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About Plattsmouth weekly journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1881-1901 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1894)
i ' ,0 A. AC v MANKS6IVIN6 HANKSGIVT NG! Thanksg ivi ng! Of yore. In the youth of the nation. When the harvest had yielded Its store There was feast and oblation. Or when danger bad lifted its hand. From the lips of the liviris There rang through the length of the land A Thanksgiving : Thanksgiving ! Out home was a wilderness then With the Goods to enfold It: To-day with its million) of men. We rejoice to behold it. From the sea to the surge of the sea. We have all for a treasure: We are blest in the promised to-be In a manifold measure. War flaunts not a red pennon bow. For the olive is regal: LTke birds that are twin, on one bough Sit the dove and the eagle. The clash of the conflict that cleft We in sorrow rememter. Bet the Ore of the great feud has left In the ash scarce an ember. For the fruit of the time of our toll: For whate'er we have fought for; Whether born of the brain or the soil be the meed we have sought for: For the gifts we have had from His hand Who is Lord of all living. Let there ring through the length of the Land A Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving: Clinton Scollard, in Ladies' Home Journal. ,1 !!..! HANKS GIVING morn ing dawned bright and cold JljH t25' S JA on the town of Marysville. Old Sol had scarcely be enn his daily migration toward th west ere a number of schoolboys had fathered at the millpond to see if the Ice was strong enough for skating-. To their great delight it proved to be err firm. My. won't it be fnn, boys?" said Hal Anderson, as he took a long1 6lide, both arms extended. . Wish I had my skates here now aaid Jack Davton. "I'd go without breakfast" "Aw, no, you wouldn't. Jack. You can't make us believe that you would miss anything to eat." said another boy. "Well, I'd maka it up at Thanksgiv ing dinner, if 1 did," said Jack, gradu ally. "Anyhow, I'm coming down right after breakfast, and if you fel lows will all come, too, we'll have a fame of 'prison croaL' What do ycu aay?" "Well be here." was the universal reply, and away went the boys to eat breakfast and spread the pood news that there was skating' on the pond. Jack imparted the news at the breakfast table, whereat his sister Irma, aged eighteen and very pretty. clapped her hands and exclaimed: "Oh, jolly: I m so glad 1 haa my skates sharpened last week. Every bodv will be out, either skating or looking1 on, and we'll all comi home with such appetites! I just know that Jack will eat all that chicken pie that I made." "I'll leave a piece of the crust for tou. Irma." said Jack. "I'm croinjr down to the poad right after break fast. When can you come?" "Oh. I Suppose I'll have to go to church aDd help sustain the family reputation. Jack Davton. Of course fourteen-year old boysdon't know any thing about such responsibilities. But I wonder if I could carry my skates to church with me? I guess I ean hide them under my cloak." "Or put 'em on and skate up the aisle with 'em," Jack irreverently sug gested. Irma deigned not to notice this fling, but continued: "I do hope Mr. Miller will preach dreadfully short sermon. That will be one thing to be thankful for." "Well, you'd better skip church and come out for a game with the boys.' "Mr. Dayton, I'm a young lady, if you please, and I don t play with little boys." replied Irma, with a mock bow. "Oh! Ah! nas Mr. Archibald Hen dricks been putting such notions into your head?" "No, he hasn't," she responded, with a sudden blush, and to hide her con fusion she jumped up and ran into the kitchen. Skates over his shoulder, Jack wen out the door with an Indian war whoop and was soon hard at play with his comrades on the pond. The village choir that day outdid it self upon the anthem, which in length and volume surpassed even the utmost anticipations of the congregation. The songsters left a small margin for the sermon, which was of moderate length only. Irma's thoughts were busy with other subjects than Bible texts, how ever. She had noticed Archie Hen dricks come in and take a seat on the other 6ide of the church, and f he felt that he was watchintr her. Just in front of her sat Keith Walters and hi mother. Keith had been away to col lege. He was a fine, manly fellow. . v I I and a great favorite. The Walters and Dayton families i had lor:g been on the best of terms, so rma felt free to greet Keith ery cordially at the close of the service. "College seems to agree with you. Keith," said Irma, after the first greet ing was over. 'Indeed it does especially the jun ior work. Oh, Irma. you ought to be a college girl you'll never know what fun Is until you are." "Oh. pshaw, Keith! I'm going to have some fun this very day. See my skates?" And Irma disclosed them underneath her cloak. "I'm going out to the millpond. Won't you come. too?" "Delighted! Onlv I must go home for my runners; didn't know there was skating. I guess mother will let me go won't you, mother?" "Ye-s, my boy but don't venture where the ice is nnsafe. It's early in the season, yon know." "No fear of my getting drowned if Irma will only take care of me," said Keith gayly. He left Irma at the church door. after securing from her the promise of the first skate. "Yes. if you'll hurry," said Irma. Then turning, she saw Archie Hen dricks at her elbow. She bowed calmly, but her brother's taunt of the morning still tingled in her ears, and she was not inclined to be as gracious as usual to her old friend. Archie Hendricks was a sterling youth physically, morally and finan cially. He was junior partner in the firm of Hendricks & Son, iron found ers. Many a doting .Jlarvsville mother had him in her mind as a prospective son-in-law. By nature reserved, he seldom courted the society of the gentler sex. and, although he was a frequent caller at the Dayton home stead, he never paid marked attention to Irma. However, Irma's secret ad miration for him was great, and Archie, from admiring her beauty and unaf fected brightness, was drifting into a deeper feeling, which he apparently did not care to check. The cordial greeting between Keith and Irma had nettled Archie, he knew not why. So his manner was cool when he lifted his hat and said: Off to the pond?" "Yes; they say the skating is splen did. Are yoM going?" "I think I shall, as soon as I can get r i.r- :. x: - - '1-2?af$A. $Wrrfw' a,- 7-eTtf..s--5rvs53 Lt Li' r j tM5-"C s. X J HE BLIP THEM ACROSS THE ICZ TO HER. my skates. I need some exercise to get up an appetite for that Thanks giving dinner we are to have at home. If you'll wait for me, I'll put on your skates for you." "Oh; thank you, but they go on quite easily. There's Belle Parker. I guess I'll go with her." Archie's first advance had met de cided repulse. He turned on his heel and went after his skates. His next attack, he felt confident would be more successful, for he was a famous skater. The great millpond resounded with the ring of countless steel-shod feet Bright faces and happy voices were there in profusion. Never had the skating been better, the weather finer or the crowd larger. Diamond sparks, cut by keen, swift knives, glistened in the sun as skates fled past Shouts from youngsters playing some exciting game, shrieks and merry laughter from groups of be ginners, gay comments from their more independent companions, the low, musical detonation of the frozen field all went ta make up a scene de lightful and inspiring. It was life, and life in its most favorable aspect a combination of health, happiness and action. When Archie nendricks reached the pond he found Keith Walters putting on 4raa's skates. Archie was jealous. Belle Parker at once became the flattered object of his attentions and he devoted himself to her, although she was but a mediocre skater. Irma was both daring and accom plished in the art and she was the ob ject of many compliments and univer sal admiration from the onlookers. Keith, being a college man, was versed In all the latest figures and fancies of the skater, and he found Irma an apt scholar. They crossed the pond with the "Dutch roll" in a most finished man ner. They "cut the grapevine," trellis and all; they skated alternately back ward and forward, but the admiration of the spectators knew no bounds when the graceful pair "did the Mercury," that difficult figure that must be done well if done at alL Archie soon found excuse for relin quishing Belle Parker, who was not his ideal of a skater belle. The only girl he cared to skate with was mo nopolized by Keith Walters. Archie was aggravated. Once Irma separated from her part ner and skated to the other side of the pond. Archie was about to follow, when her brother Jack took her in hand, and Archie's hopes again were blasted. Archie's mental thermometer now registered one hundred in the shade. He skated fiercely. He performed marvels. He entered a game of "tag" and led the entire horde of boys an ex citing chase before he allowed himself to be caught His flashing steel was never quiet Now it was the "back roll," now the "outer edge." He cut wonderful de vices upon the icy slate, and then ac knowledged them by signing his name with a mighty flourish, which so awed the younger boys that they forgot to skate. Then he wandered off to a deserted part of the pond to brood upon his misery. Keith and Irma, tired of admira tion, had skated up the frozen stream and away from the crowd. "Isn't this great fun?" said Keith. "It's just too splendid for anything, responded Irma, who was wishing, nevertheless, that Archie would ask her to skate. Why was he so stub born? "Irma, can you keep a secret?" said Keith. "Try me." "Well I'm engaged." "Keith Walters, you don't mean it!" "Yes I do. But you're the first Dne I've told." "Oh! Tell me all about it. quick! I'm dying to hear!" "Well, she's a college girl one of my classmates a lovely girL I wish i yon knew her. We are keeping quiet '.; sjT . . . .1 A about it while we are in college, you know." "What is she like? and what's her name? and where is she from? and when will you be married? and who " "Oh, one at a time, now, Irma! You are as bad as a college examination. Let me see she has light wavy hair" "And blue eyes?" "No brown." 'And a soft complexion?" "Peaches and cream." "And a pretty nose?" "Truly Greek." "Tall or short?" "Just the right size." "But you haven't told me lier name yet" "Her name is Nellie Mellie Gray, but I expect that inside of two years it will be Mrs. Keith Walters." Suddenly the skaters noticed that the ice around them was weak. It be gan to bend and crack. "We must get away from this," said Keith. They turned around. That half-stop was fatal. The ice gave way and as Keith pushed Irma from him he went down into the water. Irma screamed. She turned back toward Keith. "Don't come near me! The ice will break with j-ou!" he shouted. Then he tried to get out The ice broke wherever he leaned his weight upon it Irma took off her long fur boa and fhrew one end to him. He caught it and it sustained him. "Call for help, Irma!" Keith was deathly pale and the water was chilling him through. Irma called again. "Can you hold on a minute longer. Keith? , Somebody's coming. That somebody was Archie Hen dricks. He had been near enough to hear Irma's first cry of distress and he was coming now with furious speed. Yet the seconds seemed like hours to the waiting pair. Archie took in the situation at a glance. Without stopping to Bay a word, but shouting: "Hang on'" he sped to the bank and landed, skatea and all, at the nearest fence. It was the work of an instant to tear off two long boards and return to the river. He went as near as he dared to Irma. "The ice won't hold me there," he shouted. "Take these boards and lay them in front of Keith; then pull him up." ne slid the boards across the ice to her. She did as directed. Cheered by Archie's words and aided by Irma and the faithful boa. Keith crawled forth more dead than alive. It did not take long to get him away from the air-hole, and between Irma and Archie he was conveyed quickly to the pond, where there were plenty of wraps to cover him. In spite of Keith's protestations that be was "all right" and "only a little moist," he was bundled off home, looking more like a mummy than a human being. The excitement of the day had culminated with Keith's adventure. Archie and Irma stood talking to gether. "Irma, how did it happen you and Keith got so far away? Didn't either of you think of the danger?" "Oh, Archie, he was telling me all about his ladylove there! I've let out a secret but I know you'll never breathe a word of it will you? Be cause he asked me if I could keep a secret and I told him I thought I couid. So I was asking him questions and I guess we didn't notice where we were. And, oh, Arcnie! if you hadn't come when you did. I just know Keith would have drowned!" "Oh, you would never have allowed him to sink before your eyes. Bat I'm glad it was no worse." "So am I, but j-ou haven't skated with me any to-day, Archie." "Well, it's not too late yet We can take a turn around the pond before dinner time, I guess." And off they went They knew that Keith was well cared for, yet neither spoke for a few moments. Suddenly Archie said: "Irma. a secret is no good unless it's divided, is it?" "I never heard one that was," said the pretty girl, looking up at him. "Well, I'm going to divide mine with you one I've been keeping even closer than Keith kept his, for I have kept i entirely to myself. Do you want to hear it?" "Yes, Archie." "It is this: I am in love." Irma did not reply. She merely looked away. "Do you care to know tne young lady's name?" Irma nodded. "Well, it is Irma Dayton." Irma leaned on his arm without re serve. Arcnie looitea down at ner. "Now, are you going to rescue me. too. on this eventful day? Yes or no?" "Yes, Archie." Nobody was near them. Archie kissed the happy face turned up to his as he said: "Then this will be the happiest of Thanksgiving days!" Keyes Becker, in Chicago News. Onr National Thanksgiving Day. The national observance of Thanks giving day was broujrht about by a woman. Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, of Phila delphia, began about 1S44 to urge. through the magazine of which she had charge, and by personal corre spondence with the governors of states and with presidents of the United States, that Thanksgiving day should be made a national festival, and be held on the 6ame day through out the country. Her suggestion was adopted twenty years later by Presi dent Lincoln, and the observance of Thanksgiving by the nation has now become established. United Presby terian. 3 T . I I v' "Will you take it or have it sent?" Harper's Bazar. ('bum for Tiutnkfnlnesa. An exchange relates this incident of life in an apartment house: Boy Father sent me up to say that he would be very thankful if you wouldn't lay any more carpets to night He can't sleep. New Tenant Go cown and tell your father not to let my hammering pre vent him from feeling thankful. TeU him to be thankful his carpets are laid and. above all. to be thankful he sent you up instead of coming himself. Chicago News. "I dox't see what makes people go to football games on Thanksgiving day." remarked his wife. "It hasn't anything to do with the spirit of the occasion." "Oh, yes, it has," was the reply. "I never went to a football game in my life that I didn't feel tre mendously thankful that I wasn't one of the players." Washington Sta r. Dafid Livingstone, as a .boy, showed all the determination which was afterwards so prominent a feature of his character. FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. WHERE IS OHIO? 'Where is Ohio, children say?" The teacher asked her girls one day. Four little hands Immediately Went up. "I know, said Margery. It's In the east." But Susie Guest Responded: "It is in the west." " Tl south," said May: and nelen Fcrta Was sure that It was " 'way up north." Now Helen lived in Galveston. And little May by Lake Huron. And Margery lived 'way out west. While in New York lived Susie Guetit And so they all were right that day In saying where Ohio lay. Because so much depends, you see. On where the children's homes may be. Anna Temple, in Youth's Companion. ALEXANDER'S HORSE. Xlow th Macedonian King Secured Pos session of Dnrrpbjtlus. Of course every child who goes to school has heard of Alexander the Great And one can hardly think of him without thinking also of his horse, Bucephalus. Perhaps no hprse In the world is so well known, and no other horse's name is so familiar. riutarch, who has told us so many Interesting things about people, says that he received his name because his head resembled that of an ox or be cause he had the mark of an ox's head on his flank or because he had a black mark on his head shaped like an ox's head, the rest of his body being white This shows that in Plutarch's time people cared a great deal to hear about Bucephalus. Alexander obtained him in this way: When he was at home with his father, Philip, king of Macedon. a Thessalian AT.F.XAXDER S HOBSE. brought the horse to the king in hopes to sell him. They tried to show him off to advantage, but he was so wild and unmanageable that, although he was a magnificent looking animal, the king was disgusted with his conduct and ordered him to be taken away. Alexander had taken a great fancy to the horse, so he objected to this. Finally his father offered to buy Bu cephalus if Alexander could ride him. So Alexander, who was not afraid of anything and was used to having his own way, managed to get onto the rear ing, kicking horse, and found that he could manage him. ' He 6uited Bu cephalus as well as Bucephalus suited him, and from that time the two were inseparable. Bucephalus would allow no one but Alexander to mount him. He went with him in all his campaigns. and what a number of things and places that horse saw in Persia and India! He was obliged to enci-e the blazing sun, and often he had t-a go without water, and he had to climb steep moun tains and drag through long, weary marches, and he was wounded in bat tle, and perhaps he wished himself back sometimes in peaceful Thessaly, where he was from. Still, he was taken good care of, for you may be sure that Alexander's fa vorite horse was not neglected. He had plenty of grooms to rub him down at night and to wait upon him, and Alex ander no doubt often fed him with his ewn hands. There are different ac counts of his death, riutarch says that in a great battle with Poms, king of a part of northern India, he received the wounds of which he died. Others say that he died not long after of fatigue, worn out by the crue.1 marches and hard work, and that at his death he was thirty years old. That is very old for a horse. At any rate, he died in that region, for Alexander built city near the river nydpspes. which he called Bucephala in honor of his faith ful horse. The city was in ruins long ago, but Bucephalus is still remembered, and al ways will be as long as history lasts. N. Y. World. THE COMPASS PLANT. retals of Its Metallic Lraves Always Point to the North. Among the many remarkable things in nature there are few more wonder ful than the compass plar.t of our west ern plains. This singular plant ha metallic leaves, and its portals point con btantly to the north. It tan be readily understood, therefore, that these plants have proved, on jaumerous occasions, to be of inestimable benefit to travelers v.lio have stvayed from their camps or companions ud found themselves lost. A traveler cys that, in 1SG0, while he was on his way to the Eocky moun tains by a Wagon train, he and some contpanion-, who had left the camp on a hunt foi antelope, lost their way, upon the sadden approach of the dark. 6tormy niht. They knew that their train was ncamped about ten miles to the northwest of the place where they were. The night was at dark as pitch, and they were beginning to be alarmed, when oae of the party happened to think oj the comr ass plant and its won deiful peculiarity. They at once dis mounted and groped about, until at last one of them found the familiar leaves of the plant. Thr-n they Were able to trrn their horses' hes4s in the right direction to ward t e .-amp, which they reached in about t(v hours, but not until they had dismounted several times to feel among the leaves of their friendly guide to make sure of their course.- Golden Days. w here are you going, my pretty uuiot- I'm going anchestnutting, sir." she said. Mr.y I go with you. my pretty mAld?" "1 jiref or ths kind in the trees." she said, Waahintton Su 5S WISDOM OF GEESE. Tbey Are by N'o lean As Foolish A They Are Represented. Somebody who is indignant that tha name of the goose should be a synonym for folly, has collected stories from all quarters to illustrate the true wisdom and dignity of geese. There are many varieties of wild geese, and whether they are all equally nice and dignified the book does not say. Still it is true that the bird is not a coward, and does not hesitate to attack birds much big ger than himself. The domestic goose is too well known to need a description of his person or habfts, and most of the stories of this historian of geese are so old that you would hardly care to re call them here. One or two stories seem somewhat newer. In Richmond park, in England, where many geese are kept, the nests of the setting geese were often de stroyed by water rats. After consider ation of the matter, the geese began to build nests up in the trees, instead of upon the ground. There they hatched out their families and brought their children not up, but down carefully to the ground, one by one, under their wings. Such inteUigence as this is enough to redeem the name of the goose forever. The goose is certainly a dignified bird in appearance. Whatever the haste of bis gait, even when driven along, he never loses his expression of grandeur and Importance. It could not have been a goose who suggested that he was silly. If you ever looked a goose firmly in the eye, you would know that he was much too proud to imagine such, a thing. SOMETHING ASOUT GOLF. A Scotch Came Which Is Recomlog I'opular In Our Country. The game of golf, which has been played in Scotland for centuries, is now becoming popular in the United States. The object of the game is to knock a ball over a course prepared for the purpose in a less number of strokes than your antagonist. At certain intervals there are holes into which the ball must be knocked. After it has been placed in one of these holes, the player takes it out, and plac ing it upon a little handful of earth, called a "tee," "drives" it in the direc tion of the next hole. The object of a "drive" generally is to send the ball as far as possible. The player rests the weight of the body on the left foot, which is on a line with the ball. The right foot is placed diagonally back of the left et an easy bracing distance. The body is kept stationary and is bent well f orward so that when the ball is struck the hands are a little above and in front of the left knee. The "driver," the club used in making a "drive." is a long, rather flexible stick, much like a whip-stook, except that it is bent upward anj broadened at the end where the ball is struck. The player Bwings this well up over the right shoulder two or three times just to get his hand in and produce an effect, does a little wrist motion to see that the muscles of his fore-arm are all right looks in the di rection of the next hole two or three Mem TWO POSITIONS DT GOLF. times, gets a sure footing and at last makes a stroke, and the little white ball sails off into the air or skims over the ground. Almost every play has to be made with a special "cleek" or instrument adapted for the purpose. There is the "cleek" with a metal point for playing over ordinary ground between holes, the "lofter" for raising the ball over obstacles, otherwise "bunkers" and "hazards," the "putters" for "putting" the ball into a hole at a short distance, and others. The player prep iring for a stroke is said to be "addressing the balL" The grounds where the game is played are called the "links," and the boys who carry the club around for the players are called the "caddies." The game is said to be well adapted for women and girls, though tha most of those who play are men and boys. The accompanying illustration shows two of the positions taken in the game, the left being that known as "address ing the ball," the right preparing for a '"drive." The two figures in the pic ture bear no relation to each other, be ing put side by side merely for con venience; that is to say, two players do not stand as here pictured, side by side, when playing. American Agri culturist A Compliment with a Stlag. Two old school-fellows met, fifteen years after their graduation, and fell, iiguratively, upon each other's necks. "Well, well, dear old Smith!" said Green. "How glad I am to eee youl What days those were! Ha! ha! Smith, you were the stupidest fellow in the class." "Yes, I suppose I was." "And here you are now! Why." (looking him over,) "you haven't changed a particle!" The Reason. First Crow Do you know, J think that small boy Tommy Is' just a crow like ourselves? Second Crow Indeed! Why? First Crow His mother risked him why he'd done several things the other day, and what do yon suppose his re plies were? Second Crow I give it up. What? First Crow" Cause." Harper Younj? Pcopl3. 4 r w !