Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-12-07
from Hearth and Homs,l
Sister LOckWOOd's Thanksgiving.
BY ROSE TERRY.

It was some years ago, 'less than
forty and more than FOUR as the vii
lage butt and jester would have said :;
and it was the night before Thanks
giving, III Vernon poorhouse as well
as in the rest of New England. A bit
ter, livid November night, too, snow
lying ready to fall in the shroud like,
darkening folds of cloud, a moaning,
shivering east wind crying about the
caves, and the last dead leaves speed
ing through the air with direct course
to their final bed In one long room
sat the few old and poor inmates of
the house, gathered about the great
wood fire that sparkled and snapped in
the open fireplace. There were some
eight or ten there tonight; one or
two very old men, the rest women and
children. But our concern is with on.
ly two of the group, who sat there
near together, with a whole wide sea
between them, the mighty gulf of diff
fering natures. One occupied the cor,
ner of the old settle, her foot on a
foot stove, a faded but warm shawl
wrapped about her shoulders, and a
stuff dress, whole and decent enough,
laid up on her knees to guard against
swapping Goals which would fall harm
less on the thick woolen quilted skirt
beneath. Her face was long, guant,
with high cheek bones and a mighty
nose, a mouth cavernous in size, and a
heavy chin; eyes of green gray, with
fierce look of hungry discomfort
about them. and the gray locks that
laa
cap seemed to rise also in rebellion
against their fate, they struggled so
perversely over the scrawny neck that
showed beneath them. adorned with
Granny Salisbury's last earthly pos
session of any value-a string of gold
beads. Close by the settle, between it
and the corner Of the fireplace, in q
low, rickety rocking chair, that squeak
ed and sQuawked with every oscilla-
ton of its occupant, sat Sister Lock
wood, a little old lady, older perhaps
than her neighbor; but her coarse blue
print frock, her plain white muslin
| cap, and the cotton handkerchief fold
ed over her neck and bosom, we're as
white as the flakes that began to fiji
the bitter air without, and the queer
little ''prunelP' shoes she put out to
ward the fire to warm were patched
with exact neatness. Her white hai
was folded away above a round anC
wrinkled face, that even in its ruiz
told a story of youthful bloom am
prettiness, her -hlael1-Gyes shone will
Esoft CLEANS of patience and cheer, ant
her busy fingers wrought steadily at
scarlet mitten while she rocked gentl,
back and forth A smell of baking
unusually spicy and savory, came i
from the half open kitchen-doo an
pretty soon bright rosy girl Of nine
teen or twenty passed through with
waiter full of pumpkin pies, and de
posted them IN the pantry. Rut
nodded smilingly at Sister Lockwoo
as she passed, and the old lady CAV
her allowing glance.
"Most Thanksgiving Day, amt
Ruthy ?" Ruth laughed and colorec
''Thanksgivin' Day, indeed !'' grow
ed Granny Salisbury. "Great time
flor some folks, hut don't see whs
! yoJtlR-IXe got to be thankful for, Mi
LOckW ood SpendTn on { in d poo
n 'us don't go down with the Gov nor
: proclamation r'
s'Why, Mis- Salisbury I'm .sur
: we've got real good home. =, Mi
Sperry's as good as need be, nd we'7
got fire. nd vittles, md clothin' WI
d we might-ha'' had to die in barn
d folks have afore now;
d Lockwood in the gentlest old voice.
y "You heV got heap to be thankf
for, ha'n't yes?n returned the 9th
= with bitter sneer. 81 s'pose "
don't rekerleet your husbands getti
killed all of suddent out chopin
and leavin' you with five young on
to take keer on %
A little spasm of agony pass
across the peaceful face of Sister Loo
wood. Could any amount of time
any Submission of her will etface tt
dreadful day from her soul? Ev
as she answered, the whole scene pa
ed again before her mind-Jaco
long delay to come, and his final co
S. ing, lifeless mass of clay, borne
four of the neighbors, one of who
had found him in the woods under I
fallen tree; the dull anguish, the CT
ing of the children, the hopeless o
look. But she an n5wered quietly 81
b Mis- Salisbury, ha'n't forgotten
M but I've larnt to see the Lord do
on do things for nothin'. He kno
better than do what it was for n
and / am thankful Jacob didn't |
III to come to poverty; he had lot m
spirit than I've got, and it would hi
Jug troubled him sight,
- "Then there was them childre
nT, pursued her interrogation "Baby d