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THANKSGIVING.'
Upon the frozen, fruitless ground,
Above a treasure he had found,
A robin sang;
Sucii rapture swelled his tender throat
The dull air quivered with his note;
The silence rang
With melody so high and long
He seemed to be incarnate song;
He seemed to thirst—
So tame ho was as I drew near—
That all the heavens and earth should hear
The grateful burst.
No alderman at turtle feast
Nor hungry man o’er smoking beast
Such bliss could know';.
No parching traveler on the sand,
Discovering w ater near at hand.
More joy could show.
No juicy fruit nor dainties ripe
Had thus attuned his little pipe
To thank the Lord;
Twas but a bunch of withered berries ’
Dr uimutritious, starveling cherries
That spread his board!
That robin’s rapturous merriment
Exposed man’s selfish discontent
In its true feature;
That day a sermon rare and good
Was preached in aisle of somber wood
By feathered creature.
And often when I bow my head
In thankfulness for bounties spread
And look on high,
I walk once more as in my youth
Aud hear again in very truth
That robin’s cry.
—Irving Browne.
THANKSGIVING.
ITTLE Kate Weaver
1 walk «d wearily
U. through the rich light
rS | of a November sunset
jn with a basket of chest
nuts on her arm. She
had been gathering
them, with the as
sistance of Dick Burns, the blacksmith’s
boy, for the morrow evening, for every
thing eatable or drinkable which was con
sidered “good” would he pressed into
service through the hours of the Thanks
giving now so near at hand.
Throughout the year the inhabitants
of Rush top were, as a general thing,
plain livers, but on Thanksgiving Days
they stuffed themselves as they did their
poultry. And so Kate Weaver hoped to
sell her nuts.
At home—her home—there was to be
na Thanksgiving Day kept. That is, re
garding it as a feast. Kate had a vague
hope that if the nuts sold well she would
have a “cup of tea and some baker’s
gingernuts for supper.” But, after all,
almost every one had nuts already, so the
sale was slow. A pint to a greedy child
cents’ worth an old woman, who
by herself in almost as poor a little
house as that Kate lived iu—and here it
was sunset, and not nuts enough to pay
the labor yet sold, It would have
been better to have gone out sewing.
Kate was worn and weary and always
timid; she shrank from approaching the
door of the “hotel”—dubbed thus by the
landlord. It was “the tavern” elsewhere.
But the remembrance of her sick sister's
pinched, paleface arose before her. The
tea aud the baker’s cake and the little
bowl of arrowroot would do her so much
good.
She put her face iu at the open door
and said timidly:
“Chestnuts, sir?”
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Aud a man in a blue jacket, who
stood at the bar, turned.
“Nuts, eh?" he cried. “Well, I’m
your man. How much are they, lass?”
Kate answered the price by the pint.
“Hang pints!” said the man. “I'll
take the whole mess. Steer this way,
my lass, and pitch your basket full over
board into this handkercher, aud there’s
two dollars for yo«. v
“They are not worth that much, sir,’’
said Kate.
“Bother!" said the man. “Why, a
marine wouldn’t take change from a lass
like you, Thanksgivin’ eve. Keep it,
Lord Ipve ye. Only I’d like a buss from
them red lips into the bargain."
Kate retreated hastily. The man was
plainly tipsy, and she was a little afraid,
But she was thankful in spite of all. At
her poor seamstress work she earned so
little the money seemed a great deal. It
SCHLEY COUNTY NEWS.
was a perfect Godsend to her. Shehur
ried along the street to the grocer’s and
walked in as a new-made millionaire
might.
“A quarter of green tea and a pound
of sugar,” she said with an air, wonder
ing whether a pound of ham would be
an extravagance, “And a paper of ar
rowroot if you please.”
The grocer took the small order with
a nod and answered: “In a minute,”
and Kate looked about her. The shop
glistened with its Thanksgiving dressing
up. The tea-caddies, with their gilt
mandarines, the Chinese ladies, were
splendid objects. The gas was turned
Oil in every burner. Pyramids of apples,
clusters of raisins and piles of almonds
decked the window, and for the first
time in a long while she was absolutely
to have a share in the good things on ex
hibition.
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She felt almost happy. Who kuew
but a “streak of luck” might come, and
she should be rich some day.
The clerk was ready for her now. XJe
put her tea in white paper, her sugar in
brown and dabbed the paper of arrow
root on the counter with a “there you
are.”
“Anything more, miss?” he asked, and
growing quite extravagant, said:
ii i Yes, a candle and two of these large
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Then she proffered her two dollar bill.
young fellow looked at it and
whistled.
“This is vour little game, eh?” he
“'Twon’t do with us. If you
warn’t a gal, I’d call the police. Don’t ;
it agin, I warn you?”
“Try what—what is it?” asked Kate,
“As if you didn’t know it was coun
cried the man. “Come, don’t
innocent. There’s the door. Why,
a blind man couldn’t he took in by that
lie tossed the bill, all crumpled up, to
her and took away her purchases.
Kate understood what was the matter.
"I did not know it was bad. It was
given to mo in payment for some nuts,"
said Kate. “The man will change it, I
am sure. „
“You’d better trv,” , „ said ., the ,, clerk, , .
sneeringly, . . and . Kate -.j- , ran out , of , the ,, store .
and back to the tavern, , but . the ,, man was
Only , the ,, i landlord there. TT He
gone. was
sympathized. t, ., . ,
“I in sorry, „ ’ , he said. ., “I wish I d had
a look at it. Poor thing. ... It’s T ,, too , , bad. ,
He IT , s a regular , rascal, , t) I’ve no aoubt. j i ,
You ought ,. to , , be careful , , about . , i bills,
There » .lot of bud ones gomg. . „
And with this end to her day s work and
. . work, . ,, Kate , crept back to , her
evening s
siek sister and the wretched meal of dry
bread.
“Not even Thanksgiving could bring any
good to her,” she thought, and she could
not sleep, but sat with her face pressed
against the glass, thinking of the past
and of the future. The last was dark,
but she had been happy once—very hap
py. They had had a home and she had
been its pet, its best beloved. She had
worn pretty dresses, and had never
known the want of any luxury. And
then, too, in those bright days of her
seventeenth year, she had had a lover.
Still, through all her poverty she had
kept his ring on her finger, and his mem
ory at her heart. Poor Charlie Nichols!
He was drowned at sea on that first voy
age—for the ship was never heard of
from the time it left the dock. He was
dead, aud so were all the rest—mother
and father, and boy brother—only her
sick sister and herself were left upon the
earth.
The tears fell fast upon her clasped
hands. “Thanksgiving! How could
they give thanks?”
She was only twenty now, yet life was
quite over. Nothing could ever come to
her hut woe. Even the humble feast she
had hoped for so, little as it was, had
been snatched from their lips. Oh, the
cruel man! the cruel man 1 did he know
how poor they were? And at last, ill
with weeping, she crept into the wretched
bed and slept.
And, perhaps because she was hungry,
>die. dreamt all night of Thanksgiving
feasts and merry-making, and music and
dancing, and smiling faces and love
greetings.
And out of it she awoke to the con
ciousness of her misery.
‘ ‘Thanksgiving Day. Oh, Carrie,
•what have we to be thankful for?” she
asked.
But the sick girl answered, humbly:
“A great deal, if we will only try to
think so. God is good to us all. IIow
many are worse off than we?”
Kate shook her head. She could not
feel that this was so. And she heard
the church hells ring, with thoughts
she would not have put into words for
the world—despairing, wretched, almost
wicked thoughts. Why should God give
all good to others and so much woe to
them?
*
At the same hour a sailor tumbled out
of his berth on board the steamship
Rising Wave, and rolled into the Cap
tain’s presence as speedily as possible.
“I’d like to go ashore this morning,
Cappen,” he said.
“You were ashore,” said the Captain,
“yesterday.”
“I know it,” said the sailor, “But,
ye see, I cheated a girl out of $2, and I
ain’t easy in my mind. That is how
’twas, Cappen. I'd been drinking too
much—”
“Leave you alone for that,” said the
Captain.
“That's the truth,” said the sailor,
“and I was in a tavern along with Sam
and Bill, and two more mates, when in
came a gal with nuts. I bought ’em,
and b y accident, Cappeu, I gave her a
bad bbb Where I board they gave it
to me, and won’t take it back. I found
out arter I was aboard that I’d give it to
the gal, and I can't sail leaving a thief’s
name ashore.”
The Captain smiled and gave Tom
leave to go.
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And 50 “ chanoc<1 that - “ werc
1,orae to dinncr from c > mrci ’ and
Kat0 " as hcr llcad beside ‘k*
empty hearth, a knock came at the door,
aud . it, ., she , sailor.
opening saw a
“Youre „ , the . lass!” ....... he cried. “Yes,
your J the lass. I asked for ye J at the
tavern, ’ and they J sent me here. I didn , t
mean to cheat ye. J I hope you and , the ,
other young women know that. , Here , T • s
a good , bill, ... and . Ill T „. burn . the , other ,. to
, mistakes, . for there gettiu’ . , it .
save ’ s no
off on them that w gave it.
Then he stared ThanksgiJ at the empty fire-place.
• Ain s> he
said to himself. . “I m afraid they re in
wa ^’’ then ^ cyg wcnt roving around
th e room and lit upon a tiny daguerreo
type upon a shelf
“Is that one of you, miss?” he asked.
“Y r es, I see it is—and might I be bold
enough to ask your name? ’Tain t im
pudence—I’ve a reason.”
Kate gave her name.
“It’s the same,” said the man. “See
here, miss, do you know Captain Nichols
—Captain Charles Nichols—that went to
sea before the mast four years ago?”
Kate screamed and clasped her hands.
“I see you do,” he said, “and I’ve got
news to tell him that’ll make his heart
glad. He’s been searching for you for
months. In every town we've been in,
he’s looked for you up and down, and
high and low, aud I’ve helped him, and
only yesterday he says to me:
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“ ‘Tom, it's no use. I’ll never find
her. She's dead or married—and lost to
me forever.’
“And the tears were in the Cappen’s
eyes when he said so. Don’t keel over,
miss - . Have a drop out o’ my flask. I
say, young lady in the arm-chair, what
shall I do with her?”
And Tom was in a dilemma, for Kate
had fainted.
But it was joy and not grief that over
came her, for she knew that her Thanks
giving Day had dawned at last.
And before the actual day was over
Kate was clasped in her lover’s arms,and
Carrie had felt a brother's kiss upon her
lips, and not only had the greatest grief
and trial of Kate's life happiness ended
with her lover’s return, but want and
poverty were over for them forever.
And in the care and comfort of her
sister's married home, roses returned to
Carrie's cheeks, and two happier women
are not to be found under the sun.
Suggestions for Thanksgiving Day.
Remember that as your thankfulness is
largely measured by the quantities of
Thanksgiving fare you consume, you
should
Eat heartily of turkey
And much appetite evince
When you tackle chestnut stuffing
And the pie that’s made of mince.
As all the houses of worship will be
open upon this day of gratitude, it is
well to note that
It isn’t right to leave the
Gentle clergy in the lurch;
So have your wife and children
Represent you in the church.
And while they are there see to it that
they show that you do not forget the
poor. To accomplish this you must take
care
That when they start for service
They are furnished well with tin
So that when the plate is passed them
They may drop a nickel in.
Iu the midst of your pleasures do not
entirely forget business. Remember that
this is the time of the year to buy your
winter’s coal, and
When you go about it, see
You surely lay enough in,
For if you don’t you’ll suffer like
The shivering ragamuffin.
And while your mind is on business
bent, do not forget that Christmas comes
around almost on the heels of Thanksgiv
ing, and that, as the father of a family,
it behooveth you
To rake and scrape your dividends
And place them under lock,
So that you’ll have the wherewithal
To fill the baby’s sock.
In conclusion we have only to say that
that there can be no reason for doubt
That wise and reasonable men
Will find it safe to bet,
If they but follow out our hints,
That they’ll be happy yet.
—iVeiu York Sun.
The Day After Thanksgiving.
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YIrs. Gobbler—“These look like the
remains of my old man.”
How the Day Was Established.
Mrs- Sarah .T. Hale, who was for many
years editor of Godey't Ladies' Bool ;, is
credited with the establishment of the
National Thanksgiving day. She began
as far back as 1841, writing to the Gover
nors of the States, urging them to issue
Thanksgiving proclamations, until in
1859 the day was observed in all the
States but two. President Lincoln is
sued the first National Thanksgiving pro
clamation after the fall of Vicksburg, the
day set apart being August fi, ISCIJ.
Since that time the Presidents have ap
pointed the last Thursday of November
as the National Thanksgiving Day.
An Informal Repast.
“I suppose,” said Mrs. Brown, “you
would like me to wear a new dress at this
Thanksgiving dinner you are gomg to
give?”
“Can't afford it,” growled old Brown.
“As long as you have the turkey well
dressed you will pass muster."
Don't count your turkey before it is
carved, for it may go back oa you.
Hands.
Two dimpled hands
Outstretched in (jlee,
As pink and as white
As shells of the -oa!
Oh, softiy caress them
Aud well, for I wish
That such tiny hands
Were made to kiss!
Two slender hands
All dazzling with gems _
As soft and as whit»
As lilies on then’ stsms,
O, lovingly clasp them
And kiss—for 1 ween
That such dainty hands
Thou never hast seen.
Two toil-worn hands
On a pulseless t>r asi
So hard and so brown—
Tired hands now at rest!
O, reverently fold them,
For she’s gono to stay
Where the weary old hands
Ar at rest ter aye.
—Avgusta Wall in Atlanta Constitution,
HUMOROUS.
The path of duty—Through the cus.
tom house.
Speaking about “cotton bagging” is
it at the knees.
When a mustard plaster sets up j n
business it generally Jiai the drawing
room all to itself.
The world may owe you a livin
but no bad debt agency will undertake
to collect it for you.
She—And will you always love me?
All the live-long day? He—Ye-e-s, I
think so. You’ll give me a chance to
stop for meals, I suppose?
Editor—“I cannot think and use the
type-writer at the same time." Rival
Editor—“Then you find the type-writer
no better than the pen.”
Mrs. Smithingtou—Oh! Mr. Tibkin,
you are always so kind m coming to see
me off. Little Tibkin—Not at all; it
is always such a pleasure.
“Healthy iu our town? I should
think so! We have had only one funer
al for ten years, and that was the doc
tor, who literally starved to death."
Johukin—1 hear you belong to an ac
cident insurance society? Tomkin—
Y"es, I joined over six months ago, aud
deuce take it, 1 havn't got hurt yet.
The man who tries to study out a
knitting work pattern in the household
magazine knows about how a woman
feeh when she is trying to understand a
printed base ball score.
There are no less than 857 different
terms in the English language which
express the state of being in love, and
the sweet young authoress of the glow
ing society novel utilizes them all.
“Take her, my son, and be happy,”
said the fond father, with a paternal
smile. < l Oh, yes, I’d take her, 1 ’ said
the overjoyed, but philosophical young
man, “and I’ve no doubt,” he added
with a sigh, “that we shall be happy—
for a while.”
Houses Used as Fuel.
The people of Central and Northern
Iowa will long remember the horrible
winter of 1872-73, when there was
such dire suffering anting them from
the unprecedented cold. I was in that
country then, and 1 have a very vivid
recollection of the rigors of that season.
I was living at the town of Adel, Dal
las County. The country is railroaded
now, and it will never be possible for
such scenes to be witnessed there again.
Those days there were no railroads, pa 8
senger transportation being by stage.
During the winter the cold was so -e
vere that quite a number of stage driv
ers were frozen to death. In Adel there
was a famine ot fuel, and it became a
serious question what the pople would
do. After all the coal and wood was
gone resort was had to corn in the ear,
which cost seven cents a bushel. D
looked sinful to me to see such a valua
ble food product blazing in the fires,
but there was no help for it. Coon
River, whence wood was usually brought
to Adel, was forty miles away, and the
trip was question in the pre
vailing temperature. Pretty soon, how
ever, another difficulty arose. The corn
was gone. Then in their extremity the
people began burning i licit- houses.
This was done by lot. For instance,
my next neighbor and ] drew lots t0
see whose house should be burned.
lost, and so wo dismantled his house
for fuel, while he and his family moved
into my house with me. [f 1 had 1°*‘
the rule would have worked the other
way. 1 don’t want any more lows
weather, Missouri is good enough a 111 *
amply cold for me. —Bhi(addvh^
Record.