The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-12-07
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HrFrE "a THANKSGIVING STORY
BY :. ANNIE FROST.


Thanksgiving Day was one that the villagers O
Weston always marked with white stone AL
the time honored customs of New England villa
gers Were kept up there, and family parties wer
invariably given by all who had families to col
lect around them.
On the particular anniversary whose doings gave
rise to the incidents of my story there was to be
alarge gathering of the villagers at Mrs. Wilson's
who, having no relatives to entertain, had in
vited friends far and near to dine with her on
the anniversary. To make my story clear to my
readers it will be necessary to introduce some of
my characters before they appear in gala dress
Mrs. Wilson was the leader fn the little village
of Weston, occupying the largest house, which
had been built by her husband for his bride, and
spending freely an income, that warranted lux
urious appointments. Her sister, Hetty Payne,
and Effiie, the only child of the house, constitu-
ted her family. Ten years before the day when
she issued her invitations for the Thanksgiving
party, Mrs. Wilson returned from Italy, where
she had accompanied her husband in vain
search for health, bearing with her the body of
James Wilson, who died in Florence, and the
babe, whose childish loveliness now made the
sunshine of her home. Hetty was housekeeper
during her sisters absence, and now a loved in
mate of that sisters home
1t was the day before the one appointed for
the party, ard Mrs. Wilson was seated with
Hetty in the pretty sitting-room, both busy upon
the dainty fashioning Of some blue knots for
Efies white merino dress. AS they worked the
door opened softly, and the object of their
thoughts and busy fingers came in. She was a
child of wonderful beauty. Features delicate
and pure as some piece Of statuary, were lighted
by large eyes of the deepest blue, while long
loose curls of the true golden tinge fell in pro-
fusion over her shoulders. a child, too, of that
~
seems only fitted for higher sphere yet which
God leaves sometimes on earth to draw souls to
Him The only darlingof true christian women;
whose gentle piety and remarkable sweetness
made them universally beloved, it was not Won
derful that the young heart and mind were de-
veloping beauties as pure and perfectas the love-
ly face and form.
Now as she stood in the doorway, it was evil
dent there was some weighty request trembling
on her lips Her eyes were eager, her cheeks
flushed, and the rosebud mouth was quivering
with excitement.
"Mamma," said she, lifting her face to meet
her mothers kiss !'may have one company my
self tomorrow 2"
Zone company, dcar?"
"One person to dinner, Just one, TO invite all
myself"
"But, darling, everybody you know is already
invited"
'Not everybody, mamma. 1 want to invite
old Hunchy'
"And who is old Hunchy?"
"Why, yon know, the hunchback man that has
taken the house on Wills Lane"
Sand Is it my little Efie hear calling any
one by an odious nickname that is mockery to
misfortune?"
30, mamma" and the blue eyes filed with
tears. 81 did not mean it. Everybody calls
L. L
knows his real name"
"But why do you want to invite him here?"
lie is SO poor, mamma and there il nobody
else to ask him."
"Well, we can send him dinner
mo. no; he ia gentleman"
SHOW do You know him 80 well ?"
"He stops me whenever | pass. He gave me
flowers twice, and am like somebody he knows
He told me once to go home and pray God to
make me hideous, and then he said No, no, it
is true good beauty"
Sand you want to invite him here?"
eyes, please"
"Well, you may; don't think he will come
The child bounded of, and deep silence fell
broke it.
"Hetty!
II know, Lucy. am afraid too"
"Who is this man ?"
"All l can tell You is that he took the house |
that has stood so long vacant in the lane nearly
q month ago. He is terribly deformed. dirty |
and ragged, and so morose and surly that no ono |
OF the children dares approach him. Tho villa.
gers give him an awful name"
"Yet Ellie says he is gentleman and YOU
know we have often been amused at her intuitive |
Of true refinement
"Yes-it is best for us to see him if we CAM
Perhaps"
"Yes-yes; don't talk of it now ~ said Mrs. |
Wilson, nervously. |
In the mean time Effie was speeding down the |
VIDE avonue to the gate, ont upon the road, and |
down to the cottage, where.her deformed friend |
i've She was so much the pet of the village |
that no restraint was ever placed upon her wan. |
derings, and every inch of the way was familiar |
toher. The object of her visit was seated upon |
low bench before the cottage door, looking out |
upon vacancies, but with such an expression of |
bitter revengeful passion upon his face, that the
child shrank back involuntarily He was an |
object to inspire a gentle child with fear az he |
thus sat. Over his forehead the hair fell in a |
heavy neglected mass, and his great black eyes |
yowed like living Goals. Upon the deformed |
shoulders the clothes hung in loose folds, faded,
soiied' and worn and the hands supporting his
mead were soiled and clenched. Suddenly look
us Wy, i've NdW the CHllu, In an instant his face
lighted with look Of love which at first it SEEM
ed incapable ofexpressing
"Eloise " he whispered
IL am Efiie Wilson," she said coming for.
ward. '0'
True true, was dreaming and he drew
her to his side. ut is my little friend who i.
not afraid of me-"
why should be afraid? God would not lot
you hurt me-
mo, no, l could not hurt you if would" and
no stroked her hair softly.
party" she said presently.
.- IL 49, and he laughoda bitter, hooking