Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-12-31
ITO" =, -N't5 : III HTuhgfliH.
Grandfather Burton's THANKSGIVING

rcd-curtained windows in one Of the oidcs,
yet most substantial locking houses in the
place. The house stood at Il short distance
from the village, in the midst of large
farm, which, some few weeks earlier in the
season, would have attracted attention
from the neat and thrifty aspect of its or
c!arcis and corn-felds, It's smooth moved
meadow land, and its wci-made and well
kept fences. Venerable trees. which the
taste Of some long buried ancestor must
have rescued from the axe of the pioneer
then shaded the house; now their long
branches 'lroopcd under the weight of the
frozen snow, which encascd ever tiny
lough AMI forgotten leaf At times the
full moon looked forth from the angry
clouds, which hurricdiy closed their ranks
against her, and for moment glistcninc .
icicleS shonc Ike diamonds in her rays
then the dark shadow and the bleak winds
again ruled the night, and the mourutul
trees crcakcd sadly against the house.
Within the dwelling all was peace.
The large oll-f,.slioncd room, from whose
windows the REDEEMED light fell upon the
snow-covcrcd garden, showed no trace of
the ccld and darkness without. Two can
dies, in shining silver candlc-sticks, shed
their light upon the simple but antique
furniture of the room. The home-,pun
carpet of red and green stripes, which
time had tried in vain to fade. the straight
backed chairs, the tall AMI well-stocked
book case, the desk Of dark mahogany,
the gilt framed looking glass. and the old
$ clock that tickcl behind the door ali
seemed to have belonged there from time
! nmcmorial
! The wide chimney Pace no longer
yawned It's capaclous mouth as when il
could consume half cord Of wood in 4
single day. \ more moderate and not
lesS cheerful Franklin" stood on the
! hearth-in summer Ornamental with fea,h-
cry asparagus, now its polished sides were
rejecting the blaze of some hickory sticks,
which cracked and glowcd, and filled the
room with a genial warmth that furnaces
and steam pipes try in vain to initiate. In
a large arm chair beside the fire sat VEN
cradle man. He had been reading from
the Holy Book to his wife, who SIT on the
other side Of the fire place quietly knitting.
His spcctacles were pushed back upon his
broad forehead, which was ornamcutcd by
4 few soft, white locks, spared by
time. His brown eye rested lovingly
upon the good wife, who for forty years
had made his home happy.
She seemed to be thinking deeply, and
shade Of sadness crossed Lcr face-a
face in which was plainly written the rec
ords Of useful, a peaceful life. At las.
she said, with a half sigh, " Poor Annie !!
it can hot be very happy Thanksgiving
to her; how sad she locks"
81 Sad enough, poor child and she will
be very dcsolatc, if her feeble boy follows
his fa;hcr to the grave. He looks as if he
could not live long. She lad cold day
for her journey. Iwondcr she did not
wait until tomorrow
She was afraid it might storm. and
she told me, with her sad smile, SO unlike
the merry Annie who left us six years ago
come Thursday, that she could not miss
his Thanksgiving at home. l fear it
will be too much for her. James we'd
ding will recall her own so yividly to her
mind and she wiz remember ioyful an
uIvorsaries Of the day, even the last, when
/ Mr.. Howard was here; aud though his
thin face and dreadful cough made us all
sad, she was hoping that he would live,
/ and longing for spring to revive him"
"And when spring came he was in
heaven" said Mr.. Burton "Annic ought
not to be comforticss, when she can look
! back upon such dcath-bc1 As he calm
ly drew his last breath, my heart said,
Blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord His victory over the last enemy
! was glorious. | cnyiod him the entrance
into heaven, and fcl; almost rs if | could
look il through the widc-opcn gates, and
see him welcomed home All, it 10 a
blessed thing to die so"
! There was brief pause-then the
mothers heart rcverting TO her widowed
! child, she said, "I am glad Annie came
to-day, for now she will meet her brothers
and sisters as they arrive, iustead ofcominp
suddenly upon the whole happy group. l
hope they will all come, as they have
promised; it will be day of Thankssiv-
ing indeed to us, if We may see our good
and ailectionatc children once more about
our board. But | hardly dare expect
Frank. Jane has studicl all tie ship
news for weeks, but she has 10 news Of
his vessel"
~ have feeling ths. he will come"