Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, November 19, 1903, Image 6

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    I THE NEW MINISTER.
HAT do you think , Aunt Vic
let ? The new minister is con
ing to-niglit ! "
Miriam Blake and her cousin , Efli
Towers , burst into the quiet old-fasl
loned sitting-room like twin gales o
wind so fresh and sudden and inspirii
ing were the } ' .
It was a very cheerful apartmen
with the crimson carpet flooded wit ,
October sunshine , the canary singLn ;
from his cage among the geraniums ij
the window-seat , and a bright wooi
fire crackling from the most burnisL
ed of brass andiorns on the heartli-
for Aunt Violet loved an open fire
and adhered to it through all the mod
em innovations.
She was a woman past thirty , ye
very pretty withal a woman whosi
type Of face and form would alway
remain youthful. Brown hair , Avitl
rippling lights of gold upon its sur
face ; blue-gray eyes , large and shade *
with long lashes ; a complexion when
the fresh white and red betokenet
perfect health and a smiling , cherry
red , melting mouth , whose smiles be
Jrayed a singularly regular set o
teeth Miss Violet Brown was perhap :
quite as attractive in her mature wo
manhood as she had been , in her fresh
er girl-days.
"To-night ? " said Aunt Violet. "Am
Is the parsonage all in readiness ? "
"All prepared , I believe. And wha
do you think. Aunt Violet , " went or
Miriam , TvltJi girlish eagerness , "ol
old Mrs. Marsh going there with hei
two daughters to prepare tea , anc
make it 'sort o' bum-like , ' as she saj's
for him tie first night ? "
And Violet smiled over her crochet.
"Why , " struck in Efiie Towers , "the
Marsh girls are as old as the hills. "
"Not quite as old as the hills , " -said
Aunt Violet , quietly. "Sarah Marsb
Is about my age , and Mehitable can
not be more than a year or two older. "
"Oh , Aunt Violet ! " said Eilie , coaxIngly -
Ingly , stealing both arms around Miss
- Brown's slender waist , "nobody ever
thinks of your being old ! "
"It's an indisputable .fact neverthe
less , " said Aunt Violet , serenely.
"Aunt Violet , " said Miriam suddenly -
ly , as she sat looking her aunt full in
the face , "how I wish Mr. Smith
would fall in love with you ! "
Aunt Violet shrugged her shoulders.
"My dear child , isn't Brown a sufli-
ciently common cognomen but you
? raut to change it into the still more
hackneyed name of Smith ? "
"I wasn't thinking of the name ,
Aunt Violet I was only reflecting to
myself what a splendid minister's wife
rou would make. "
"I shall never make anybody's wife ,
Miriam. "
" \Miat nonsense5 : ejaculated tne
gay girl. "Why , aunty , you are the
prettiest of our whole set , yet with
your sweet-pea complexion and those
big innocent eyes of yours "
But here Effie Towers interrupted ,
speaking gravely with serious glance.
"I know what makes Aunt Violet
speak so , Miriam she has had a dis
appointment years and years ago. "
"Aunty ! Did you really ? "
" 'Years and years ago , ' as Effie
says , I had a lover , " returned Aunt
Violet , calmly. "And what interrupted
the current of true love ? "
"I was foolish , and wished to test
my power. Clarence , that was his
name , was hasty and impulsive , and
my folly incensed kirn. So we parted. "
"And is he married Jiow ? "
" 1 do not know. I have never seen
nor heard from him since. He was
only spending the summer vacation , a
college student , in our quiet village. "
"What was his last name ? "
"N'importe , Miriam , do not let us
disinter any more of the horrid past.
I have told you my folly. See that
you take warning by it. "
Aud none of Miriam Blake's soft
coaxings could win from Aunt Violet
any further confidences.
"You are not an old maid , darling
aunty , " said Miriam , "but Sarah
Marsh is , and I mean to enter the lists
with her myself to win the new min
ister's favor. The parsonage would
make a pretty nest for such a bird as
I am , all embowered in roses and
clematis , and full of delicious little
by windows and maple-shaded piazzes.
I hope he's young and good-looking. "
"lie's just thirty-five , " said Effie ,
"for Deacon Alden told me so. "
"Did he say whether he was good-
looking or not ? "
"No , lie didn't , as if Deacon Alden
cared for his looks. "
"Thirty-five that is rather old-bach-
elorish , but a man isn't totally past
reform at thirty-five , " observed Mir
iam , pensively. "If Aunt Violet won't
have him I'll try my chance. "
"I shall never marry , " gravely re
iterated Aunt Violet , with more serl-
oiiMiess than Miriam's light-jesting
way seemed to call for.
"If that's the wise , " said Miriam ,
"I'll go and rip up the breadths of my
lilac lawn dress , and have the fluted
rullles done up. One can't be too care
ful of one's advantage of costume at
such a critical time , and I know Mehit
able Marsh has got a white dress with
blue rosebuds all over it. ' '
"Miriam , what a rattlepate you are , "
said Eillo.
"Don't I tell you I need a minister
for a husband , just to sober me
down ? "
And with this Parthian arrow of re-
'tort. Miss Miriam quitted the room ,
with Eliie following her.
I'recently she came back again , danc
ing merrily into the room.
"I've found out my future husband's
name. "
"What is it ? "
"A decided novelty John Smith. "
Aunt Violet smiled , and Miriam van
ished once more like a twinkling bit
of thistledown.
Violet Brown sat gazing into the
coral depths of the bright embers that
had fallen through the logs on the
hearth. Somehow , spite of her asser
tion of self-reliance and independence ,
she felt very lonely that October after
noon.
"I'll go for a walk , " thought Violet
"Perhaps a little exercise will dissi
pate this gathering despondency. "
She tied a round hat under her
curls , put on a coquettish scarlet cir
cle , tasseled with white silk , which ,
according to her loving nieces , "made
her look like a delicious little Red
Hiding Hood , " and went out into the
fresh autumn air , where the woods ,
all radiant with gold and crimson
glories , were showering their leafy tro
phies on the walks below , as she en
tered their silent aisles.
"Autumn , " she thought , sadly , "how
soon it has come upon us ! And it is
but a little while since spring was
here with her dew and roses. My
spring has vanished , too , and unlike
the sacred season of birds and blos
soms , it will never return to me again.
Heigho ! I wonder what I was born
"TJIIXKIXG A LITTLE PLXSIVELY. "
into this world for. I don't seem tc
be of very much use to anybody. "
Violet was thinking thus , a little pen
sively , as she sat on a moss-enameled
fallen tree , tapping the drifts of yel
low leaves with the point of-her para
sol , and letting the fresh , fragrant
wind blow the gold-brown curls back
from her forehead. She was not think
ing how picturesque was her attitude ,
nor how beautiful her face looked in
its oval clearness , with pink flushes
on either cheek , but both these facts
struck the perceptions of a tall strang
er carrying a valise in his left hand ,
who had just crossed the stile leading
from the main road , and entered the
illuminated glow of the autumnal
woods.
lie raised his hat with a courteous
motion as Miss Brown started at his
advancing footsteps.
"I beg your pardon ; I fear I have
unintentionally startled you. "
"Not at all. " Violet looked up earn
estly at his face as she answered.
"Perhaps you can direct me to the
shortest cut across these woods to
Millhambury ? I am not quite certain
is to my localities. "
"You are on the direct path now ,
Clarence Smith. "
He started , in his turn , and gazed
icrutinizingly into her face.
"I thought it was familiar to mel"
le exclaimed , "and now I know it
Violet ! who -would have thought of
neeting you here ? "
Violet Brown trembled like an aspen
eaf , but she strove to control her-
elf.
"The world is full of just such
: hance meetings , Clarence. "
She had half turned away , but the
jentleman had put down his valise ,
ind was evidently inclined not to part
vith her so readily.
"Stop , Violet do not go away. My
eve ! I have so longed to see you , all
hese years. Tell me that you have
tot entirely forgotten the past that
ou have still a word of tenderness
or the wayward lover who flung away
lis brightest chances of happiness
3ng ago ! Violet , yon were my first
eve be my last ? "
"Do you love me still , Clarence ? "
he asked , the blue-gray eyes soften-
ug to a strangely tender brightness.
"Do I breathe and exist still ? I
ell you , Violet my heart is like the
entury plant which only blossoms
nee and its blossoming is in the sun-
hine of your love alone. "
She was silent lovelier than ever ,
'larence thought In the momentary
adecision , the shy hesitation of her
aanner , as she stood under the old
rees , a gold-tinted leaf drifting down
ere and there around her , and her
remulous hands clasped to hide their
utter as far as might be.
"Violet , darling ! tell me that you
3ve me. "
"I love you , Clarence ! "
There is a Garden of Eden created
new for every happy pair of lovers
-and Clarence and Violet stood in
'aradise now I
"But Clarence , " resumed Violet
rhen the first all-Absorbed words and
glances of their new happiness ha
been exchanged , "I don't compreher
this at all. How did you come hen
and how did you know where to fir
me ? "
"I did not know where to find yoi
( Violet Chance has been my frier
> here , and as for my opportune appea
ance on the scene , it is very easily a <
counted for. I have been called t
lake charge of the parish of Millhan
bury. "
"Clarence , you are not the new mil
ister ? "
"But I am the new minister. "
"His name is John Smith. "
"I beg your pardon , mia amima-
it is John Clarence Smith. "
And Violet's surprise was sufflciem
ly amusing to the reverend gentlema
at her side.
Old Mrs. Bezabel Marsh and he
two elderly , hard-favored daughter *
had got the parsonage all ready , eve ;
to lighting the evening lamps on th
study-table , and poking the clear ac
thraclte fire that burned in the dining
room grate.
Miss Mehetable had turned th
tumbler of crimson currant jelly int
Its cut-glass dish , and disposed th
green sprigs of parsley to the mos
striking effect round the thinly-cu
slices of boiled tongue , while Mis
Sarah made a Leaning Tower of Pisi
of the buttermilk biscuits , and whisk
ed the flies away from the sugar-basin
In readiness for the expected guest
and like the hero of song , "still hi
came not ! "
"The kittle's boiliu' , and the tea' !
all steeped , " said Mrs. Marsh , as sh <
sat in the big rocking-chair in from
of the fire. "It'll be spiled if he don'i
come pretty soon. "
"He'll be here presently now , " saic
Miss Mehetable , loosening her curl ;
from their confining papers. "Oh , ma
I wonder if he'll be pleased with wlia )
we've done ! "
"He can't help it , " said Mrs. Marsh ,
mentally congratulating herself on her
double chances of being the minister's
mother-in-law. But the
- - words were
yet on her lips and the triumphant re
flections yet in her mind , when a
knock came softly to the door , and
Miriam Blake entered , rosy with her
long walk through the frosty autumn
twilight.
"Have you heard the news ? " asked
Miriam. "I thought I'd conic over and
tell you. The new minister has come. "
"Sakes alive ! " ejaculated Mrs.
Marsh.
"I don't b'lieve it , " said Mehetable.
"Oh , but he has for I've seen him.
And you needn't st'.iy here any longer ,
Cor he has concluded to remain at our
house to-night. "
Mrs. Marsh and her ( laughters both
stared.
' . 'What an airth does it all mean ? "
leiuandcd the elder lady
"I'll tell you a very , very great se
cret , " cried the delijhted Miriam.
'He's an old beau of Aunt Violet's ,
ind the engagement has been renewed ,
ind my dear little blue-eyed aunt is
: o be the minister's wife the very next
nonth that ever daAvn upon us ! "
"Land o' Goshen ! " cried Mrs. Marsh.
"Well I never ! " said Miss Sarah.
" 1 shouldn't think , " venomously com-
nented Miss Mehetable , "that he'd
vant to marry an old maid. "
"There are more old maids than one
n the world , " observed Miriam , phil-
> sophically. "So if you'll kindly lock
ip the room , I'll take the key back
o my new uncle-that-is-to-be. I had
nought of setting my cap at the new
ninister myself , but I cheerfully yield
he palm to Aunt Violet"
She tripped tome , through the dusk ,
aughing to herself at the discomfit-
ire of the Marsh family. Aunt Violet
.nd Mr. John C. Smith were sitting
ozily together over the fire when she
eturned , and , as she passed through
he room , she only paused to throw
icr arms around Violefs neck , and
rhisper :
"What do you think now about never
larrying , Aunt Violet ? " The LToarth-
tone.
Monkey Discipline.
One of the monkey cages in the
row York "Zoo" contains a mother
lonkey and her baby. Some visitors
ne day gave the mother a chocolate
eppermint She tasted it , smacked
er lips , winked , and put it all into
er mouth only to remove it at once ,
ud smack and wink much harder ,
.fter a second she repeated her ex-
eriment , and again hastily removed
le peppermint
Once more she put the dainty in her
louth , but once more took it out
'hen ' , with watery eyes , she laid the
indy carefully on the ledge of her
ige , turned her back , walked over
> the opposite side , seized the rails
rith both hands , and gazed out as if
ic had never seen a peppermint
Meanwhile the baby , who had been
igaged with visitors in a corner , had
iturued to the front Seeing the pep-
ermlnt , he picked it up and tasted
But his mother's three experi-
icnts had left only a nibble for him.
hat disposed of , he , too , walked to
le opposite side , seized the rails , and
; oed gazing out with the same air of
tter absorption as his mother's.
As soon as the latter had cooled
awn she came back again , and look-
1 for the peppermint Not seeing it ,
le swept with one paw all along the
dge where she had loft it , but in
iln. Suddenly she ran to the baby ,
id twisting his head to face herself ,
it one hand on each of his jaws ,
ailed his mouth -wide open , stuck her
jad in , and gave a big sniff. Then
le turned him ovar and spanked him
lundly.
We don't know that the Latin In-
riptions on tombstones stand for
it hare an idea that , translated intc
aglish , they irsuld aaeaa : "He's al
WHEN THANKSGIV1N1 COMES.
Goin' to have a Joyful day
'Bout next Thursday down our way ;
Relatives Ml all be here
Cornln' now fr'ni far an' near.
Got a turkey home , I'll bet
Is the biggest we've had ynt ;
Always lots to eat. I've found
When Thanksglvlu * comes around.
Pa , he'll carve the noble bird ,
Telliu' all the jokes he's heard ;
Ma , she'll keep things movin" right ,
Everyone * ! ! tMk a sight
All exceptin' Bill an' me ;
We'll be still as still can be ,
Won't have time to make a sound
When Thauksgivin' comes atouud.
Golly ! but it's bully , though ,
Havin' relatives , you know.
Ma jest smiles when Bill and I
Take a second piece of pie ;
Pa , he'll only laugh and roar
When we pass our plates fcr more ;
Never's scolded us nor frowned
When Thanksgiviif couies around.
Uncle Jlin sez me an' Bill
'S jest about ez Imrd to fill
Ez two elephants , but Gee !
If they'll only let us be
We won't care fer what they say ,
But jest grin an' eat away.
We'll be full clear fr'm the ground
When Thankspivln' comes around.
Council Bluffs Nonpareil.
A THANKFUL
THANKSGIVING
i
r ? DON'T feel as if I should enjoy thi
] Thanksgivin' , " said Mrs. Joel Nh
bett , looking down into the basket c
glossy , red cheeked Spitzenbergs as if i
were" family vault and taking up a
ipplo as if it had been a skull ; "no ,
lou't. "
"Then , Sarepta , ' ' observed her hue
) and , who had just thrown a huge lo ,
" don't disaru notb
m the open fire , "you
if to be thankful ior ! It's as harnsom
i turkey as ever flapped , and I don'
I've had nice
mow of a year when
nimpkins on that ar' corn lot ! "
" 'Taiu't turkey or pumpkin pies o
Tfiiberry sass as makes Thanksgivin' , '
: ijied Mrs. Nisbett.
"What is it , then ? Ef it's cold wcath
T , I should ha' thought the last fros
\ould ha' done the business for yoi
> retty fairly. Them arteinis > ias by th <
rent door is scorched black , and the ol <
LKiple is losin' its leaves as if they was
-linin' down. 1'arson' .Tarvis is comiii
,11 the way from. Sloatesvillu to preacl
0 morrow , and the quire's lamed a bran
low anthem just a-purpoe , about hem
haukfui for harvest and all that sort oJ
liing. I'm sure I don't know what else
ou'd have. "
Mrs. Nisbett only answered by a s0'h. !
"I wonder if 'tain't possible Stephe'll
e hum to-night. " fJic said after a pause.
"lie writ not. lie thought he'd drop
1 arly to-morrow uioruiif if he caught
lie train he expected. Only think , old
, -omau ; it's five years since Stophe was
ma to Thanksgivin' ! "
Old Nisbett rubbed his horny hands.
1th a chuckle , adding :
"And I s'pose , if all accounts is true ,
e's gettin' to be a great man out in
lat western country. It was kind of a
an ! pull when he went off and left us ,
ut maybe t'he boy was in the right. "
"Yes. " said Mrs. Nisbett dolorously ,
Imt somehow I can't get reconciled to
10 idea of his marryiif a strange gal
it thore. "
.Tool scratched his head. This was a
hase of the subject that he scarcely
> lt competent to discuss.
"Maybe you'll like her. Stephen says
lo's a nice gal. "
"Stephen ? ays ! As if a man over head
id ears in love wouldn't say anything. "
" [ wish he'd told us who she was. "
Mrs. Nisbett groaned again. Joel went
it tu the woodpile , the everi'day shrine
hence he generally derived what little
: philosophic inspiration he had.
"Mrs. Nisbett ! "
It was a soft little voice , and the old
dy's face relaxed instinctively as it
lunded on her ears.
"Why , Lida Tremaine 'tain't you ! "
"It is. I've done everything that Auiit
mstance wanted , and now I've just run
or to see if you don't need a bit of
She stood in the doorway , a fair Kltle
> parition , all flushed and rosy with the
ovember wind , while her blue eyes
iarkled as if they were twin sapphires
dden away under her long , dark lashes.
u was neither blond nor brunette , but
fre h checked girl , with nut brown
lir , skin like the leaf of a damask rose ,
straight , refined nose and lips as ripe
a red crabapple , though by no means
sour. Generally she had a demure
rt of gravity lingering about her face ,
it when she did laugh a dimple came
it upon her cheek and a row of pearly
? th glimmered instantaneously.
In one hand she carried a bunah of
Le autumn flowers.
"Sot' " she cried , holding them up. "I
tracked Aunt Constance's gardeu for
o3o. 1 knew that big vase 01 the man-
i needed something , and , with a branch
so of scarlet leaves , I'll have sc royal
uquet to help you keep Thanksgiving. "
Mrs. Nisbett took the fair oval face
tweon her two hands and kissed the
. th little mouth.
"Set down , Lida , " she said. "I wasn't
jalculatin1 to- have no sech fixin's up ,
t you've seoh a way , child , I can't
vor say no to you. "
"Hut you're going to keep Thankssiv-
; , " cried Lida , throwing off her outer
npplngs ami dancing np to the looking
iss like a little gale of wind , "because
u invited Aunt Constance and me to
anor and because your aoa is coming
me. "
"Yes , child , yes , " said Mrs , NLsbett ,
bsiding once more into the mournful
y from which Lida's sudden app ar-
ce had momentarily aroused her.
oel's got the turkey shut up in a coop ,
d the bakin's done , and I'm just a-fii-
thom apples , and "
"Oh , oh , " cried Lida , who had flat-
ed to die window , "what glorious red
, ves speckled over with little drops of
Id ! Mnj I rnako some wreaths for the
ill ? Oh , please say yes"
Mrs. Nfcbett said "y s" It would have
been hard work to say "no" to Lida-
and the girl r-oon came in , her apron fu
of tiie sprigs of the old maple trei
whose shadowy boughs kept the windo
veiled -vvith cool shadows through th
glaring summer days and showered fac
iug gold upon the dead grass when th
autumn came.
Mrs. Nishett looked with tendernes
upon the graceful little figure seated o
the hearth rug , when the shine of th
high heaped logs lost itself in her brigh
hair and made sparkles In her eyea , a
the wreaths and trails of autumn leave
grew rapidly beneath her deft fingers.
"Lida , " she said softly , "Lida , m ;
dear ! " Lida looked up.
"I saw your Aunt Constance yesterda ;
bub there's somethiu * reserved about hei
and I' didn't like to ask about you
whether you had decided to go ont as i
governess or not ; because , my dear , Joe
and I were talkin' last night , and w <
both thought what a comfort it would hi
to have you here. "
"To have me here ? "
"We're old and we're alone , and some
how we've both took a fancy to you , m :
child. So when your Aunt Constant
goes back to the city , if you choose t <
come hero"
Mrs. Nisbett paused abruptly and burs :
into tears.
"We had a little girl oncp. m'y dear
and if she'd lived she would ha' beer
nigh about your age. "
Lida let the loaves drop down on the
floor as she sprang up and throw botl :
anus round the old woman's neck.
"Oh , Mrs. Xisbett , " she whisperer :
softly , "you are so very , very kind. Be
lieve me , I appreciate it all. but but
I hardly know how to tell you. "
Mr ? . Nisbett listened intently. Lida
smiled and cried a little and then whis
pered so low it was scarcely audible.
"I am going to be married. "
"Married ! " ejaculated Mrs. Nisbett ,
with all a woman's interest in this im
portant piece of information. "And who
to ? "
"Your son lives in Iowa in Parling-
ton ? "
"Yes. "
"Well , did he over mention the name
of "
Lida paused , hpr chocks plowing
roses. Old Nisbett had come in with an
nrmful of wood , bringing a gale with him
from the frosty outer world.
"I'll toll you by and by , " whispered
Lid-i as she wont back to her work.
"Jocl'll go out again arter awhile. ' '
: houL'ht Mrs. Nisbett , "and then I'll hoar
ibout Lida's beau. "
But Joel sat down before the fire with
i complacent satisfaction which boded
II for the gratification of his wife's curi-
> sity. and finally accompanied Lida home ,
: hus frustrating all his wife' ? designs
ind cutting off her chance of hearing
Lida's story.
"Dear me ! " thought she. "I don't be-
ieve the man was ever born who know-
> d when he wasn't wanted ! How lone-
: omc it seems when Lida's pone ! What
lees the girl want to get married for
vhen I could ha1 took such a sight o'
lomfort with her ? Oh. dear , dear ! It
Iocs seem as if the world was all
iskew ! "
The next day , in spite of the weather
irophet'R prediction of snow , dawned
lear and brilliant as the dying smile of
ndian summer. By 11 o'clock Mrs. Nis-
iett was dressed in her best silk and
ap , with the turkey browning beauti-
ully in the oven and the cranberry tarts
.oing credit to themselves as well as to
heir maker , the table set , the fire high
.eaped with crackling logs and the plates
ressed with coronals of autumn leaves.
LUiit Constance , a tall , prim maiden
idy of uncertain age , stood before the
tidroom looking glass arranging her coif-
ure. Lida , in a blue dress with a late
utumn rose in her hair , was tripping
ither and thither as light footed and
elpful as half a dozen household fairies
lerged into one , while Mrs. Nisbett
teed regarding her with a loving eye.
mrmuring to herself :
"Well , well , it seems like it was the
( Orel's will to deny us of just what we
lo t want , but if I had a daughter I
auld wish she was like Lida. "
As the old kitchen clock struck 1 Mrs.
'isbett , looking from t'he ' window , gave
little cry.
"There he comes there comes Joel ,
ad , as I live , there's the boy with him ! "
Lida ran into the bedroom.
When gho returned , Mrs. Nisbett was i
clasped in the arms of a tall , handaom *
man of four or five and twenty.
"Lida. " said the proud matron , striv
ing to disengage herself from the affec
tionate clasp , "this is my son Stephen ,
and why , what's the matter ? "
For Stephen had dropped her hands
with an exclamation of surprise and
amazement , and Lida stood there glowing
crimson.
"Lida ! Why , mother , this la a sur
prise indeed that you have prepared for
me ! "
"I prepared ! " echoed the astonished
old lady. "Well , that's a peed unwhen
I'm ten times as much surprised as you
be ! Lida , what does this mean ? " ,
"It means , " said Lida , with a
smile she was beginning to
scattered self-possession "it moans that
this is the gentleman I am to be married
to ! "
"Stephen ! " cried Mrs. Nisbett , "is Lida
to be your wife ? "
"She has pivon me her promise to that
effect , at least , " said Stephen , looking
proudly down upon his lovely little
fiancee.
"Well , if it don't beat all how queer
things do happon- ! ' said Mrs. Nisbett ,
her face radiant. "And you've been liv-
in' neighbor to me these six weeks and
I never knowed it. Lida , why didn't
you tell me ? "
"Because I never dreamed that Ste
phen Risingham. my betrothed western
lover , was anything to Mrs. Nisbett. "
said Lida. laughing.
"There 'tis , now I" ejaculated the farm
er. "How was she to know that he was
only my nephew , adopted when his par
ents died , twenty peed years ago ? We've
always called him son , and he's alwaya
boon a eon to us. Cut Lida didn't know.
Old woman , what do you say to Ste
phen's wife ? "
Mrs. Nisbett clarped LMi to her
heart.
"I do say , " she ejaculated , "this is the
thankfullest Thnnk pivin' I over lived to
see ! " New York Daily News.
On Thanksgiving :
The Leader of the Runaways Don't
be alarmed , my dears ; it's nothing but
a vegetarian hunting for edible fungi.
Thanksgiving Day.
Our pilgrim fathers left us a good
ample when they set aside a day
Which to devote our thoughts to co
ing up the blessings of the year not only
to outside causes of prosi > erity , such as
the abundance of our crops , the good
fruit year , peace and plenty everywhere ,
but we should count our personal bless
ings , "one by one ; " even in those where
sorrow and trouble are ever present the
blessings would outnumber the afflic
tions.
Is it not something to see the blue sky
and the preen fields , to hear the joyoua
song of the birds , to have the use of our
limbs , and. better far , a clear brain and
in active mind ? Let us keep our heart *
tuned to praise and thanksgiving , lihen
we will bring smiles to other faces that
seldom smile. These are little things , but
life is made up of little things.
Soliloquy of a Turkey.
I know that Thanksgiving day's most here.
And It makes me lonp to fly.
For I've reached my prime , and It's mighty
clear
That It's time for me to die.
I saw the head of t honse come out.
And he smiled as ho Brazed at me.
And he cried aloud that there wag no
doubt
What a comfortable meal I'd be.
Oh. I've got to go ! And it Rives me a fit.
Thought It Isn't so much for ray life
Ihat I care about , but he can't carve a bit.
And I've got to be hacked by his wife.
New York Herald.
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