Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-08-01

'" ~" ~'j~y 30 ~ .I| |.HI
terom mo Nau anal American.
A Dark Morning and q Light Even
' ing.
AT I've o'clock upon Thanksgiving
morning. Deacon Wilson arose rs h,
was wont;n holiday made any changs
in his hours. Yet now he no longer
sprang from his bed with the alacrity
which changed duty into pleasure; h,
rose because imperious NJ cessity com
manded Il. There were the cattle ts
be fed and watersd. and the poultry
to receive The sams attention. and
was, moreover. q fre ~ be made IL
the huge old kitchen Gre place; for tn,
deacon had now no servant or helper
and in the grey winter Of his life the
whole burden Of managing his place
had fallen on his shoulders. Fortu.
nately. they were broad and strong
fortunately. his constitution was good,
his spirits elastic. and his piely SIN
cere. for bis burdens and trials were
indeed weighty. lie had been com.
parstively rich. he was now in EN-
barrassed circumstances. He had
looked forward to the time when son
should relieve him Of the most Lbo.
rious Of his tolls. while n daughter
performed the same kind Office for bis
wife. Both had been disappointed
and now the old couple were the soIi-
tary occupants Of that lone farmhouse.
The deacon went mechanically
about his morning labors; he drove
the cattle TO the water-tank: he sup
piled them with fresh fodder. and af-
ter seeing that they were comfortable.
returned TO the old kitchen. BY this
time the good wife had prepared a
breakfast, and a genial FIRE was diifu.
sing its heat through the apartment.
The old couple sat down to break
fast. after blessing by the old farm
er. but the meal passed by in silence.
II was followed bya fervent prayer and
the reading OF a portion OF the Scrip
lures. After this they adjourned to
The sitting room. where a good FIRE
was burning. and where the old dane
assumed her knitting. one Of those in
comprehensive pieces Of female in
dustry which seems to have neither
beginning nor end.
"Well," said she. with sigh, "this
is Thanksgiving day. 1t doesn't seem
like old times at all. We used TO
have house full Of company. frolick.
some young folks and cheerful old
people; and now we are alone"
"Last Thanksgiving day." said the
old man, "there was one with us who
seemed to my eyes like an angel Of
light. with her fairy golden hair float
ing like glory on her shoulders. and
her little foot making music rs she
moved about the old house. But
even then there was a hectic flush
upon her check. like the red upon the
maple leaf in autumn. When the
January SHOWS lay deep .on the hills
and in the hollows. we carried her to
her last home--but> Gods will be
DONE"
you forget that we have another
child alive"
"No. l do not forget it," said the
old man bitterly. "There is one liv-
ing mewhere. who has brought dis
grace upon our name: who has for
gotten his parents and his God; who
has drunk deep Of the cup Of iniquity.
and who has brought ruin and woe
upon his name and his family"
"Do not speak harshly of poor
William" pleaded the mother.
"why should not Was he not
insensible to kindness--steeled against
affection :? Did he not scatter my
earnings to the wind Is it not to
him that / owe the prospect Of beg
garry and destituno1 Remember
the first day Of February. That is
the last day Of grace. IL the money
comes no, then, and God knows whence
il is to come, we are driven from be.
meath this roof'--a pair Of house hold
beggars. Who will care for us then?"
"God will care for u.s." said the
aged woman, raising her eyes revernt.
iy 10 heaven.
The old man made no reply, for
utterance was choked. AT that mo.
ment the old clock. that stood ticking
In the corner, struck the hour Of nine.
The deacon rose.
at is time to harness old Dobbin, :"
said he, "for we have q long way TO
ride to meeting. and the roads are in
a ba ! condition."
Their preparations were soon made.
and the old couple. poorly but de-
Gently attired. sailed forth TO their
public devotions. The services ended
the deacon and his wife. as they issu-
ed from the perch. we're kind y greet
ed by many old friends and neighbors
more than one Of whom PRESSED them
TO come and partake Of their Thanks
giving cheer. But the deacon shook
his head,
MANY thanks. my friends" he
said, "bu. ever since l have been a
householder. ! have kept my Thanks.
giving at home. and l shall continue
to do so, as long as l have n house re-
naming over my bead"
So thew rode home together. While