Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-02-12
MiscfII aitfous.
JESSIE UNDERH1IL's THANKSGIVING
It was the evening before Thanksgiving.

glowed scarlet in the misty autumn air, and
the woods in the valley we're stained with the
bloody footsteps of many midnight frost
And yet Hesekiah Underhill, standing PEN
sively polishing his spectacles before the FIRE,
was not satisfied with natures great kaeid-
oseope of color.
1t don't seem just right !" soliloquzed
Hezekiah, not 20 have genuine snow storm
afcre Thanksgivin !"
Take things as you find 'em, father 90 said
Mrs. Hezekiah, stirring body who neve(
stood still long enough to give wrinkle timg
to settle down on her face, and whose coffee
colored csp-ribbons, owing to perpetual mo-
tion," were like brown birds continually on
the wing. elder Jones says there's nothih'
but what's for the best "
w eli there's no harm in wshin', | spose,"
said Hezekiah argumentatively.
"No," said Mrs. Underhll but if | was
goin' to wish, twouldn't be for such little
thing as fall o. snow. | know what I'd give
big apple for"
WHAT" questioned Hezekiah, rather
surprised at his contented helpmate's express
ing any unqualified desire.
The little woman Auttered up close to him,
and there was liquid gimmer in the eyes
che raised to his face.
Think of the many, many empty seats
there'll be around the Thanksgivin fresdes
tomorrow, Hezekiah 0, if could have my
wish, Id bring EN- all back from the graves
upon the battlefield, and from the weary hos
pitals Think of our Jared, keepin guard
along the Potomac; think of Hiram Steee's
brave boy wounded under the very flag he
fought for, and dying in strange land 7"
DO you think he will die, Aunt Mary ?"
A slight figure was clinging to Hezekiah's
arm, and pale, pretty face, with bands OF
shining black hair and Wild startled eyes,
was turned upward in breathess suspense.
"There, now, do say fort never meant
she should hear s2osed she was up
stairs - calculated the hurried old lady.
mo, dear, hope he'll get better any way
ii is our duty to hope for the best. That's
what Elder Jones said only last Sabbath dayr'
:" Uncle, tell me, do they think he will
die:" repeated the girl. turning to tho old
man, as if she had neither heard nor needed
her aunt's words.
Child, how should know You've as
ked me that self-same question forty times
this last week if you've asked il once" sale
Hezekiah, good "Sposin' he
don't get WE'LL why should you fret about it J
When he went away, six montha ago, you was
hirtin' with Harry Mossmore, and playin'
with his feelin's Just exactly as our cat leases
mouse. Didn't | hear you with my own
ears telln' Frank Steele he was nothin' more'n
friend TO you, and you wondered at his pre-.
sumption in ever supposin' he could be any
thing morei I"
~ never meant it. uncle :" sobbed the girl,
"never 1t was that mad spirit OF coquetry
that possessed me- ! scarce know how. The
words had not passed my lips before l would
have given worlds to recall them. But o,
the punishment is greater than | can bear.
Tell me, uncle, do they believe he will die
o, il / could die, too %
He is in Gods hands, my child" said the
old man, solemnly, and He who raised the
widows son at Main, and brought Lazarus
back to life, will not fail to do all things we'll
Trust in Him, Jessie, and pray to Him."
Jessie Underhill scarcely heard the old
mans words she resumed her seat by the
window and was gazing sadly upon the gold
and incarnadine of the sunset it famed a
bove the western pine forests, likening it in
her own mind to the fash of cannon and the
dreadful stains of blood upon the battlefield.
And with the throbbing of her heart rose and
fell the treasured bit of paper cut from the
list of " " founded" in the daily journal, and
containing but one line, "Francis Steele, Pri
vate, Dangerously"
Hezekiah Underhill looked at his niece's
dropping figure, while strange contortions
passed over his weather. beaten features Once |
or twice he opened his mouth and shut it
again with click like the spring of steel
trap; once or twice he made an involuntary
step toward her, and then resumed his former
posture as if by an effort.
mo, no." he muttered between his teeth,
fairly beating retreat, and never pausng un-
til he was out under the tossing boughs Of
the old naples. She's daughter, and niece,
and everything else to me but can't do it
1t would spoil all Poor Jessie, poor little
broken-hearted dove !"
Was Hezekiah Underhill demented that he
should break out into that strange smothered
chuckie, even while the tears were streaming
down his cheeks Certain it was that he
conducted very strangely all that evening,
reading the newspaper with its columns up
side down, depositing the pitcher of cider in
his wifes work basket, and finally bringing
down on his devoted head that lady's remon-
STRANGE by stirring the fire with his snuff box
and trying to put the poker in his waist-coat
pocket
Hezekiah, are you crazy" calculated
Mrs. Underhil.
"Well, no, not exactly" said Hezekiah,
sheepishly " but do feel kind o elevated.
Come up to the FIRE, Jessie don't sit way of
in the cold. That's right puss nestle down
in your old chimney corner seat, That's the
way you and Frank Steele used to sit togeth-
er when you were children"
Father |" exclaimed Mrs. Underhill, re-
proachfully, as Jessie burst out crying. with
her face hidden on her sunts knee.
81 didn't mean to" apologized Hezekiah,
but even then his face was in glow with
something brighter than the genial shine Of
tho freight.
1t was evident that Hezeksh was gloryng
in the mystery of some wonderful secret.
And never did any secret struggle so desper
ately for disclosure as Hezekish's on that
Thanksgiving eve But he kcptit. For the
honor OF mankind let il be recorded that Hez-
ekiah Underhill kept his secret.
n
OF course it's no use trying Soyer him
self even we're he gifted with the descriptive
powers of the wizard Of Waverly, never could
have given you any ides Of Mrs Underhill't
Thanksgiving dinner. The brown, cracking
turkey, unctuous with stufhng and oleaginou
with riyulets of gravy tho pyramids