Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-04-27
Home! Sir, | have no home p

ness, you're a soldier, and TO tell by your
looks L should guess you were about the
age OF him that's buried at Gettysburg
my only son! love that blue uniform
for David's sake, and if there's soldier
IN the world that hasn't home to 90 to
on Thanksgivin' eve, there's corner for
him by Zenas Carey's freside Come in,
sir come in You're welcome as flowers
in May
John looked into the wet eyes and work,
ing face Of the old farmer an instant. and
accepted his invitation without another
word.
What cheerful change it was, from the
frosty air and chill twilight of the lonely
road to that bright kitchen with its spot
less board floor and resinous pine logs
AND when Melinda Cary drew bumped
! backed rocking chair to the hearth for
him, and spoke word or two of welcome,
John Siddons wondered if the eyes of his
mother, who died when he was babe, had
not beamed upon him just so!
Il told mother SO, this very morning.
said Zenas, with triumphant flourish of
his hand, as he stirred up the logs to
waving, glorious sheet of fame. SAYS |.
Melinda, we'll kill the biggest turkey, and
III pick out the yallerest pumkins on the
barn floor And says she, what for, Ze
mas, when there's only US two to eat emp
aud says |, Mother Davie was here with
us last Thanksgivin' with his new uniform,
as brave and handsome as you'll often see
-now mother, don't cry.
IonaS
wite's grey hair with strangely tender
touch and went on
Says |, hes gone where its Thanks
glyin all the year round now, my poor
+ boy, my brave boy but, says | wen
make somebody welcome Tor Dagie sake,
won't we, mother? And now sir, yon /,
spend tomorrow with Us, and tell me
about the battle of Gettysburg, where la.
vie died, crying out with his last breath
not to leave the flag be captured
Zenas' voice died out into choking,
gasplng sob. John Siddons laid his hand
softly on the rough, toll hardened hand of
the farmer, while a pang Of envy shot
through his heart. All it was almost
worth while being shot down in battle to
he missed and mourned like dead David
Carey
%, wife, walled Zenas, when John Sid
dons had fallen asleep in the little corner
room that had been the lost boys; it is
almost like having Davie back again
Wife, L fight my great sorrow down every
night, but every morning it rises up again
more than ever God help every parent
whose home is made desolate by the field
Of battle.'
Thanksgiving dawned with white
whirl wind Of driving snow that eddied
among the guarded bows of the apple tree
IN mad frolics, and edged the old stone
wall with dazzling ermne And the fiery
sparks careering swiftly up Zenas Carey's
wide chimney met the steadily falling snow
halt way and gave battle, while the hearth
glowed with ruddy brightness, as if it
knew all about the Governors Proclama
ton, and approved Of it.
You have cozy little farm here, Mr..
Carey, said John, as they walked through
the snow storm to the church, whose spire
nestled among the everlasting hills be
yond,
IF | was only sure of it, sir said Ze,
mas, with a sigh. But I've been hard put
to it to get along these times Taxes and
such like come very heavy on poor men,
and I've had a run O. i'll luck, so that the
place is mortgaged its full value, and to a
hard man-one that will sell the home
you We been born aud brought up in as soon
as eat his breakfast, so he can make mon,
ey by it. 1t will be black day.tor Me-
linda and me when We have to leave the
Rock Farm; but it must come soon, and |
don't much care what becomes of me after
wards. | tell you, sir, that when man
has lived to my age under one roof tree he
don't take very kindly to being 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
L ought'not to complain Thanksgivin'
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 could still find some
thing to be thankful for.
The turkey and pumpkin pies we're smok-
iEg on the rounc table when John and |
Zenas returned from church; and Mrs
Carey had brought OUT her flowing blue
plates and her choicest old time silver
spoons in honor of their guest There
was no beverage but coffee that never knew
the shores Of Java, and pitcher cf cold,
sparkling cider; but champagne could not
have been more cordially dealt out by Ze
mas; and Mrs. Careys smiling kindness gave
a favor to the chickorized rye that is some
times lacking in 'egg-shell china
The table was cleared away, and they
were sitting around the fire, when the door