Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-12-07

| he drew Ruth little closer. Especial
ly Thanksgiving Day for me-"
You'll be real good TO her, doctor,
won't yep
III try"
"Folks has a deal to be thankful
for in this world, and a dreadful deal
more after it's come and gone. Ye
know what the hymn says
Well praise Him formercies that's past.
And thank Him 1Or all that's to come
l declare fort, I've forgot the rest
ont; twas somethin' bout gittin' safe
h0men
A loud call from the kitchen for
Ruth put an end to this brief talk, and
the doctor went upstairs to see a sick
child; first advising Sister Lockwood
not to try and rise for her breakfast in
the morning, as she was weak, and the
day would be both busy and exciting.
So Thanksgiving Day came, spIen-
did with the chill splendor of snow
and sun. A keen wind had packed ev
cry fallen fake into its place, and mer-
ry bells flashed by in gay defiance on
every shape of sleigh or sled Ruth
looked into Mrs, Lockwood's room,
but she was fast asleep; SO she car
ried back her cup of tea and set it by
the fire.
Scarce was breakfast over when a
sleigh, full of furs, and pair of d anc
ing horses, stopped at the door, and a
tall, bearded man asked for Mrs. Sails
bury.
You amt Joe?' was her brief and
Incredulous welcome
L guess SOP For an instant nature
or memory prevailed, and Granny Sal
isbury bestowed on her prodigal son a
hug that would have done credit to a
bear. Then she recalled herself.
We'll, ye'Ve got here fin'lly, hev ye
1 reckoned ye was dead quite while
ago
But amt, and I've got pretty
considerable heap O. dollars; so /
thought I'd look ye up, and fix ye of
comfortable, mother
HIM you've done a lot o. thinkin'
bout me, l guess He'd time enough
anyhOw-tWenty odd year =
We'll, well, mother let by-gones be
by-gones. Come along now
Not till I'VE ben md reused up Mis-
Lockwood. 1 must tell her. Say, is
Eli dead p
Not he! He's cons ider'ble worse
got his leg broke md cut off beside,
'nd's Iivin' long O. some Digger In
dians; soakin' all day, md gambling all
night
'Why, how you talk! Wonder ef
she'll be givin' thanks over thatp
Jake shook his head as Granny Sal
isbury hobbled off up stairs, helped by
Ruth
Bad time! bad time!' muttered he.
'Specs Well git de real ole debble
now, eff he granny's goin' to Ieab u.s.
A sharp cry from Ruth above stairs
startled all the hearers. DIR. Sparkle,
who had just come in, sped up to her.
She stood on one side of Sister Lock
woods bed, and Granny Salisbury at
its foot; on the scarce indented pill
low lay face tranquil and sweet as
that of some sleeping child. Even
the last enemy had been appeased by
snch exquisite patience, and come as
the Angel Of Consolation. Sister
Lockwood had fallen to sleep.
Cne long Ieok- Granny Salisbury
gave to tie restful face oF-f1er-eld
neighbor, and turned away without a
word. In a moment more the cIang
of sleigh bells passing from the door
told of her final departure. John
Sparkle drew the sheet tenderly over
the sweet old face that lay plllowed
like baby's on one hand under the
cheek.
go Johnr' said Ruth, clinging to
him and sobbing bitterly, ''why didn't
we tell her before, we were going to
have her come and live with us always,
and not wait until to day p
Darling she has gone to better
home than ours could be-to all she
loved and lost. Don't cry, my Ruthy
Remember what she said yesterday
Don't you think she is keeping the best
of all Thanksgiving Days p