THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : MONDAY , DECEMBER , < f. 1893.
A THANKSGIVING THIEF ,
Home Journal ,
Sophia Ilurd stood in her front door
und 'Mrs. Packer stood on' the stops tak
ing leave nftor a neighborly call. A
stiff wind , with ft clilll of snow In It ,
Wow straight in Sophia's face nnd
ruffled her thin , llghtcrlmps. Siiotook
off her npron nnd put it over her bond
as a hint , but Mrs. Pucker was in no
hurry td go ; tbo wind was nt her buck
nnd she did not feel It BO much.
"I heard the Hopklnscs was goln1 to
have Hmma'B beau tomorrow , " Bald she.
"Ho they ? " returned Sophia indiffer
ently. Shu looked down with a hard
JJH/O nt the old atrin y block feather
which adorned the top of Mrs. Packer's
ovcrv-day bonnet.
Mrs. I'uckor Btood so much lower tbnt
Bbo bail to wrinkle her forehead up to-
litr straight' line of gray hnlv When eho
looked nt Sophia.
"Yc ? , " f < ntd she , "tllcy be. Mrs , Groan
I enld they'll got two chiekous besides the
turkoy. She BOO llcnry Hopkins carryln'
of 'em homo. I s'poso they're goln' to
have chk'kcn pie , too. "
Sophia aroused to Intorcat in splto of
the icy -wind In her fnuo. "Terrible
Hub , ain't they ? " said she , with a scorn
ful II ft other nose. "Well , I guoss-thoy
nin't got HO much inoro to do with than
other folks. "
"I BUCBB they nin't ' neither. I heard
Sum Hrightnian'fl folks was pretty bad
olT. I guess they won't ' have much
Tlmiikcptvln' . "
Sophia jerked furiously when -the
wind struck her , and put her
hand to her crimps , which blow back ,
uml quite bared her high , flat forehead.
" 1 don't know nothln' about It. " said fiho
harshly. "I can't keen track of all the
poor folks In town , an' I dun know as I'm
failed on to. There was rich and poor
over sense the world was nmdo , an' I
gncsH there always will bo ; there ain't
no way to help it Unit I can sec , except
by nhlftln' the money to the other side ;
like the weights In balances , one sldo'8
got to bo up nn' tothcr down. I dun
know why them that's up has any call to
go down , If they can help it. Gon'rally
Hpcaktn , ' folks have money because the
Lord ban given 'em faculty to git it ,
and keep it. If folks ain't born with
faculty I don't see as it's anybody's look
out but the Lord's. Them lirightmans
never had any faculty. , Mrs. Bright-
man , she can't cut out a calico dress to
save her life , nn' Ella she was just like
her , an' got married to a
man a good deal inoro so.
It was lucky ho died , I guess.
vThere's them throe white-livered chil
dren , an1 they don't ' look ns.if . they had
faculty enough to make mild pies , an' '
teeter , "and as for Sam , ho ain't never
had none. I dun know butho.does his
work well enough when ho can git it.
nn' he's will la' , but bo'n slow as old
Tilly , au' ho ain't never had no business
faculty. Some men would have got
work whether or no. He como to mo ono
day lust week an' wanted to cut up my
wood , but I told him no , pretty quick.
There's old Mr. Thomas will cut it
cheaper , besides working faster , I guess.
I ain't goin' ' to have Sam Brlghtman if
I know which side my bread's but
tered on.
" 'Well , I dun know , " said Mrs. Packer.
Her dull , placid face took on a reflective
cast ; she was'tlunking ' what next to say.
Sophia pulled hernpron closer und
scowled against the wind.
"You said you wotdii't ; goln' to have
any company Tlianksgivin'1 ' said Mrs.
Puukor , slowly.
"No , I ain't , " returned , Sophia , in a
sharp , decisive tone. Now topics were
scarcely endurable and recapitulations
were maddening in the face of this north
wind.
"Well , " said Mrs. Pucker , "I'm going
to have Cyrus an' the children an'
brother Ezra's folks , as I said before' . It
makes considerable to do , but ' 1
"I should think you'd feel as if you'd
got to bo homo seein' to things , " inter
rupted Sophia , with a blue glare of her
prominent eyes ; she was quite out of
patience.
v'Mi'B. Packet-looked up at her with
innccont incredulty ; she could not J > o-
liovo that she had heard rightly. "What
say ? " she faltered.
"I say that I should most think , ns
lontf as it wat the day before Thanks
giving an' you'd got all that" mess of
company comin' , that you'd have to go
homo an' coo to things , "
"Fanny is to homo , " Baid'Mrs : Packer ,
feebly. She had not vet fully taken
. in Sophia's , moaning. Her own aggra
vating points were such purely negative
onus ttutt people Boiuom foil , at liberty
to retaliate , and when they did she
scarcely know what they inciuit. now-
over , now a sudilon red flushed ovoi her
largo , dull fnco.
' Good afternoon , , Sophia , " aho said
with a stiddon accession of dignity , and
wont down the pntli to the gate with a
clumsy sldowiBO jolt of her whole body.
vSophla abut the front door with a bang
and \yent Into the warm sitting room.
She Htood close to the nlr-tlght Btovo
and , spread her long , thin hands ever it.
"Sho s gone off mad , an' I don't care if
Bho has , " she said , "If folks don't know
cndugh to go when they start to it's
time they was told , She always makes
the heft of her call in the doorway.
Standing there in that awful wind ! I
( shouldn't wonder if I caught my death. "
There was nobody clso in the room ,
nor even In the IIOUPO , but. Sophia ulilv-
ored improsuivoly with appealing
groans , Mid finally , whan ulio passed the
looking glass on her way to the kitchen ,
cant a woo-bcgono look at horsolf. "I
Ipok dreadful pinched up an1 blue , " she
muttered ,
The kitchen was full of warm , savory
and sploy odors. A plum pudding and a
chicken plo were baking ; a row of now
plea und Homo cake stood cooling under
the 'imntry window. On the kitchen
table was a great turkey and another
ohiukon plo all ready for the even ,
Sophia looked into the stove even to
npja how the pudding and pic were progressing -
grossing , Tn3 hot , fragrant steam
rushed in hot * faco. She turned the plu
ground.
The two kitchen windows faced south-
vrotttand the nftornmm Hunllght , shift
ing and fluctuating as Jf itself blown by
the wind , came In. A great , green pnv
vet in a wirtj , cage hung in ono of the
windows. Ho stood on his rorch and
watched Saphiiv with ono yellow eye ,
v Finally , when she arose , ho called out
in his dissonant voice , the wealing of a
comrade "Hullo how's
merry : , Sophl ,
your luwlth ? Want a cracker ? "
Sophia wont , into the pantry and paid
tie attention. She had had the parrot
for. years. His conversational powers
Vfo'ro limited to those three clauses of
friendly salutation and inquiry and ono
other "Clear out , " ,
Presently ho shrieked out that also ,
and then swung wildly bauk and forth
by His strong beak.
Sophia cleared a space on the -pantry
Bholf , then she carried the. turkey Jn
' " rdtaggoring rush. "I dooluro , I
T've Jamed'm.V eido this time , " she
MWd whoa sno hud set it down , ltl
, 't ought to have lifted it , but I kind
tad tO'leavo it outnn the kitchen
table all night. It woigUs a good fifteen
iwtind , 'lAwonder what * . Mr * * Packer
would haVwid. She waa dyln < to got out
hero. I guess she hoard I bought a big
ojio , tin' mobboold Mv. ThorniM told \\a\i \
I got him to kill tliotn twtf chlckoris.
well , It ain'tnobady'tt Ixishicss ; If I nin't
got folks tocomo tu Tlianksgivin11 guess
I can have as good n dinner as them that
has. " \
"Hullo , Soph ! , ' ' screeched the parrot ,
whiuh had boon listening on calmly.
"As long as I nirt't got a oat or n dog ,
it's .lucky that I've got n parrot that can
pick the. bones , instead of n canary
bird , " said Sophia. "It's going to bo
considerable for mtj to catsup nil that
great turkey an' them two chicken ulcs. "
She mixed up another cake. When
the pudding and chicken pie were done
she filled up the even ngain. It was 8
o'clock tbnt evening when her Thanks
giving cooking was all finished , the
dishes washed nnd the kituhcn put in
order. Then fiho wont to bed. She was
a lonely woman ; hoc own kindred were
nil dead nnd gone yearn ago ; she had no
nusuanu nor onuurcn , and nooouy 10
come homo to Thanksgiving. But no
body In the village had a better filled
larder than she She was ono of those
who found a certain joy independent of
all nssoclollons In possession ; no lonoll-
nnss could kcophor tonight from com
placent reflections upon these loaded
pantry shelves. There was more than
she needed , but she had It. And elf tor all
it was not merely a question of material
need nrd supply , but of all the natural
craving of a lonely and 8"lf-ccnlored
soul ; it would necessarily take much of
this grosser food to satlnfy that , but sat
isfy that it did to a certain extent , and
always had. After Sophia's mother
died and loft her solitary in
the house nnd in the world ,
the beautiful black cash more dress ,
which f.ho bought nnd were to
church the Sunday uftor , nnd also the
fine , black , straw bonnet , with Us tuft
of blackpatln rose < ) , had brouglit her a
certain solttco. Sophia's mother had
been niggardly cvotl with hnrsolf.
When Sophia held the purse she was
not niggardly with herself ; the neigh
bors said she was extravagant. They
watched some rolls of tapestry carpet , anew
now stove , a now lamp , a now chamber
sot and spring bed go into the house
with wonder"ulul doubtful approbation.
"Well , I hope the monoy'll hold out , "
they said.
But Sophia was shrewd enough ; she
know that the money would hold out ,
and there was no risk in her feathering
her nest prettily , although there were
no opening mouths in it , if she enjoyed
it. And enjoy it she did. She rocked
easily in her now stuffed chair over her
now carpet , and she slept comfortably
on her new spring bed , with the carved
headboard of the bedstead overshadow
ing hor. * She thought honestly in her
inmost soul that she was happier than
many women she knew who had largo
families and little money , and were wor
ried and overworked. Sitting early in
church on a Sundav with her nice black
skirt falling daintily over her knees ,
her cashmere shawl arranged in studied
folds around her unbending shoulders ,
her thin light hair in two carefully
crimped scallops over her temples and
her bonnet strings tied in nn unhurried
bow , she watiihed the women who had
risen early , gotten breakfast for a large
family , uut the house in order , washed
and dressed the children and laid out
the husband's clean clothes for him , toll
anxiously up the aisle , nnd felt a peace
in which she realised ho savor or regret.
Sophia Hurd had never had a-lovo affair
in her whole life ; when she was a girl
the young men were all afraid of hor.
She had always had a ready incisiveness -
ness of manner , and never any prettiness
to soften it. She had always boon
daintily appointed ; there had never been
an untidy lock nor a gaping seam but
that had served only to intensify appar
ently the sovurlty.
When she had been a young- girl , very
young , still going1 to the academy , with
her hair crossed in two tidy braids at
the back of her head , her prim calico
dress rustling stiffly at her heels , and
youth giving its ono fleeting charm to
her clean , sharp blonde face , this very
Sam Brightman , whom she and Mrs.
Pucker had discussed , had gpno homo
with her once from the singing school ,
had kisocd her at the gate , and she had
"Viciously slapped his face in return.
That ono kiss of boyish admiration had
been her last , and it Was strange , but
she had never forgotten it. She thought
of it when poor Sam Brlghtman , bent
and haggard with his long toll in his
fruitless vineyard or life , had stood by
her woodpile asking leave to out it and
BO earn a few cents for him and his half-
starved dependents. All the boyish
spirit and prottincsa had gone out o
him , and ho had been a bravo , pretty
boy. Sophia , elderly and enveloped in
a hard and rcgretlcss maidenhood , had
stood in the doorway holding a shawl
well over her fuco that she might not
catch cold , trying to drive a sharp bar
gain , anil yet naa thought ot tliat old ,
childish kiss. She was conscious of no
sentiment regarding it ; it was simply as
the one rhyme in the prose of her life ,
and kept singing Itself in her cars , fool
ish as it was. That night before Thanks
giving , when she lay drowsily in her
chamber , she thought of it again , and a
vnguo and Imlf-reluutunt fancy came
into her mind of what her lifb might
have been had she not repulsed that
first kibs.
"Thoro'd been ' to
turkey 'nough go
'round ' , and pies anyhow , " she said to
herself. "I s'poso ho'd have lifted the
turkey in an' out of the oven , an' ' ho'd
spilt the gravy , likely a not. Men folks
arc dreadfully unhandy. I guess ho'd
been pretty well off , though , to what ho
is now. " Sophia pressed her lips con
temptuously In the dark as she thought
of Sam Brlghtman'fl gentle , passive wife.
It was a dark night , the wind still blow ,
the sky was overcast and the moon would
not rlso till midnight.
Sophia fell aslcepand slept so soundly
that when aho awoke with a great Btart
pho thought fjho had not slept aV all.
But the moon was an hour high , the
clouds had cleared before it and It was
so light that she could ECO everything
quite plainly.
She wit up in bad and listened. She
hud a confused idea that eho had heard
u window opened somewhere in the
house. Prcbuntly there name a sharp
clatter from below. It Bounded as if
somebody had lot a dish full. Sophia
got out of bed , slipped on her shoes and
Blockings , ( nit on her dress skirt and a
shawl , then ahu went out boldly to the
head of the back stairg , which were
nearly opposite her door.
She listened ; there wascertainly someone
ono moving about below , She clutched
the stair post. "Who's thoroV" bho
called Out in a , bold voice.
There was no reply , the nylso ceased.
"Who's movln" 'round ' down utulrb ? "
she called out again , und the alienee
continued.
"Thoro'a somebody down there. " eald
Sophia , und her voice sounded Btlll
firmer and balder. "I heard you and
I'm going to flnd out who you uvq. It's
bright moonlight. You'd ought to
have thought of that , whoever you are ,
butorpyiiujiorao thlevln' . You'vo 'got
yourself into a prptty wupo , I guess
you'll find out. Now , I'm gpJn' to sot
right hero an1 hark. You can't etlr
without my hem-in1 o' you , and you
uoadn' think vou can.
Sophia sat down on the top stair and
waited and listened. There was no
sound from below. Suddenly . .the. narrot
fluttered and Ecrccehe.d his whold.vocab-
ulurly in an ugltatc'd medley ; "Hullo.
Sophl ! Clear out. Want a cracker ?
your health ? " tiophla knew that
thn unknown tiorsnn below htid mov < ! d. '
"You'removin' , " ho l-alled out wlictt
the parrot's clatter hml lulled n little *
"I hoard you. You needn't think you
can cheat me. ' *
There was sllcnco again. Sophia
listened. She &nt there until the clock
struck 2nnd heard nothing moro. She
was trying to persuade horpclf sha Im
agined the terrifying Mounds and might
safely return to bid , when there came a
sudden choking cough from bolow.
She arose nnd leaned for over the
stair falh "Sam Hrlghtmnn , " she
called , "you're down there. You can't
cheat me. I know your cough. Now
you just toll mo what you're prowliii'
'round my hon o in llio middle of the
night for. I should cnll it pretty work.
There was no answer. "Sam Bright-
man , " she eald ajrain , und her tone was
qulto fierce , "you speak this minute.
What are you doln' down there. You
can't cheat me. I've heard you cough
In moottn' for ten years. It's you , Ham
Brlghtman , you that's a church member ,
with a wlfo that's v church member ,
prowlln' round women's houses in the
middle of the night. I 'pose you think
mobbo vou'vo got a faculty for nloalln' If
you ntn t got none for work. What you
after down there ? You speak or 1 shall
get drosscd and como down.1
There was sllonco still.
"You , Sam Brlghtman1 , said Sophia ,
"jest as wire as you don't speak and toll
mo what you're after I'll have the
shorlfC como in the mornin' an' take you
to the lockup. Now , what are you
after ? "
There was another cough , and it
sounded unexpectedly from just below
hor. "I'm after s > umething to cat for
.my wife and daughter nnd grandchil
dren , " answered n man's voice with a
gruff dctlance in it.
"Soraothln' to cat ? I should think
you'd took u prwtty way tb got , it. Ain't
you ashamed o1 yourself. Why don't '
you go to work ? "
"Mobbo you can toll1 replied the
voice from bolow.
"Well,11 bald Sophia , and her tone was
a llttlo subdued , ' 'if you're so bad olT as
all that why didn't you come an' ask tor
victuals ? "
' : Because I'd ruthor steal than beg ;
when I've worked je3t as hard as I know
how all my life it makes me feel moro
like a man , " replied Sam Brightman ,
fiercely. "I ain't ' no call to beg. If I
can't have my share , an1 them that belong -
long to mo can't have their share of the
things in this world by any fair moans ,
if folks won't let us. I/moan / to have 'em
whether or no. I've made up ray
mind. I heard how you'd go ;
a big turkey and chicKen pies
for nobody but yourself to cat , an'
wo ain't got a mouthful in the house , an'
you wouldn't give mo no work. I made
up my mind I'd steal a Uttlo Thanksgiv-
ln' , seein' ns the Lord hadn't give me
none. Now , you can do jest what you've
a mind to do with me. Got me sent to
jail ; it won't make no difference to 'cm.
I ain't doin' anything for 'orn ' , an' I'll get
fed. They tako' some pains to keep
thieves alive after they've caught 'em. '
Mebbo I'd bolter sot 'om all to stealin' .
Government has spmo lookout for wicked
folks if it don't for good ones. You can
do jest what you've a mind to. . I'm past
carin' . "
"You can have ono of 'cm chicken
pies , if you are in tucli dreadful straits
as all that comes to , " said Sophia in a
sarcastic voice. "I should think you
talked real pretty for a church member ,
Sam Brightman. Take one of . 'em pies ,
an' go Homo , n' mind you shut the pan
try door. "
"I don't want your pionsaid Sam
Brightman , and ho coughed again.
"Well , you can go without it then , if
you don't want it afterall this rumpus , "
returned Sophia. ' 'Thocq's > ono thingt
want to know. What was it you "tipped
over and broke in the pantry ? "
"I guess 'twas a dish , " replied Sam
Brightman feebly.
"A dish , what\cind of a dish ? "
"I dunno. "
"I 'sposo ' it was one of 'em nice cpvcred
ones. Now , I think you'd bettor go
back home. You can take that chicken
pie or leave it , jest as you've a mind to.
If your folks are starvin' the Way you
say they are , I guess you'll be glad
'nough to take it ; an' if you try any such
work again , you won't get oft so easy. "
Sophia listened for n reply or Sam
Brightman's retreating footsteps , but
there was dead silence from below.
"Sam Brightman , " said Sophia , "you
speak. " She trembled ; vague alarm
was stealing over her. "Sam Bright
man , " film called again imperatively ;
but th < r7i wab no response. Sophia
backed into her room , keeping her eyes
toward the stairs. She shut the door
and put a chair against it there was no
lock ; then she lighted a lamp and
dressed herself. She oven smoothed her
hair and looked , fccrutinl/.ingly in the
glass. "I look awfully pale , " she mut-
tcreu.
Then she took the lamp nnd opened
the door cautiously. Everything was
still. Sophia stole softly to ho head of
the stairs , held up the lamp before her
and peered down.
There , indeed , lay Sam Brightraan.
poor , old froe-lanco in the poverty and
labor question , huddled in a forlorn heap
at the foot of the stairs.
"Land sakes , " gasped Sophia , "he's in
a fit. "
She went down , her knees shook under
her-she ; sot the lamp on the > stairs , bent
over Sam Brightman and touched nis
shoulders gingerly. "Samjho , called
loudly at him , "Sam , what's the matter -
tor ? "
Sam's face , upturned insensibly to the
lamplight , was ghastly. Sophia trem
bled violently. "Sam , " she called im
peratively , with her shaking voice.
"Sam , bo you dead ? Sam Brightman ,
for the land bakes , do speak to me. "
Sam did not etir. Sophia stopped
over him und ran into the bitting room
for the camphor bottle. She poured
some over his forehead and held her
handkerchief wet with it to his nose.
"Smell of it , " she panted. "Sam , smell
of it. Bo you dead , Sam bo you dead ?
Land sakcs , what shall I tU > * "
Sam gasped faintly anl ( tried to rise.
She pushed him back. "Lay still , "
said she , agitatedly ; "lay still , You'vo
had u bad spell , but you're comin1 to.
Lay still. Smell of this camphli'o. "
"Where bo I ? " moaned Sam Bright ,
man , looking with piteous , bewildered
eyes on hers.
"Right hero in my hoiibo Sophia's.
Dpn't ' you know ? Don't you remember ?
You'vo known me ever since wo were
children. You're right here. Don't
you worry. "
Sam Brightraan was , fpr the time ,
past worrying , Ho ehut hls , eyes and
lay with his.mouth open , panting foeblv.
"Sam Brightman , look hero , " said
Sophia suddenly.
He opened his eyes wearily.
"How long is it Blnco you hud any thin'
to eat ? "
Sam did not reply ; his pale fuco took
on an obstinate look.
"I boliete you're starvin , " said Sophia
sharply. "I novur heard of such dniu's.
A.Tirotty plecodf work Ibhonldcall it.
Don't you know no bettor than to-do
this way ? Now you luy btill ; don't you
try to' get up. "
Sophia went hurriedly into her parlor
bed room nnd got uomo pillows and
comfortables ; then eho arranged Sam
Brightmun as easily us uho. could at the
foot of the stairs. She kept eiijoiniug
him not to move leat ho should faint
again ; arid ho showed little disposition
to , His last btress of mind had quite
eihausted htm for tUo time ; nobody
would ever know how little ho had eaten
and how in rich liaJuul worried for the
last few months.
Sophia Hurt ! was nncthbdlcall in nil
her ways ; nt nigh } , she always left her
kitchen fire ready to light in the morn
ing. Now nil filialmtl to do was to
touch a match to itund , set on n llttlo
kettle of broth Hbfl ever from her
chicken pies. \ hc/t it was hot she
emptied It into a oowl and carried it ,
with a spoon , to pJTjfSam Brlghtmun.
"Now you jest Hettyp'nml drink this , "
said she , and she might have been
Sam's mother fronrliur tono.
i Sam made ttns ] Tnrt to got up , but
mink back ngaln.IH j't'ttii't you sit up ? "
said she. "You trv.l you've got to drum
this or you can't govhotho. 1 never see
iuh work. " > ' ' "
Sam mndo amthor effort nnd fell bauk.
"For the land sake * , " f-ald Sophia , nnd
her voice had un odd , qulz/lcal tender
ness. "Well , open your mouth. "
She extended u spoonful of hot broth ,
the fragrant steam of it came in bam s
face ; ho shut bin lips tight.
"You open your mouth this minute , "
said Sophia , and ho opened It.
Sophia fed the whole bowl of broth ,
spoonful by spoonful , to Sam Brlghtuuin ,
nnd. as she did so , an expression came
Into her sharp , homely face which had
never boon there before , which her
friends would not have recognized ns
hors , nor she , had she boon herself in
the glass. * It was the look of a mother
feeding a child , and with It iv curious
averted effect , ns if she were turning
shamefacedly from her own byes. When
the bowl was drained bho got up from
her knees and curried it into the kituhcn
hurriedly.
"There , I guess you'll foci bettor
now , " said she with a half laugh. "You
luy still u few minutes longer an' I guess
yon can got up , "
She got a bii3ket down from the top
shelf in the pantry nnd packed it with
food. She t-ot in ono ot the chlckon pics
at the bottom. Presently she heard Sam
staggering Into the room. "Hero's a
basket for you to take homo , " said she.
"I never hoard of such work. " She did
not turn her head. Sum made no reply.
Ho wont straight toward the door , un
bolted and opened it , and the night air
rushed in.
"Ain't you goln' to take this oaskot ? '
asked Sophia.
Sam mada no reply. Ho stepped out
weakly. Sophia followed after him with
the basket. "If you nin't equal to car-
ryin' ' o' it I'll ' go with you , " she said.
"I shan't bo nfraid to como home. It's
as light as day and the neighbors are all
abed , so there won't nobody see us. "
"I don't want your basket"said Sam
with feeble griifTness , pushing it back
as she approached him.
"Well , I should call it nretty work.
Why don't you wan't ' it ? " Had you
ruthcr have stole it ? "
"Yes , I had , " said Sam fiercely. Ho
wont feebly down the walk , and she stood
looking after him. "Hullo , Sophl , " the
parrot sung out with a wild flutter when
she went in. She unpacked the basket
and set-the food carefully away. ( Then
she locked the dcTurput a stick in the
window wheroby'Sum Brlghtman had
entered and wont.fo'bed ' again.
She could not sloop'uny , and heard the
town clock when7'it { struck the hours
until morning. Sha got up at the first
light and dreasedjherself again. When
she brushed her hair before the glass
she ran out her ttyngde and looked at it
anxiously. "It looks fovjrish , " said sho.
She made hersSli a'bowlful of sago tea
for hofbreakfast * ' It was her panacea.
She had been brought up to consider it
a salutary and co'infoHlng' draught , and
this morning she'-really felt ill , she
thought. So' seldom bad her determined
calm been infj > ing'c'dc unori that its dis-
| turbance. impressed hcv like a real
* Jni ' ' '
'bodily ailment. * -
After she hadl'flnished ; 'the sago tea
she heated tho'tiveri and put in the tur
key to roast , then' cleaned the vegetables
for dinner. At 11 O'clock the rich odor
of the roasting turkey permeated the
whole house. The vegetables were
steaming. She sat down by the kitohen
window aiid reflected.
The bells were ringing for- meeting ,
everybody in the village was going , ox-
cerit the housewives wluf'fieedod to stay
at homo to prepare the Thanksgiving
dinner. It was a pleasant morning , the ,
wind had gene down and there was a
heavy white irost , the yard and the
fields wore covered with it , the dry'grass
bent stifllyan : ! the rocks showed shining
silver white surface.
"If I sent anythin' over there to cat , "
said Sophia , "I dunne what Sam would
say. I don't darse to.1
There was no sound but the hissing
and bubbling1 pf the boiling vegetables.
The parrot's" eye , sot like a yellow pearl
in his splendid mass of green feathers ,
watched her keenly.
. "I dunne , if I put on my other dress
an' mv best bonnet , an1 Wont over an'
asked 'om all to dinner , as they'd resent
it , " said Sophia , "arn'J could crot Sam to'
ono side an' tell him to keep "dark about
last night , an' that I'd bo glad to lot him
have the wood in ray woodland to cut ;
it'll last him all winter. "
The boll had long stopped ringing ,
there was u hum of thanksgiving in the
church and all the village dinners were
fast cooking , when Mrs. Pucker saw
Sophia Hurd , nrrnyed in her best dross ,
und coat and bonnet , going down the
street.
"I'd like to know wlioro she's goin' , "
ehe said. "It't too lute for mcotin' un' I
don't b'lievo she's invited anywheres for
dinner. "
Mrs. Pucker henceforth cooked her
dinner with one eye on the window.
First she saw Sophia return hurriedly ;
then , when it was almost time for moot
ing to bo out , Sam Brlgjjtman and wife ,
his daughter and the three little white-
headed children , all keeping step , as if
to some gladness in their hearts , like u
little gala procession , and they all went
in Sophia Kurd's front gate ,
A. Child JJnJoy *
The pleasant flavor , gentle action and sooth
ing elTncts of Syrup of Figs , when In need
of a laxative , and if ttio father or mother bo
costive or bilious , tlio most gratifying rn-
sults follow Its usQ iO'tliat ' it is tlio bust
family remeUy Ictiown. and every family
should have a bottl oj hand
Ilnluclng Vibration In lliulway Car * .
A now inventidj piibpdlos a principle
which will commend itself to all rallw'ay
travelers. It } fi nought to lessen the dis
comfort und uuiioj'ando of travel on many
llnca on which tli 'ijp .is excessive vibra
tion by the construction of a pneumatic
car , "which omboWQB tjio application of
an elastic fluid ifas an absorbent for
vibration and ouciH&Jlon. " An air cush
ion is arranged cifrtho cellular principle
between the carbody , und thu truck
frame , and as there is an c/jual dfetribu-
tlon of air umlei1 Varying pressures , ull
Obcillutlon IB prMfyod" - This elastic
medium is bald to completely absorb all
vibration rcbiilting from rough trackiy
jointing of rails , excessive speed , or any
other cause , und thu car iu carried
smoothly and steadily along. Tills pneu
matic system can bo equally well applied
to bti'oot curu , and instance * are not hard
totind iu which it unquc.'StionubJy ahould
bo.
Tlio joints nnd muscles are BO Iu Or lea tea
by IIocxl'H SarsuimriiU tlint all rheumatism
and atlffncBS BOOH disappears. Get only
Hood's. _
Whit U claimed to bo thfc'larRCst catch of
lake trout over modern four hours' time In
Upper Karand'u lake , New Yorlc , was
recently. The catuh included
trout weighing 125 pounds.
OMAHA LIVE STOCK MARKETS
Eecslpts far Eleven Months nt the
Ynrib Show a Nioa Inorca e.
CATTLE CONDITINS ARE IMPROVING
'in of tlio HUM of lUnctrs nnil nn Over
.Sui'y | uf 1'onr Htntt the Alnlu
] < / tures-H < iKS Mill
> tJncortnln.
SATUUDXY , Dec. 2.
The liollday 'Phut-ailny dtsoveanhcd re
ceipts Eotnowliat , but supplies for thu past
ilvo market Onys , with comparisons , are ns
follows t
CnUIn. llos1 ! . Sheep.
IlccelplsthU week . 15.15'J ao.atfi1.04H
Uecelplslnstweok . U2.45U 18,12 ! ) 7'JK )
fume week Inst year. . . . 10,214 30.180 3,025
Hccolpts for the month of November \voro
cblclly notable from tbo fnct that the run of
cattle , tU.MJ hand , wns tbo honvicst on rcu
ord for November ami next to the heaviest
month's receipts on record. The figures nro
ns follows :
Out lie. llozs. Sht'cp.
Novcinbor. . . . . . . . OI.G20 05.4U2 Ul.Uaa
October . . . 107,3411 107rjBt 23.161
November , 1802. 30,283 122,247 23,1182
1'ast H months. . 78.'i,74H V,30la3H | 229,0 il
11 months , 1802. 088,105 1,470.351 175,018
Increase . 07,583 . . . . , 53,003
.t. . , . . > , . 11)0,113 , .
KANSAS niTV I'lllUIIKS.
Catllo. lloes. Hhecp.
1'nst 11 months. 1,527.035 1,788.150 620.7ili (
11 months , 1802 1,302,145 2,102,758 414,007
IIUTCIXSO 103,100 112,000
Decrease 404,01)8 )
CltlOAili ) riCUUK-i.
Cat lie. Ilo2. . Slit'Pi ) .
t'nslll moillbs. 2,008,040 n,4 lQl4 2,804,747
11 months , 1802 " 3,282,470 7,040.701) 1,087,142
Inoroaso i 817,01)5 )
Dectuuao 374,427 1,1118,552
It will bo seen from the foregoing figures
Uuii , Omaha ts more than holding her own ,
Cliuiiffo lor ttio Ili'ttrr Noted.
Burly In the week the cattle market w.is
iiuiot and rather wealt , but llcht suppllos
the past few day1 ! have changed the aspect
of affairs considerably , and prices have ad
vanced substantially on all desirable killer" .
Them U little new in the situation.
Aside from tne good to choice beeves
the demand from slaughterers 1ms been and
continues to bo very indifferent , as people are
letting game , poultry and oysters take the
ulaco ot beef to a crrcat extent hist nt
present , and lib material change is oxpectcc
till after the llrst of the year. The range
season is practically over. Open weather
continued IMouper than usual , but storms in
the northwest have about stopped
shipments from that direction and only a
few straggling hunches are received. The
big bulk of the offerings uro made up of hall
fat and short fed stock , cattle that have
been on feed thirty to nlnotv davs am !
buyers fairly despise it , so that sellers , un
less the supply happens to be short , realise
very unsatisfactory prices.
The market today was good and lively. Re
ceipts were not heavy ana the demand from
all sources was very pood. There was a free
movement and prices for all useful grades oi
steers ruled strong at Friday's advance.
Pricesof course , Hko the Duality of the offer
ings , are very uncertain and uneven , hut 01
an average lOu to J5c better , than on
Wednesday. Some very fancy , finished
1,45'J-lb. Christinas beeves , better than any
thing seen hero this year , topped the mar
ket , bringing $5.00. the highest pr.ico pali
in over twelve months. Fair to very goof
1,100 to 1,450-lb. beeves sold at from $4.10 to
$4.75 , while the under grades sold all the
way from $3 to ? 4. The snow storm delayec
several trains , but the cattle sold freely ant
the close found very few in firot hands.
{ . The cow market was active and strongei
all around. Probably a fourth of the offer
ings were cows and mixed lots , und with al
local houses iu the field after them they
wore not long in changing hands. Choice to
fancy cows nnd heifers sold at from fit up to
$3.50with fair to good butchers' cows at
from $2.20 to $2.70 and common and caiinlntr
grades"at fiom Jl. "i to $2. The calf market
was stronger. Primeveals sold up to $5.25
and very common stock brought $3. Choice
fat stags sold up to $3.50 , with poor stuff
as low as $1.40.
Business in feeders was not very rushing
today. It never is on Saturday and the
snow storm did not help matters any. Yard
traders did most of the buying , paying good
iirni prices for the desirable offerings und
not caring to take the poor , thin , light and
rough stuff at any price. Good to choice
feeders are quoted at $3 to $3.GO , fair to
good at $2.70 to $3. with inferior to fair
grades at $2.10 to $2.05.
bitu.itlon In llngi.
Notwithstanding the omission of one day's
( Thursday's ) receipts ( Tie supply of hogs
was nearly S.OOO heavier than last week. At
Chicago the increase was even more marked.
Tnis fact , nnd probably this alone , -will ac
count for a 0c drop in prices during the
week. Packers insist on lower prices.
Provisions for January uellvery are
selling on the basis of $4.7. > hocrs , so that in
the very nature of things hogs in us tire downer
or provisions up. With no speculative sup
port there Is little prospect of provisions
going up , while with any increase of sup
plies of hogs prices are bound to go lownr.
This is the situation in a nutshell.
If the numoor of hogs available in the next
CO days was even approximately known by
anyone the markets would aoon adjust them
selves on that basis. Reports from all
bourccs are conflicting and every one is grop
ing in the dark.
The week closes with n fairly liberal sup
ply. Wltli lower eastern markets , buyers pro
ceeded to try to till their orders at n 5o to lOc
decline. Sellers are never anxious to hold
hogs over .Sunday , but they were also un
willing to accept so heavy a cut and trading
was slow , The shipping demand wag bettor
than expected , in fact , about the best of the
week , and this fact caused the market to im
prove ns the morning advanced , particularly
on the light ami butcher weight grades for
which the demand was strongest , The
heavy hogs , especially the very heavy hogs ,
were slow sale throughout and closed mean.
Light and butcher weight hogs sold largely
at $5.20 and $5.25 , while the heavy and mixed
0Q
DON'T DELAY
It Ourta ColiJi , Coughi. Bore Throat , Croup , InUn.
cnia , Whoopiur Coufh , Bronchitis endAithma.
A ciittln cure for Oomumptioa in firtt atactl ,
and a iuro relief in adjanceJ itaje ; . Ufa at OBM.
Tou will lee the excellent effect after Ukinf the
trat dote. Bold by dealer ! crerywbire. Larft
bottlti (0 oenti and 91.00.
Union Stock Yards Compiaj ,
aetCattla Uo a r tU tig w ) V
Housn.
Wood Brotinrs ,
i Stolc Commliiiloa ilaroUuBt *
fonthUMaba Telephone 1117.
J Oil 71 f ) > II ADI "M * * I \Mmm.fef
* " irr
* WAtiTitn B. W.JOII. {
Market report * br mall and wire cbctrful
oruUUsd Uyua avylicatlon.
rockers brought $5,15 and $ T > .20. A load ot
woofprlmo heavy weights brought $ . * > .3
ml low mark for rotifth jupkera was < " > 10.
About ovcrythinff finally sold thn bulk nt
' " . .i : nnd$52JawlnstS.BO to STOW Friday
ntul 5.30 to $5.33 ono week njo ( today.
Arums' ? PrU'o of line * for November.
ShowJng the average of prices jviW for full
oads of IIORS oti this innrkct on each day of
ho month of November for the i > ast seven
enrs :
Receipts of sheep were light and the
quality of the ottering ? was nolhlni ; extra.
The demand was goo.l , nnd what hr.lcru
could use went readily at steady to strong
prices , but the trade In the under ( trades
was slow. Fair to good mtlvos , ( j.Td@'J.K : ) ;
fair to coed westerns. $2.'Jo@t.I5 ; ; common
and stock sheep , $ l.GO(3'2.Xi ( ! ; good to choice
40 to 100-lb. lambs , $ J.6Uft.00. ( ! Representa
tive sales.
Knits l.ivu Mnrkcr.
m City . ntnoK .
KANSAS I'mDoc. . 2. OATTi.K-lii'cotpts ,
3,700 head ! shipments 2,000 lu-ad ; miirunt
steady to strong : 'J'oxat slcert , $2.4011
3.CI ) ; slilpplnxMcori , 84.00S5.35 ; 'lexiiH ami
natlvo cows , 81.2533.25 ! butchers' stock ,
(2.851(4.15 : stockers alul feeders , 2.00 < a3.50.
llnus-Krcolpts 4,6"0 head ! shipments ,
501) ) head ! light bozs worn 5o higher ; hoiivy ,
steady ; hulk , J5.2535.15 ! ; huiivy , packing und
mixed. $5.UQ5.4l ) ) ; light , Vorkors and pigs ,
M.50&5.45.
HtiKBi1 Kt'ecints , 400 head ! shipments ,
300 head ; market steady.
ht. l.oms l.lvo Stork
HT. Louts , Dec. 2. CATTLE Uccclpts. 2,200
head ; shipments. 400 head ; nmiket stonily ;
no natives cm wile : Texas stcur.s sold , $2.40
412.01) ) ; cows , S2.00a .30.
IloilB-lU'colpts , l.BOOhcnd : shipments , 3,100
bond ; market btrons ; top price , itS.OOj bulk of
sales , (3.1035.41) ) .
HilKKi' HeculplK , lOObnnd ; shipments , 30D
liGiidfiuarkcl nominal , not enough supply tu
make prices ,
Mock In
Hccolpts ot live stock ut ttio four principal
Tvcslcru markets .Saturday , December 2 :
Cattle. Does. Shoot ) .
South Omaha . 2.251 3,722 424
Chicago . 15,000 12,000 7,000
Kansas City . 8,700 . 4,600 400
Ht.Loills . 2,200 1.800 100
Total . . 2JM51 22.022 { U 24
Cure Indigestion and biliousness with
DoWitt's Uttlo Early Risers.
WHY PEOPLE WORRY
IM Cmno Ulrnrly I .M.IMMOU mill llio llc i
\\nynt A\olil nj ; It llotrntril ,
"The pan suinmor nml b.irly full IIRVC liccn
period * of ( v orrjr , of ciro nnd oxlmtmteil vlinl
Hy caused by ilio strain * Incident to bilslncn. '
TliospcnVcr wm n prominent innn , Conlln *
xnnR. lie until : "Tlih lins nntiiriilly council
men to become run flown , norVolcmnnd roixlly
utmblo to pronrly uiteml to business. Hill
tli's t * not ait. Man's worries bccomo n wn-
irmti's MrOtrici bncnti < a of her ftnparlor Intnl.
tlvo POWOM unil 9-ni | > Mliy with everything
tlint concerns her linslmiid , licr brothers or
her lover. All tlioso tilings nuuso Rront ox >
Imitation , nnd H Is nul MirjirWuK tlint BhysU
elnns report n stnto of \ renkncsghlch linn
notVcun known before for yours
"It ts true that our llnnuoliil troubles nr
largely over , but the system needs hmldlnK
up to the conOltlou an ) tone of six molillm
ngo. It Uuvldont tlmt tills oun only bo done
by the on refill nnd syitnmntlo mo T > t some
litirc , HrnlUi-lmullN7. | ) ; llfo-slvliitf Mlmul.uit ,
nnd this can bo fontrl onlj lit that trund iiro-
partition wlilcli h a stood the test of nscoroot
yonri , Duffy's I'ure MultVlihl.py. . "
Tlio rtbovo words nro true , intil they should
bo ciuofuUy eonilnnod by till > otliliiR lua
nvprcqnnllnd tbM piirninodlcluit whMicy foi
btilldlnir up nnd rostoiliu the lu'iillli , vrnitvl
sttcntttli nud vltiUlty. Do not for it moment
consider It IIUo ordinary whlsklei. und donnt
bo deceived by nny dcitlurtn \ \ inn v tell you
so. It him mi cciii'il. ttnd \vortliy of tliu
prosit ioiiu ; rlty wlitoh I
$3 SHOE
Do you wear them ? When next In need try a pair ,
Boot In the world.
44.00 2.50
$3.50 i $2.00
ran UDIEU
42.50 $2.00
$2.25 $1.75
FOR BOY9
t2.00
FOR
If you want a fine DRESS SHOE , made In the latest
styles , don't ' pny $6 to $8 , try my S3 , $3.50 , $4.00 or
$5 Shoe , They fit equal to custom made am ] look And
\tcar asicll , Ifyoti wish to economize In your footwear ,
do so by purchasing W , L , Doughs Shoes , Name and
prlco stamped on the bottom , look for It when you buy ,
AT. L. DOUGLAS , Brockton , Mas ) . Sold by
Tgnat/ Newman , Els-ns Svonsou , S.V. \ .
Bowman & Co. , 0. W. Curia.n ; P. a
Crcssoy. South Omuhn.
A CAllU.
Owinjr to the strlnirot\cy of the
times , I have reduced my regular
charges to cash putiotits to exact
ly ono half of the urintod oculist's
fee bill. E. T. ALLEN , M , D.
13yo nnd Eur Hurpcon.
noom20l'I'.ixlon llloclc. llttli nnd P.tniam.
What is
/astorid ik'Dr. Sninucl Pitcher's prescription tor Infants
and Children. It contains neither Opium , Morphine nor
other Karcotlc suhstnncc. It is n harmless substitute
for Paregoric , Drops , Soothing Syriips , nnd Castor Oil.
It is Pleasant. . Its guarantee Is thirty years' use by
Millions of Mothers. Castorla destroys Worms nud allays
feverishncss. Castoria prevents vomiting Sour Curd , (
cures Dlarrhrca and "Wnd Colic. Castoria relieves
teething troubles , cures constipation and flatulency.
Castorla assimilates the food , regulates the stomach
nnds bowels , giving healthy and natural sleep. Cas
toria is the Children's Panacea the Mother's Friend.
' Castoria. Castoria.
" distortijsati excellent medlclno for chil " Castorla Is sow ell adopted to children thai
dren. Mothersliaio icpeatcdly told moot Its I recommend It as superior toauy piuscrlptlou
good effect , upon their children. " known to inc. "
D.i. Q. C. OsGoon , TI. A. AncntEii , M. D. ,
Lowell , Mass. Ill So. Oxford St. , llrooklyn , N. T.
" Castorla Is the host remedy for children of " Our physicians In the children's depart
which I nn ; acquainted. I hope the day It not ment have spoken Mghly of their experi
far distant when mothers will consider the re.il ence In their outslJo practice with Castorla ,
Interest of their children , nnd use Castorla in anil although wo only have mucus our
stead of the various quack nostrumswhlch are medical supplies nliat Is known as regular
destroying their loved ones , by forclngopliiin , products , yet wo nro free to confess S MM
morphine , soothing syrup and other hurtful merits of Castorla has WOP " * to look with
agents down their throats , thereby sending favor upon It , "
them to premature graves. " UNITED HOSPIT.U. iss DiRpnNMnr ,
Dn , J. F. KiscncLOE , Boston. Mac * .
Comvny , Ark. AM.EU C. SUITIJ , Fret , ,
The Centanr Company , TI Murray Street , Now York City ,
"THERE IS SCIENCE IN NEATNESS. ' *
BE WISE AND USE
SAPOLIO
OMAHA
U Itafacturas rlofcis iecloiy
BAGS & TWINES | TENTS , ETO.
Morse-Coc Slioa Comply.
BaleiroomanlOfflco-im IIOJ-IIII ilo.T. rl
Factorr-IU'Jill'l-11" "Oirar4 St.
' JUnufujturen of Hooft aul
W are the as't/v
our UOIT factory
HARDWARE.
Hector & Willielrny Lobeck & Linn ,
COMI'Ahy.
Dealo'a In hardwire ml
Corner lltb and Jackion mecUanlo' toole.
H'JI ' Doiulu Stroj' .
HATS , ETO. | IRONWORKS.
W. A. L , Gibbon & Co Omaha Safe and Inn
Wlioluialo WOII1C * .
Hall.eapi , atriw Fafoi.raulti , jail woo I ,
KlOTei , niltteni. ltU Iron ( button audllr * ei-
and llarnejr ntre-tt. c.ipe * . Uiu AucJroo.i , UlU
mid Jaclorin
COMMISSION. | LUMBER.
Branch & Co. John A. WaKeliiW ,
Iropnrtid.Auirrlcan Portland -
Produce , frulti ot all land commit. Mll au-
kuj content and ( JjUu/
klndi , ojateri. whlta lime ,
LIQUORS. I SXOVE REPAIRS
liitk & Herbert , Omani Stove Kepjir
WOUKR. * lnr rep lift
Wbolciato liquor dealer * and w t5r tnotjmoji
( or nnr klnd < > ( ti < ir <
1001 farnara Ht.
PAPER. OILS.
Carpenter Paper Col Standard Oil Co.
prlBtlDKl wrapping and 1 llanova and InbrlcaU.ll
