The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-08-20

Ci1dlE w buC hCoA Ch AoA hAus 0h0
spoke word or two Of welcome,
John Siddons wondered If the eyes
of the mother, who died when he
was a babe. had not beamed upon
him just so
CT told mother so this very
morning. said Zenas, with a tri-
umphant flourish of his hand, as he
stirred up the logs to waving
glorious sheet OF flame.
"Says I, Melindy, we'll kill the
biggest turkey, and I'll pick out
the yallerest pumpkins on the barn
floor. Aud, says she, what tor
Zenas, when there's only two of
US to eat 'em 2 and says I. Moth
er, Davie was here last Thanka.
givin' with his new uniform, as
brave and handsome as you'd
often see ! now, mother don't cry!
Zenas interrupted himself to
stroke his wife's gray hair with a
strangely tender touch and went
on:
"Says 1, Hes gone where it's
Thanksgivin' all the year round,
now, my poor boy-my brave boy !
but, says I, well make somebody
welcome for Davies sake; won't
we mother And now, sir, you'll
spend tomorrow with us, and tell
me about the battle of Gettysburg,
where Davie died crying out with
his last breath, not to let the flag
be captured
Zenas' voice died out in a chok-
ing, gasping sob. John Siddons
laid his hand softly on the rough
farmer while a pang of envy shot
through his heart. Ah, it was al
most worth while being shot down
in battle, to be missed and mourn
ed like dead David Carey
"Oh, wife, walled Zenas, when
John Siddons had fallen asleep in
the little corner room that had been
the lost boys; sit is almost like
having Davie back again. Wife,
l fight my great sorrow down eve
ry night, but every morning it
rises up again more than ever 7
God help every parent whose home e
is made desolate by the field OF
battlei'
Thanksgiving dawned through q
white whirlwind of driving snow,
that eddied among the gnarled
boughs OF the apple treess in mad
frolics. and edged the old stone
wall with dazzling ermine. And
the fiery sparks, careering swiftly
up Zenas Carey's wide chimney,
met the steadily falling snow half
way, and gave battle, while the
hearth glowed with ruddy bright
ness, as if it knew all about the
Governors Proclamation, and ap-
proved of it.
You have q 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
beyond.
If l was only sure of it, sir, -
said Zenas, with a sigh. But
I've been hard put to it to get
along these times. Taxas and
such like come heavy on poor men,
AMI I've had a run of ill luck, so
that the place is mortgaged to its
full value, and to a hard m an-one
that will sell the hone you've been
born and brought up in, as soon
as he eats his breakfast. SO that he
can make money by it. 1t will be
a black day for Nelinoy and me
when we have to leave the Rock
Farm but it must come soon, and
/ don't care much what becomes Of
me afterward / tell you, sir,
when a man lives to my age under
one rooftree he don't take very
kindly to being moved. Men are
like forest trees, sir !; yo1 can take
a young one and do what you
please with it but if you transplant
an old one, it dies. Let US talk Of
som ething else Mr.. Siddons. l
ouehtn't to complain on Thanks
giving day"
John looked with a feeling of
actual reverence at the hard fea-
tured old man, whose simple soul,
borne down as he was by debt, and
grief, and age, could still find
something to be thankful for.
The turkey and pumpkin pies
were still smoking on the round
table when John and Zenas return
ed from the church and Mrs. Ca
rcy had brought out her " flowing
blue plates and her choice old
time silver spoons, in honor of her
guest. There was no beverage
but coffee, that never knew the
shores of Java, and pitcher of
cold sparkling cider but bright
champagne could not have been
more cordially dealt out by Zenas
and Mrs Carey's smiling kindness
gave sparkling flavor to the
chickorized rye; that is sometimes
lacked in "egg-shell China"
The table was cleared away and
they were sittir g around the fire,
when the door was opened, and
Deacon Evarts entered bringing a
snow drift on the shoulders of his
shaggy overcoat.
ell, l am beat - quoth Ze-
mas, 6 Take a cheer, Deacon. Let
me hang your coat afore the fire to
dry y
Cant stay" said the Deacon
giving himself a shake like black
water dog on his hind legs. q
thought you'd like to bear the
news. SO ! just dropped in on my
way to my darter's Thanksgiving
dinner.
News what news 2" exclaim-
ed Zenas, while his wife dropped
her knitting"
Do tell then you amt heerd?'
tAip,t haorI n pafl,ip, b,,t tbo -,;,l