry of the wind I'm the chime
and the drumming of the rain upo
. the windows.
Next morning my clothes. which ha
been hung by the kitchen stove, wer
. damp and wrinkled. Mr.. Hacket cam
to my room before / had risen.
michael Henry would rather sc
his clothes hanging on a good be
/. than on a nail in the closet said h
, "Sure they give 30 comfort to ii
nail at ALI"
: IL guess mine are dry now" l al
a swered.
They're wet and heavy, boy. \
:, son o. Baldur could keep light hea
u in them. Sure ye'd be as much OF
: O. place as a sunbeam in n cave
8 bats. If We care not for your ow
a comfort think o. the poor lad in Il
u green chair. He's that proud az
pleased to see them on We it would
shame To reject his offer. Sure,
3 they were dry yer own carmen
K would be good enough, God know
g but Michael Henry loves the look
q ye- in these toys, and then the pres
! dent is in town."
That evening he discovered a b
u stain, black as ink, on my coat al
" trousers. Mr.. Hacket expressed Il
opinion that 1t might have come fro
a the umbrella, but | am quite sure tn
- he had spotted them TO save me fro
the last homemade suit | ever wor
" save in rough work. and keep Micha
l. Henry's on my back. In any event
I, wore them no more save at chore tin
Is Sally came and went, with the Wi
10 boy, and gave no heed to me. In h
II eyes | had no more substance tn;
le u ghost, it seemed to me. although
le caught her. often, looking ut me.
judged that her father had given h
bad report of us and had some
al grets, In spite of my knowledge tn
e we were right, although they relat
IN mostly to Amos.
.ls Next afternoon l saw Mr.. WriG
Y. and the president walking back a
forth on the bridge as they talk
together. a number of men stood
front of the blacksmith shop. by (
river shore, watching them, as
passed, on my way to the mill on
III errand. The two statesmen were
| broadcloth and white linen and beav
II hats. They stopped as | approach
! them.
" "Well. partner, we shall be leavi
- In an hour or So" said Mr.. Wright