The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-12-11
CORA wILLARDs THANKSGIVING:
OR a KIND DEED REWARDED.
BY HELEN L. BosTwICK.

"Wife,' said James Willard, packing the last
stick of night wood in the ample box behind
The kitchen stove on the evening before Thanks
giving; "I've about made up my mind not TO
go to Roxbury, myself tomorrow. 1t takes all
| can earn TO keep us comfortable at home
Cora is sixteen now, and her fare on the cars
will be the same as one OF US, and money is
hard to get, you and the children can 60 and
I'll keep Thanksgiving at home, this year.
Mrs. Willard paused in her understanding,
and looked at her husband in surprise, partly
mingled with reproach, IL shan't enjoy my
supper the least bit without you,' she said en-
phaticslly. For ten years We haven't once
missed going to fathers to keep Thanksgiving;
and what shall say is the reason of your stay
ing at home hate to have our folks think
we're anything behind hand can't we econo-
mize in some other way just as well p
1--WE shall have to economic in every way
this year; never saw times quite SO hard as
they are now. Mr.. Jones, said to-day he had
given up finishing his new house this fall and
/ calculated on this job for a certainty. | feel
most sorrs on Cora's account. for wanted to
ssnd her to the Seminary. one term at least
She deserves it poor child, working as she does
.ud straining every nerve to help us get liv-
ing"
She's girl that never complains of hard work
or priva,ion !" said Mrs. Willard, feelingly. al
think as highly of my own children us any
mother need TO but must say, there isn't one
among them that has Cora's disposition. 1t wa:
= blessed thing for US, that we took in the little
esst.away, instead of throwing her upon tht
rown. But James, you must go tomorrow
No, il could see where all the money We
shall need is coming from, Id not lose one oI
your mothers Thanksgiving suppers. you ma!
depend. But my old hat, here, is past wearin!
away from home, and new one is not to b
thought of at present. Then the railroad far
mounts up! No, wife, you take the childreI
and have good time. shall stay at home
Where's Cora, tonight p
k"She went over to the jewellers, after tea
to get the clasp of her bracelet mended. He
birthright bracelet, she calls it, you know, AM
she wants to wear it tomorrow. The chill
has sewed early and late to finish her new merin
dress, and make over her old one for Mary Jane
Here she comes.
The young girl, who entered. though scarcel
more than child in years, was tall and woman
", with certain refinement and grace of mar
ner, that made her Seeem out of place in the III
cultured, but kind-hearted family, where she ha
been, TO use Mrs. Wllard's expression, a cas-
AWAY. Throwing back the hood from face
delicate beauty, she said eagerly;
'sThere's something strange about my brac
let, mother The jeweler says that in repairir
at; he happened to press very hard upon son
point, and the double plates parted by sprn
and discoKered miniature. Isn't it strange ?
He said it was beautiful female face, ov
shaped, and that it had long curls. He ddr
say it was like me, bnt thought he meant
Cora stopped, amid the smiles of her listener
"Well," she added blushing, "you know no
my hair always would curl! But the strange
thing is that after he closed it to finish the repair
he could not again find the spring. lam afraid
is injured in some way, although he thinks nc
Mr.. C. tried to open it, and have been pu
zling myself over it to no purpose. Oh wo
der whose picture it is! Perhaps my own"
A"O'uei QUO "ou'u huNe ouuCu, out u
voice quiyered, and she sat down without fnis
ing the sentence. Never before had the girls il
sgination been SO strongly excited, and
thoughts, which often busted themselves wi
speculation upon her unknown birth, we
backward Into the hidden Past, vainly seeki
sope clue to the unrayeled mystery. 1t W
Just hfteen ye5rs ago, on Thanksgiving mig
that James Willard, and his wife had fou
her, a helpless babe, of nine or ten mont
wrapped in bundle of rags, which looked as
the wind might have drifted it upon the do
steps. Upon ihe ground beside the bundle, a
partly trodden in the snow, they had found