Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-13
LISBErH BROWNS THANKSGIVING
DINNER.
(CONCLUDED,L

clock struck three; still thoy had not come
''What could detain 'em so long2" said Lis
beth. giving the fire a vigorous stir, and NOV
ing Reuben's coat and slippers little nearer
. The dinnerll all be spilled, and they'll have
sn awful ride. The SHOWS beginnin' to fall
now, an it'll be dreadful storm, know by
the sound o the wind; it roared just this way,
kind o mournful like, just before that great
snow-stOrm, when the hen-house roof fell in and
smashed all my poor chickens. Dear me! how
fast it falls. 1 do wish I'd a. thought to send
Simeon that yarn tippet he always was SUBJ
ject to sore throats, and this'll be sure to give
him one. Where his slippers, Faith-the new
ones you worked for him? Why don't you put
'em down to warm! He'll want 'em when he
gets here
Faith brought out the slippers-pretty black
velvet ones. lowered with golden braid-and
put them beneath the chair in Simeon's favor
lite corner.
Now, put down some apples to roast, to
heat 'em a mug o. cider, and see that the
gravy's warm. Surely they'll be here SOON"
Faith did this also, and then brought out her
little work basket, and sat down before the
glowing hickory fire, making great effort to
appear calm. But it was all in vain; her
hogers would tremble and futter, and her cot
tons tangled in a most amazing manner.
-Four o clock came, the snow descended in
thick. heavy showers and a cold easterly wind
whistled round the corners, leaving the frozen
ground bare in some places. and in Others
piling up the white drifts in great freezing
masses. The chickens sought their nightly
roOst, the cattle iOcked to the bsrn-yard, and
the pony came up to the bars and whined for
sdmittance; still they did not come.
The Thanksgiving dinner grew cold upon
the table, and Lisbeth stood in the doorway
until the white flakes lay thickly on her gar
ments.
'Somethin's the matter, Faith" she said
al IL
this long If there wasn't"
" The boat may have been delayed 2' sug-
gested Faith
q Yes, or the buggy broke down. Reuben
said one of the linch-pins was loose Dear me-
it's too bad the Thanksgivin' dinner II be
spilled after all our fxin.'
Another half hour went by. The wind rose
60 shrill, wild blast, and the snow came down
in smOthering torrents. The chill, gray gloom
of twilight began to settle down, when dimIy
visible to the eyes of the weary watchers ap-
Peared the sombre, bonnet-shaped top of the
Old-fsshioned buggy.
Here they come, Faith here they come ~
cried Lisbeth, springing down the steps Stir
the fire, and let's run down to meet EN- Poor
Simeon, know he's nearly froze,''
Faith sprang up, and in her excited haste
overturned her workbasket, sending its con-
tents in promiscuous flight over the smoothly
waxed floor, burned her fingers with the poker
came well-nigh scorching her new merino-
dress, and at last, flushed and tremulous ran
out to join Lisbeth
The old buggy came on with a slow, uncer-
tain motion, and after several tedious mo-
ments, paused at the little gate.
Lisbeth pressed forward, closely followed by
Faith; but no eager face looked out to welcome
them.
Where's Simeon-where my boy?" cried
e ~ IL
Reuben, where's Simeon ~
But Reuben did not answer. or even make
the slightest movement. With his face white
and stony, his hands dangling helplessly be-
side him, he sat in the remOtest corner staring
out upon them with a vacant, unmesning stare
g Reuben, what's the matter ?' almost
screamed the frantic woman. "Are you sick
-dead-frozen Oh, for heaven sake, speak
to me ~
Slowly and almost mechanically he arose
from his seat, and clanbered out with feeble,
tottering steps.
Reuben, Reuben-speak to me-" continued
Lisbeth, grasping his arm fercely. "Where's
Simeon-why hasn't he come home2'
" He's gene,-he'll never come home any
more: never, never.'' said the old m an inco-
herently, cropping with his hands in the pock-
cts of his coat.
''Gone, Simeon goue,-my boy never come
home any more. What do you mean, Reu-
ben ?"
"Here it is" be continued. in the same
wandering tone; " here il all is He'll never
come home any more"
Faith grasped the paper from his sbvering
hand, aud following his pointing finger read
in the deepening twilight:
I" By telegraph from s. The steamer
Ocean Queen, that left this wharf at six o oclock
this morning, took FIRE on the passage. AL
though prompt and vigorous efforts were N made
IN ha go tl 4
ness Of the catastrophe only two were saved I"
Simeon was one Of them, he was one Of the
tive" she said, her face blanching, and her
lips growing rigid.
No, no-Ive seen 'em-seen 'em both;
he'll never come home any more ~
:" What is it," cried Lisbeth, still uncon-
scicus Of the dreadful truth, her voice drop
ping down to a tone of piteous entreaty,
- where IS Simeon-where's my boy tell me
he's not dead, and can bear anything else "
But keuben did not answer, but the tears
rolled over his wrinkled face, and il was
enough.
The storm swelled higher and higher, and
towards midnight ragged around the little New
England cottage with appalling fury. The
hickory FIRE had burned down to a few flicker
ing embers, which threw a itfui glow over the
Thanksgiving table, and over the bowed heads
OF the three disconsolate mourners as they sat
there In their terrible desolation.
This was their Thanksgiving day, begun in
hope and joyous anticipation, but ended in the
very blackness Of utter despair.
"Oh, l can't stand it" sobbed Lisbeth; "I
can't, can't; it's cruel-wicked-wrong. He
was all l had-my only chiId-my darlin'
precious boy, that never gave his old mother
a cross word, or caused her moments trouble
in his life: my baby. that used to sleep in my
bosom and lay his little head against my cheek
AN now he's in the river-in the cold, black
water, and we're here, living, thinking breath
ing, by the warm FIRE. Oh, can't stand il,
can't; wish 1 could die and end my misery.
Reuben was teo deeply affected by this sud
den outgush of mothers grief to speak sim
gle word Of comfort, and his own heart was too
deeply wounded. For few moments the th rec
sat side by side in sorrowful silence; then the
old man rose up, and taking down the family
. bible, and opened it, and read: "Come unto
me all ye that are heavily laden, and will
give you rest
Precious, life giving words. We read them
night and morning, and hear them Sabbath
after Sabbath from the sacred desk, yet never
knew their full meaning, their true consola-
ton, until some great calamity sweeps away
every earthly prop and stay, and We have no.
thing else TO lean upon. All this was felt in