The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-02
Misfellauenns.
HULDAH THE HELP.
A THANKSGIVING LOVE STORY,

remember q story that Judge Balcom
told few years ago on the afternoon OF
Thanksgiving Day. I do not feel sure
that Il will interest everybody rs it did
me. Indeed, l am afraid that il will not,
and vet cannot help thinking that Ii Is
lust the sort Of trihc that will go well
with turkey. celery and mince pie.
II was in the Judges own mansion on
Thirty-fourth street that heard IL. II
does not matter To the reader how l. n
stranger, came 70 be one Of that family
party. Since could not enjoy tho society
OF my own family, II was an act u Chris
tian charity that permitted mo to share
the icy of others. We had eaten dinner
and had adjourned to the warm, bright
parlor. I have noticed on such occasions
that conversation Is apt TO flag after din
uer. Whether Il Is that digestion absorbs
all of ones vitality, or for some other
reason, n. least 50 it generally falls out
that people may talk ever 50 brilliantly nj
the table. but they will hardly keep it mp
Tor the first haif-hour aftsrward. And so
IL happcucd that some Of the party fell to
looking mt the books and some To turning
the leaves of the photograph album. while
others were using the stereOscopc. For
nv own part. WAS staring ut An engrav-
ING in dark corner Of the psrlor. where
I could not have made out much of its
purpose IL I had desircd-but In reality l
was thinking of the joyous company OF
INV own kith aad kin. Hundreds of miles
away. and rcgretting that could not be
with them.
"What are you thinking about. papa ?"
asked Irene, the Judges second daughter.
She was rather naughty looking girl
OF sixteen, hut, zS l had noticed. very
saueh devoted tn her parents. AT this
moment she Was running her hand through
her fathers hair. while he was rousing
himself from his revcry 10 anwser her qucs-
ton.
.Thiuking OF the old Thanksgivings,
which were 50 different from anything we
have hero. They were the genuine thing !;
these are only countcrfeits."
Come, tell us about them, please"
This time Ii WAS Annie Balconi. the older
Girl, who spoke. Aud wo all gathered
round the Judge. For notice that when
conversation does revive. after that period
of silence that 4 llows dinner. IL Is very
attractive to the whole company. and in
whatsoever place Il breaks out, there IS
soon q knot OF Interested listeners.
.I don't Just now think of any particu
lar story of New England Thsnksgivings
that would interest you." said the Judge.
"Tcll them about Huldsh's mi.ce-Pie." )"
said Mrs. Balloon. ~ she looked up from
a copy Of Whittiers she had been rcail-
ing. q : LII,
follows exactly In the Judges words. for
n /, three wears since heard IL. but
a, nearly a. can remember II WAS as iol-
lows:
There was = young lawyer by the name
Of John Harlow prscticing law here IN
New York twenty odd years ago. Ills
father lived not very far AWAY from my
father. John had graduated with honors'
had studied Law, aud had tho good fortnae
10 enter immediately into partnership
with HIS Law preceptor. ex-Gov. Blank.
So eagerly had he pursued his studies tha;
foe two yaers he had not seen his country
home. think one reason Why he had
NOT cared IN yisit ID was that his mother
wss dead, and his only sister was married
and living In Boston. Take the "womeu-
E.lks'' out OF house, and it never seems
much like homo 70 . young man. l'
Hut now, ~ Thanksgiving Day drew
near. ne resolved TO give himsclfa = btiei
release from the bondage oil books, lie
told his partner that hs wanted To so home
for a week. He e'said he wanted TO see ms
father and the boys. and his sister, who
was coming homo ut that time. bus tna'