The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-12-18
From the Atlantic Monthly.
A Story Of Thanksgivins.Time,
[CoNcLuDED.l

A raignad train was fast in snnw-bank.
There it had stuck, unable to move either
backward or forward. since nine o'clock on
Wednesday evening it was now Thursday
morning. tn, snow was still falling, and still
seemed likely to fall,snlocking up more and
more the passage of the unfortunate train
There were two locomotives, with huge
snow-plow on the forward one, baggage,
and express-car, and tour cars filled with
passengers. Two hu ndred people, all anx.
ious, most Of them grumbling, were detained
there prisoners, snow-bound and helpless =
1t was hard case, for they were more than
two miles distant with three feet depth OF
snow between-from the nearest house.
The nearest village was five miles at least.
It was Thanksgiving Day, too. and they
had almost all of them ''lotted'' upon New
England Thanksgiving-dinne, with old
friends, brothers, fathers, mothers, and grand
parents. And there they were, without so
much as ration of crackers and cheese
twas noticeable that the women on the
train-and there were quite number, and
most Of them with children in their arms OF
by their sides s-made, as general rule, less
disturbance and confusion, than the men.
The children, however, were getting very
hungry and noisy by this Thanksgiving.
morning.
In one of the aars were clustered as fine
family group as the eye would desire to
rest upon. 1t consisted of a somewhat large
and florid, but firmly and compactly built
man of thirty years or thcreabout, woman
evidently his wife and apparently some tw @
or three years younger, and three beauti
ful children.
The man was large in frame, without be.
ing coarse, with chest broad and ample as
gymnast's, and with arms whose muscu.
lr power was evident at every movement.
His hair and beard (Which latter he wore
full, as was just beginning to be the custom,
were dark hroWn in color, and thick and
strong almost to coarsness in texture his
eye was clear hazel, full, quick, and com
manding, sometimes almost fierce; while ar
aquiline nose, full, round, forehead, and .
complexion bronzed by long exposure to al
sorts of weather, gave him an aspect to bs
noted in any throng he might be thrown in
to. There was constant air of pride and
determination about the man, which softenet
however, whenever his glance fell upon hi,
wife or children. At such times his fac,
was lighted up with a smile ofpeculiar beau
ty and sweetness.
The woman was Of middle size, with fail
hair, inclined towards auburn, blue eyes, ant
clear red and white complexion. Her ex
preston was one Of habitual sweetness ant
good burner, while continual half.smil,
played about her rosy mouth. She wa.
plump, good-natured, and cozy, -aliogethe
most lovable and delicious woman.
This pair, with their bright-looking chill
drcn, occupied two seats near the stove, ant
were in constant pleasant converse, saw,
when an occasional anxious and impatien
shodow fitted across the face ofthe husban,
and father. On the rack over their head
reposed small travelling-bag which tn
day before had been filed with luncheon 70
the children. Upon its bottom was pante,
in small white letters the name, "Sam so,
Newell"
Itwas, indeed, the long-lost son, return
ing on this day to answer, so much as il
him lay, the prayers repeated for flfteel
years BY his father and mothers fLreturnin
TO see his former home once more, and here
nearly on the threshold, stopped by snow
storm ALMOST unprecedented at that season
There was occasional bitterness in his i'm
patience al the wearying detention, but h
controlled it as well as he was able.
During the night the passengers had bee
quiet and unc,mplaining Wood taken fror
the tenders Of the two locomotives in sma
quantities, and, when the engineers stoppe
the supplies in that quarter, rails torn fror
neighbcrlng fences and broken up for fir
wood, kept them warm (; but after the da
had dawned, when the little treasures
luncheon were exhausted, and all began 1
FEEL the real pangs Of hunger, things assume