The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1863-12-15

make somebody welcome for Davie' sake,
won't VIC, mother? And now, sir, you'll
spend tomorrow with US, and tell me all
about the battle of Gettysburg; where Da-
vie died, crying out with his last breath
not to let the flag be captured !"
Zenas' voice died out into choking,
gasping sob. John SiddOns laid his hand
softly on the rough, tOil-hardened hand
of the farmer, while pang Of envy shot
through his heart. All it was almost
worth while being shot down in battle to
be missed and mourned like dead David
/ Careyl
"0b, wife p' walled Zenas, when John
Siddons had fallen asleep in the little cor
ner room that had been the lost boys, cit
is almost ike having Davie back again
Wife, fight my great sorrow down every
night, but every morning it rises upagain
more strong than ever! ! God help us
- God help every parent whose
home is made desolute by the field of bat
tleP
Thanksgiving dawned through a white
whirlwind of driving snow that eddied
among the guarded boughs of the apple-tree
in mad frOlics, and edged the old stone
wall with dazzling ermine. And the fiery
sparks careeTing swiftly up Zenas Carey's
wide chimney met the steadily falling snow
halfway and gave battle, while the hearth
gloWed with ruddy brightness, as if it knew
all about the Governors Proclamation,
and approved of it.
GYou have a cozy little farm here, Mr.
Carey" said John, as they walked through
the snow-storm to the church, whose spire
nestled among theeverlasting hills beyond
eff I was only sure. of it, sir" said
Zenas, with a sigh. "But I've been hard
put to it to get along these times. Taxes
and such Ike come heavy on poor men,
and Pve had a run O. i'll luck, SO that the
place is mortgaged to its full value, and to
hard man, sir-one that will sell the
home you've been born and brought up in
as soon as eat his BREAKFASTS he can make
money by it. twill be a black day for
Melindy and me when we have to leave
the Rock Farm; but it must come soon,
and I don't care what becomes Of me
arterward. I tell you, sir, when man
has lived to my age under one roof-tree he
don't take very kindly to bein' moved.
Men are like forest trees, sir; you can
take a young un and do as you please
with it, but if you transplant an old 'un
it dies Let's talk o. something else, Mr..
Siddons. I ought not to complain Thanks
givin' day"
John looked with a feeling of actual
reverence at the hard-featured old man,
whose simple soul, borne down as he was by
debt, and grief, and age, could still find
something to be thankful for.
The turkey and pumpkin-pies were smOk-
ing on the round table when John and
Zenas returned from church; and Mrs.
Carey bad brought out her best flowing
blue" plates and her choicest oldtime sill
yer spoons in honor of their guest. There
was no beverage but coffee that never
knew the shores of Java, and pitcher of
cold sparkling cider; but champagne
could not have been more cordially dealt
out by Zenas and Mrs. Carey's smiling
kindness gave a favor to the chickorized
rye that issometimes lackingin "egg-shel
china"
The table was cleared away, and they
were sitting round the fire, when the door
was opened and Deacon Evarts entered,
bringing a small snow-drift on the shOul-
ders of his shaggy oVercoat.
"Well, [ am beat p quOth Zenas.
" Take cheer, Deacon. Let me hang
your coat afore the fire to dry.
"Can't stay" said the Deacon, giving
himself shake, like black water-dog on
It's hind-legs. II thought you'd like to
hear the news, SO I Jest dropped, in on my
way to my darter's Thanksgivin' dinner"
& News what news?" exclaimed Ze-
mas, while his wife dropped her knitting
''Do tell then you hain't heerd?"
81 hain't heerd nothin' but the wind
howlin' down the chimbly and Elder
Smiths sarmon this mornin'," said Zenas,
little impatiently.
The Squire's dead, up to the great
housep'
"DeadT You don't tell me SO That
the man was a speakiu' of as holds my
mortgagep explained Zenas, turning tC
John Siddous. "AnG when did it hapnen,
Deacon ?'' .....
"Died last night, sir. iust about night.
fall, as quiet as a lamb. There want no.
BODY with him but the old housekeepe1
folks didn't s'pose he was dangerous
And Lawyer Ovid says there's a reg'Ial
will, and he's left all his property to the
only relative he had Iivin'; solderin' fellel
that he's never so much as seen-one Sedge.
wick, or Sibley, or-what was his name
now? Any how he'sfell heir to all Squire
Peter Ailesfords property, and that 'sa pret
| ty consid' able windfall!" -..-.
"Was thename Siddons?" asked the SOL
der, who had hitherto listened to the con.
versation in silence. .
"That's it p said the Deacon, giving biz
knee a sounding slap.
"Peter AiiesfOrd was my father cousin,
said the young man, quietly.
'Land O. Goshen!" calculated Deacon
Evarts, with growing venerationtO to the heil
for "the old Squire's" money. Nov
reellyl that's kind o. provideutial, amt it
To think that you should be right here OF
the spotP'
"i was in search of Mr.. Ailesfords hous,
when met you, sir" said SiddOns, turn
ing to Carey "but as I was unaware wha
sort of reception I might get, your kind in
vitation decided me to wait day or two. "
In vain the Deacon tried to 'pump'' th
,-orno, soIdiar JohD SiddODs was civill-
uncommunicative, and the Deacon fnall,
took leave, burning to unfold his budget 0
news eIseWbere