The Portland daily press., 1865-07-11
Tuesday Morning, July II, 1885.
a aHANKsarvrNa STORY. j y,


Deacon Wilson arose.as he was wont, no holida,
making any change in his hours. Yet now b,
no longer sprang from his bed with the alacri
ty which changed duty into pleasure; he ros.
because imperious necessity commanded it,
There were the cattle to be fed and watered
and the poultry to receive the same attention
and there was, moreover, a fire to be made il
the huge old kitchen fireplace; for the dea
con had now no servant or helper, and in the
grey winter of his life the whole burthen O
managing his place had fallen on his shoulders
Fortunately, they were broad and fstrong- for
tunately his constitution was good, his spirits
elastic, and his piety sincere, for his burthens
and trials were indeed weighty He had beer
comparatively rich-he was now In. enlbaf-
rassed circumstances. He had looked forward
to the time when a son should relieve him O
the most laborious of his tolls, while daugh.
ter performed the same kind office for his wife
Both had been disappointed now the old
couple were the solitary tenants of that lone
farm house. ~
The deacon went mechanically about his
morning labors; he drove the cattle to the wa
ter tank he supplied them with fresh fodder,
and after seeing that they were comfortable,
returned to the old kitchen. BY this time the
good wife had prepareda breakfast and oe-
nial fire was difusing its heat through the
apartment. xes nsfis s4B8aJ ,3a tFss9
The old couple sat down to breakfast after a
blessing by the old farmer, but the meal pass
ed by in silence. 1t was followed by "a fervent
prayer and the reading of the Scripture AZ
ter this, they adjourned to the sitting-room.
We'll said she, witha a sigh, this is Thanks
giving Day. 1t doesn't seem like old times at
all.g We used to have ahouse full of company.
frolicksome young folks and cheerful old peop-
le-and now we are alone, alone
Last Thanksgiving Day, said the old man,
there was one with us who seemed to nv old
eyes like an angel of light, with her fairy gold
en- hair floating like glory on her shoulders,
and her little foot making music as shemoved
about the old house. Rut even then there was
hectic flush upon her cheek like the red upon
the maple leaf in autumn. When the Janu-
airy SHOWS lay deepen the hills and In the hoI-
lows we carried her to her. lost home-but
Gods will be done.' YEA sN
You forget that we have another child
alive gf N.nr -
No, / do not forget said the old man Bit
terly. There is one living somewhere who
has brought disgrace upon our name-who
has forgotten his parents and his God,-Who
has drank deep of the cup ofiniquity, and who
has brought ruin and woe upon his family ess
DO not speak harshly Of poor William
pleaded the mother
why should not? Was he not insensible
to kindness-steeled against affection? Did
he not scatter my hard earnings to the wind?
Is it not to him | owe the prospects of beg
gary and destitution? Remember the first of
February. That is the last day Of grace. If
the money comes not then; and God knows
whence it is to come. we are homeless beg
gars. Who will care for us then?AA
God win care for u.s. said the aged woman,
raising her eyes reyerently to heaven. @
The old man made no reply, for his utter
ance was checked. At that moment the old
clock that stood ticking in the corner stuck
the hour of nine. The deacon rose. \ II ssslso
1T is time to harness old Dobbin,' said he
for we have long way to ride to meeting
and the roads are in bad condition. -
The preparations were soon made, and the
aged couple, poorly but decently attired, salli-
ed forth TO their public devotions. The ser
vices ended, the deacon and his wife, as they
issued from the porch, were kindly greeted by
many old friends and neighbor, more than one
ofwhom pressed them to come and partake ol
thanksgiving cheer. But. the deacon shook his
head. e safH iagesss ID
Many thanks, my friends he said, but
ever since have been a householder, have
kept my thanksgiving at home, and l shall
continue to do so as long as have house re-
manning over my head ." 81.
So they rode home together. While the
deacon rode up to the barn to put up his
horse, the old lady opened the back door, which
was always ON the latch, and entered the
kitchen. As she did SO, she started back. "A
stranger was seated by the kitchen fire, who
rose on her entrance He was tall, stalwart
man, dressed in rough suit, with broad
leafed hat, his countenance was Drowned by
exposure to the sun and wind, and his upper
lip almost concealed by heavy and luxuriant
moustache. et fA
Good morning ma'am, he said, with some
embarrassment Finding no one answered
my knocks, took the liberty of walking in.-
believe owe you no apology, for have Of
ficiated as furnspit, and saved your thanksgiv
ing turkey from burning
4 am very much obliged to you, Pm sure,
answered the old lady pulling off her mittens
But did you want to see me or the dea'
comp amr,F fxeeis tss,s.7sts g,.s. ~.
Both Of you, answered the stranger. 'Yot
had a son, / believe p es
YES said Mrs. Wilson, with hesitation, ant
casting down her eyes.
i have seen him lately. a. s
Where? Inquired the mother, with increas
ed agitation. HI8 lAot
In California ale ai' q ~ y 2
Was he doing welI?' f.
Admirably. Motherl motherr he added
impetuously, throwing back his hat, dom
you know me--don't you know your William
He rushed into his mothers arms, and wa
clasped to her beating heart. After the frs
greeting was over, the young man asked:
Where is sister Emmy? sr sa ~ ssis III
Gone, answered the mother, as her tear
flowed forth anew 3 79l11 \
William sank into seat and hiding his fac,
in his hands, wept bitterly The mother die
not attempt to check him. She knew thos,
tears were precious.
And my latner asked the young man
He is well. But you had better retire for :
while. Go to your old room, nv son. II ID iI,s
as YOU left it, and wait till l summon Won
1t was with a huttering heart the overiovet
mother went about the preparations for din
ner, and when the table was neatly set. ever
dish in its place, and the turkey smoking hoi
waiting to be carved, she summoned the oil
man. He made his appearance at once, an
took his seat. Glancing arounu tne tab
he said:
What is this, wife: you have set plates e
threer t9 if1aW YftI
4 thought perhaps somebody might drop
unexpectedly .f,,sp -
There is little danger-hope, | mean--
that, answered the deacon sadly. .
At this juncture, Mrs. Wilson, with my
terious expression, rang the bell, with whic
In happier days, she was won't to summt
their tardy children to their meals.
IL was iaL.S,. answered by the appearance of Il
long-lost William.
The deacon, who recognized him after a m
ment, gazed upon him with a stern eye, b
with quivering lip that betrayed the force
his ill-suppressed emotions.
80 you have come back at last he said.
Yes, Father, but not as left you Faith
last THANKSGIVING day went into my lone
room, and there, kneeling down, address
myself to heaven, and solemnly abjured t
iatai cup which had brought ruin upon l
and woe upon this once happy family FRI