Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-01-11
The Midow's Troubles.

''"-' N-tN
The Widows Troubles.
The widow Spencer was all ready to keep
Thanksgiving in her cosy, little wood colored
farmhouse. There was a huge turkey fat
on his back in the brick oven, and there were
cranberry tarts, aud golden tinted pumpkin
pies, aud chicken pastries 10 bear him com.
pany, aud the biggest red apples we're polish
ed I'LL they shone like magnificent carbunces;
and the juciest nuts were cracked, and the
best china white, with red rose buds painted
in the center Of each piece-was brought out
ready for use.
IL was snug little domicile, with low,
messy caves, reaching nearly to the ground,
aud a little porch all in a taDgle with little
leatIess woodbiue, aud monster maple
spreading its protecting arms over the whole
roof and raining down the red and golden
leaves IN jeweled showers when the October
blasts were reyeling in its giant limbs Aud
there was au old fashioned wcll behind the
house, with huge sweep and a bucket whose
dripping GOODNESS made you thirsty only to
look at it, and fragrant barn standing lit
tie way back behind sentinel row OF apple
trees. Altogether it was such a homestead as
you meet dozen times day in Connecticut
a place whore you would imagine perfect peace
and rest to he found
The widow sat down before the fire in her
,nuf-colored bombazine, with its cape aud
triIl solcmnly watching the red shoots of
flame dart in aud out among the great resin
dripping logs on the hearth.
" For | do despise your ew-ianged stoves
to sit by said the widow with great EN-.
phasis.
Susan, her eldest child a ftr-hared girl
Of twenty with soft wine coorcd eyes, and a
complexion to which the roses came and went
at every breath, was arranging some gorgeous
white aud crimson chrysanthemums in
handsome pitcher, so that the starry flowers
and dropping foliage should conceal the mar
tistic chaice. Susan was help" at Far
mer Wylls's just across the river, earnh'
her two dollars a week, said the widow tri.
umphantly, with the best on en-
Charley was home for his Thanksgiving
too--home from his New York clerkshp,
where he had lost the red and brown Of his
rustic complexion, and gained that ndescrb.
able oti-hand air Of city ease that the widow
marycled at, but could not explain. And
even little Tom, who was errand boy at
Squire Parker's country store at sevcnty-iye
cents and his board, was prying surreptitiously
into the oven, when his mothers back was
turned, and grimacing joyfully at the big and
distant dish of ralsins on the top shelf Of the
pantry.
| wish Thanksgiving came every day"
said Tom, who had a weakness for good things
TO eat and drink.
Well children groaued the mother,
plaintyely, " its real nice to have you all
home do say fort; but then tomorrow
you've all got to 90 ayagain, aud that spois
the whole enjoyment ont Oh, dear, dear
life Is a string o troubles, the best you can
make Of it.
Mother grumblcs as much as ever she
did whispered Tom to his elder brother
Come, children get ready for church,
said Mrs Spencer in the same mournful, min
or key. 4" III have dinner on the table by
the time you get back but mind you re-
member the text and all that the minister
says"
&" But, mother, said Susan softly, be-
fore | 60 to church want to tell you some-
thing that"
4" | know what lis grolned the widow
with upliftei hands aud despliring eyes.
" Farmer Wyllis is going to discharge ye
and you'll be at home doin' nothin' all win.
ter. Its Spencer luck, exactly No need
to tell me
Susan stood abashei, but did not venture
upon a reply.
81 had a piece of news for you too,
mother, said Charley; " bat as you snub
Sue so unccremouiou.ly, I'll keep it until af.
Ter dinner
Mrs Spencer shook her her head
" | have all my life been poor unfortu-
nate creature, children that ill-uck chased
from pillar to post Here | be, poor, mis-.
erable widow, with my three children all
away from me, rheumatic settliu iu my left
shoulder, aud the roof leakin' like all yexa.
ton"
" There amt nobody so bad of as be !;
somehow don't see my way clear to ben'
thankful to-day more'n any other day, let the
minister say what he will"
And the widow subsided into tears and a
silk pocket handkerchief
Now mother, that's nonsense, said cheer.
fil Charley; "because 80"
o, yes, nonsense that's nice respectful
talk to your poor old mother" sobbed Mrs.
Spencer 4" its ali ought to expect though /;
it's like all the rest Almost wish was
dead aud buried"
Susan began to cry. Charley looked on
unhappy aud discomdted Tom seized the
opportunity to abstract the biggest red apple
from the plate on the mantle, and deposit it
in his pocket, where it bulged out like an
enormous tumor.
"Sue, you're fool, said Tom shortly !;
get on your thinF and let's 20 to church,
anyhow" he added, in an audacious under
tone, " the parsons pressing is better than
mothers grumbliug. Don't you miod tits
only her way"
So the three children arrayed themselves in
their simple best, and set out to walk the two
miles and half Of frosty country roads that
lay between them and the village church-a
peaceful sylvan solitude with dim woods
skrting the way, and squirrels darting ia
bright'eyed haste over the messy logs of the
worn wayside fence.
40, Charley said Susan wistfully, as she
stopped to gather late purple aster, that
glowed like jewel, by the roadside, "if we
could only persuade mother to take a bright
view of life
IL think she grows worse aud worse every
day." said Charley, thoughtfully. "She is
almost morbid. wish we could hear of any
way to cheer her up little"
al know plan" said Tommy, planting
his white teeth in the crimson side Of his ap.
pie.
"What is it 2"
"Why, when | first went to Squire Par.
ker's store had an ALFRED hankering after