The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-12-22
JEssIE,S THANKSGIVING.

1t was tho evening before Thanks
giving.
Tho great naples in the door-yard
that had blazed 80 long in russet and
golden fire had showercd the last
witherod leaves upon the path; the
creeping vino on the plaza column:
glowed scarlet IN the misty autumn
air, and tho woods in the valley were
stained with the bloody footsteps oI
many a midnight frost. And yet
.IIczskiah Underhill, standing pen,
sivOly polishing his spcctaclcs before
the fire, was not satisfied with natures
great Kaleidoscope Of color.
'1t don't seem just right" solilo.
quized Hezokiah, mot to have genu.
inc snow storm afore ThanksgivinW
"Tsko things as you find en-, faith.
err said Mrs. Hezskiah, a stirring
body who never stood still long enough
TO give = wrinkle time to settle down
on her face, and whose coffee -colorod
cap-ribbonS, owing to perpetual mo-
ton, we're like brown birds continual
ly on tho wing. Elder Jones sayi
there's nothin' but whSt's for the
beEt!' ...
"Wsll, there's no harm in wishin' |
spoIs, said Hszskiah, srgumsnt2tivs-
y.
"No, said Mrs, UndSrhilI; but il
was goin' to rish wouldn't bo for
such little thing ss falI'o snow.
know what I'd give big spple for
"Whst?' questioned IIczekiah, rath-
er surprised at his conteated help
mates expressing any ungratifed de-
sire.
The little woman futtorod up close
to him, and there WAS q liquid glim-
mer in the eyes she raised to his face
"Think of the many, many empty
seats thsrsll bo around the Thanks
giVin' freside tomorrow, Uczckah!
0, if | could have my wish, I'd bring
'em all back from tho graves upon the
battlefield, and from the weary hospi-
tails. Think of our Jared, koepin'
gusrd along the Potomac; think of
Hiram Stecls's brave boy wounded
xnder the very flag he fought for, and
dying in strange lxnd!'
DO you think he will die, Aunt
Mary?" ...-.... ....
A slight figure was clinging to Hoz-
ekiah's arm, and pale, pretty face,
with bands Of shining black hair and
wild, startled eyes, was turning up
ward in brsathless suspense.
"Thcre, now, l do say fort l never
meant she should hear! Isposed she
was up Itairan CALCULATED the furried
old lady. No, dear, | hope he'll get
better; any way its our duty to hope
for the best. That's what Elder Jones
said only last Sabbath day.
"Uncls, tell me, do they think hc
will dic?' repeated the girl, turning to
the old man, as if she had neither
heard nor needed her aunt's words.
Child, how should l know? You've
asked me that ss'f-sams question forty
times this last week if you've asked it
once, said Hezekiah, good,humoredly.
'Sposin' he don't get well, why should
you fret about it? When he went
away SIX months ago, you was tlirt-
in with Harry Mossmore, and playin
with his fsslin's just exactly as our cat
teascE a mouse. Didn't l hear you
with my own ears tolln Frank Steele
he was nothin' more'n friend to you,
and you wondered at his presumption
in ever supposin' ho could be anything
morc?
81 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 pass
ed my lips before l would have given
worlds TO recall them. But o, tho
punishment il greater than can
bear. Tell me, uncle, do they believe
he will die? o, if | could die tool"
He is in Gods hand, my child, said
the old man, solemnly, and He who
raised tho widows son at Main, and
brought Lazarus back to life, will not
fail to do all things well. Trust in
Him, Jessie, and pray to him
Jessie Underhill scarce heard the
old mans words; she had resumed her
scat by the window and was gazing
sadly out upon the gold and incarna-
dine of the sunset as it famed above
the western pine forests, liiening it in
her own mind to the flash of cannon
and the dreadful stains of blood upon
the battlefield. And with the throb-
bings of her heart rose and fell the
treasured bit Of paper cut from the list
of"Woundcd" in the daily journal, and
containing but ono line,-"Francis
Steele, Private, Dangerously"
Hczckiah Underhill looked at his
niece's dropping figure, whilo stranger
contortions passed over his weather
beaten features. Once or twice he
opened his mouth and shat it again
with click like the spring of steele
trap; once or twice he made an invol
untary step toward her, and then re-
sumcd his former posture us if by an
effort.
mo, no. he muttcred between his
teeth, fairly beating retreat, and
never Dausinr until he was out under |