Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-02-14

him, and then lifted up his hand to bless Heaven II
their behalf. But for three years, ever since Inc
j little Bobby had been sunbeam TO bless the goot
old mans hearth, there had been shadow too, up
on it, gentle shadow, but sad one. That shade"
was the graceful mother of the child, the avorite
daughter of the family.
Adelaide Talbot was beautiful and lovely in hel
youth, dearly loved by ALL bat best by her own fire.
side circle. She was, indeed, the richest gem OIL
the circle. When the long lashes were lifted from
her ever changing cheek, you could look into the
very soul of the high-minded, suuny-hearted glrl.
Six years before, she stood in her fathers low par
Tor on Thanksgiving eve, she had stood between that
father and another 10 whose face she lifted her soul
speaking eyes, the bride of an hour. And as tire
good mothers raspberry wine carefully bottled tor
the occasion, went round, she dreamed not that IN
that cup lurked demon that should overthrow the
altar Just erected. Caleb Reynolds was now a
drunkard and deserter from his home. He had
enlisted, it was thought in an hour Of inoxication-
but his wife was lett 10 learn it from other lips lie
Invent without one word of farewell, to the plains of
Mexico, and never since had she heard from him.
Poor Adelaide carried her crushed heart back to her
fathers house, longing only to lay IN the grave
Have you ever tree IN our Western forests,
bllghted by grdng,' as the wOodsmen call 1t, cut
off from its connection with the e-giving earth,
and then left wither for years? never pass such
tree without thinking of the slow death of the heart
to which some writer has compared it, twas thus
that Adelaide stood among the other plauts of her
fathers mature Have you ever seen from such
grded tree, young shoot spring out. and striking
down its 6bres from feeble connection with the
bark below and sustain sure, though sckly life In
the tree? 1t was thus that little Robert came to
bind few broken fbres from her early hopes and
dreams of earth.
But we forgetting our Thanksg iving-noe
OF the aunties forgot it, however-or the cousins,
and by the time farmer Talbot's big sleigh had
emptied twice upon the old salt-sprinlled stone
steps all were brought home fiOm Church, and all
were there.
&All, except two unaccountable sragglers, the
boys, as two strippngs nearly six feet high contin-
ued to be called, who were cultivating the science
IN college not many miles away. And why were
they not there So questioned every one, and grand
mama did not answer, only wiped her spectaces ev-
cry few minutes on her apron and peered out Of her
southwest window.
Meanwhile the new corners were all clustering in
the sitting room,' making merry of the inter
Jude between service and dinner. There was Rob-
ert, the eldest son. with his romlting family and
anxious looking wife, There was Charotte-no,
nobody knew her by that name, Lottie, blooming in
her prime, and managing her little ones to charm
There was Philip, the old bachelor though by no
means crusty one Next TO him sat pale still
looking cousin from the nearest factory village Last
but not least, though in truth she was little one
was the old school ma 'am-the youngest Of her
fathers flock, the laughing, fun-oving Susie She
was not beautiful, as Addie had been, but there was
such word of good nature in her low broad fore
head and dimping Cheeks that you loved her at first
sight. | will not attempt her portrait for | do not
know that she ever sat still long enough to have it
taken, except in church. This day she was here
and everywhere among the children, kissing one
romping with another, and then tossing up Roberts
baby, to the terror of its mother and the delight of
all others.
You must let me go and help grandmamma take
up the turkey indeed you must cried Susan laugh
ing, as she pushed through the doorway, followed by
tne whole scamperlng troop. One had sprung from
the top OF the arm chair to her shoulder, and sat
growing like parrot on his perch.
As she advanced towards the kitchen, the outer
door was thrown suddenly open and a merry
thanksgiving to you = burst from the ips of the in
truders, amid the renewed shouts of the bosterous
brood.
Bless me, where did you drop from y cried
the mother, dropping he lade into the Goals in her
surprise.
why, brothers, we never heard your sleigh
oeiis, exclaimed Susan, throwing off her inc1m
branoe, and heartily welcoming the young collie
gians.
Il dare say not said Edward, as he knocked the
nth r
vehicles, hey, WHIP
with the sunrise this morning, but met with most
provoking break down by the way So, not TO he
cheated out OF our Thanksgiving, we footed it through
the drifts. We've lost Parson Woods sermon
out were In time for mothers dinner; and assure
you walk of eight miles has given us a pair OIL
appetites.'
80 they sat down to dinner at last, all the loving
and merry ones. Grandfather hushed them q,
moment, while he lifted his bronzed hands over tho
huge platter, and invoked bountiful Heaven in
lengthy but fervent blessing Then followed the
usual Gathering and-but need not describe il all
you see it as well as do.
The 'wish-bone,' Ga great prize that) Cor 60 tho
share of the shyest one, little blue-eved Nelly who
carefully wrapped 1t in her white as a sacred ,rea
sure. =" ca
Coz, may break with your? screamed her cou-
SIN Harry, from the other end of the table
No, am going to break
With whom should like 10 know,,
nth aunt Susie, then, said the little dove most
ling tmidly at her side "0''-
Aunt Susie-ha, ha !! aunt Susie would Ioo, fno
" breaking wlsh-bone
And why not, Master Harry :? said Susie merri-
": assure you have broken more than one
wlsh-bone at this very table,
And did your wishes ever come 70 noss
d'd they ever, aunt Susie ? cried three voices ~
once. ''0'' d'
Yes, did they ever, aunt SUSSEX cbimod IN
Edward, casting up from his plate sdelong, dempre
glance, That brought blushes and dmpies n bor
eleeks. he'
susie had sent some quiet little hirtations. even
unoer her iather's august eye. Suddenly her face
grew serious. She caught Adeaide's exnresson
OF countonauce as the latter quietly rose rom the
table, and made some excuse for Withdrawing,
me wlsn-oone was broken to charm, Swapping