The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-12-01
BlDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING, DEC. 1, 1865.


"Come away" said May, in whisper
smother feels badly to have Thanksgiving
come, you know. Perhaps she isn't we'll
let's 20 and drees." r1 10
And before found my voice the little bare
feet had battered away over the entry, and II
was too late to call them back. .1'
l remember Just how yellow and murky the
sunshine Law on the floors that morning, and
how thought the Wind walled about the cor.
ners of the house-to mo II had no frolic. The
children came in FROM coasting while was q!
work, all flushed, and eager. and happy, jost.
ling and pushing each other at play in the en-.
try. The moment they saw my face Susy grew
sober, and May began to hush llarry's laugh
ter. How could hclpitf 49,, -.
"Where's tho evergreen trimmings?" asked
BERTHE. looking around the rooms with disap-
pointed eyes. "Therc's lot picked up gar.
rets, mother" Sol
Ah, that pretty celebration Of tho day! 4
had never planned for II. II was Wiiie's fan.
oy, and Wille's skillful fingers they were which
had always made the old rooms bright and fes.
tive. How cling to the baby.name! Yet he
never minded il from me: sometimes, from
a Quick, pleased look in his manly eyes, used
to think he liked to have me call him 90.
"Niay! May fix the trimmings" said,
turning away. "I-I am too busy this morn
ing" ....
at isn't like having you," said May, her
bright face falling and then tho children with
puzzled eyes rrept one by ono away.
Dinner. time camc at last, and they gathered
round the table gleefully-just as gleefully. !
thought, with halt bitterness, as II they had
all been there. 'l
"Why. what's this for?" asked Harry. stop
ping. "Mother, you've got one chair too
many" :.
"fIush, Harry! know-don't you see?"
And then heard Susy whispering to him.
Why had done IL? hardly knew. To
lay the plates, and set the chairs, and pass that
one place by-that place that always was by
mine-it seemed hard. II was very little
thing; bat you know how dear these little
things become to women sometimes. .
So | had put II there-the empty chair; and
with its pitiful, appealing blankness beside ne.
I sat down to the festival meal. | remember
just how everything looked, as in a picture
my husbands face, with its white, peaceful
smile, the same that he had given to his boy,
and the children grouped around in the old
places and aeck Of yellow sunlight that had
fallen in through the warm south window upon
tho tsble.cloth. remember everything. ]
know that John had Just bowed his head to ask
Gods blessing on our food, and the children's
eyes were closed. when lsaw-I saw as distinct
ly as sec this paper upon which write the
words shadow fall across the empty chair.
turned my head, and saw ,him-my boy
Willie. know it was Willie. You need not
doubt me, for tell you can not he mistaken.
Should not I know him, I, his mother?
looked deep, deep into his eyes. saw the old, I,
rare smile: I touched his own bright curls up
ON lis forehead spoke to him /; he spoke to
me. 10. .s...
"Willie -.
"Mother!"H '
The voico was brea,bless, but It was his.
"Willis! Willie! r ,i ,r.. ... .ru'fri o.. ..
Again the old, rare smile. With one hand
he mOtioned silence. Ills fathers voice hushed
the Amen, and the children looked up and be.
gan their chatter.
"Did,you speak to me, Mary" asked my
husband. 80. a-... 80 ...
"No" 'run 'f1 1.'h 'H. ..Ill
"why, thought somo ono spoke during the
blessing. Well. Miss May, which part OF tho
turkey shall I help you to?'' Il
so they did not see him. | alone was chosen.
I looked into his face, smiling, smiling down
into mine no tenderly-you can not know how
tenderly: but in his eyes saw-and thought
nv heart would break to see it-a certain sad,
reproachful look, that had caught on his face
once years ago. when accused him with in
Justice of some triaing childish fault-a look
that had haunted mo in many q still hour since.
And then heard him say distinctly, though TO
not another car was the breathless voice audi.
bic r-..aI.. 20 srria. rf
"l want them IN he happy. want you to
enjoy the day. Did you think ! should not be
with you, mother ~ ...-.,.
lie toas with me, thank God! and | was
happy. talked. laughed, ] chatted with
the children; their merriment increased with
mino ny husbands pale face lighted up: u
felt nv own eyes sparkling. And all the while,
where they saw only that empty chair, saw
the beautiful still face and happy smile. Isaw
him pleased with the old familiar customs. n
saw him mindful Of the children's jests. l saw
his eyes, full OF their own home love, turn fr'm
one to another, and back again to me-l saw
and was content. All that day he was beside
me. lie followed us into tho sitting-roon and
took his old seat by the coy fire. lIo listened
to his fathers stories, and watched the children
at their games, and joined us when We gathered
his voice; the children asked what made me
sing 80 clearly. .r
Just rs tho shades began to fall heavily he
drew me toward him by the frost.bound win
dow. know he stopped and kissed me. IL
kn,w he took me in his arms, and said, as he
had said before
"Did you think I should not be with you,
mother?"
And then missed him. called to him,
but he did not answer. I stretched out my
arms after him, but no did not come back to
me. The room grew dark my head swan;
tottered over to my husband. ....
"Oh, John have lost him Oh, John
John!
"Mary-why, Mary! what is tho matter :"
and he caught me in his arIne. .
1 looked up. was not in the parlor by the
frost.bound window; the children were not be-
side mo. Tho sttingroom fire had died down
into tho ashes; the door into the hall was open,
and my husband had on his over coat. He was
holding mo tightly in his arms.
"IIow you shiver, Mary! Why, my darling,
what has happened
"John, where-whcn did you find me?"
81 have just come in. heard you cry; you
called my name. think"
81 know, I know! Ithousht-0h, John
John - ......-'.. ,#-.r. .f
And then told him oil my dream. When
had finished he was still long time, then
"Siary. perhaps the boy has bccn 10 you"
At this moment the clock on the mantle
struck twelve. We listened to its strokes till
the last one died awny.
"lt is our Thanksgiving morning." said my
husband, solemnly. "Let us give thanks TO
God" ....r...-., Il. ..,f1. fy--
So we knelt down and prayed together.
When tho morning really came, with its