The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-12-25

,bon -, "aypf keeping the feasts (
,L1 g N Nstomach, you know"
-, '"e !" y, to Nself it would be as d
-; VIZ T,ma\ had its share ofre. b
loiclng. h,er,\ \heerful and CHR. $
H., huppy ? py- a. lines ne ;, Nked meager and j
,,ra,s e., ~ toA Apeople could not n
', which | found as ) salary. He I I
is-that !. t, one hey" y hill. The !, +
family went to huua ooA -
sort of a way in it, h&e " 'o g =
ON Friday evenings t.. ~, =
over Saturday, which i,n '"e'" y
mems Sunday, as you H. W. w., .s',' y
to be very friendly. l fell * 81" 7
it of watching with him fcDA I 'an p"
always came out on the poi ,,a;, @
for him, his mother holdinb I b.. r
the hand. l used to wond -! =
poor little widow ever let g,,x
child day or night, and once l x
Der thinking what she would do \ :"
child should die. One has those q ,
idle faucies, you know. But D.A
was one of those women who seem Y
have no life outside Of the one or tp
people they love.
Well Thanksgiving eve came, and
Tanner was aboard going home, but
had M time to talk to him, as the
train was crowned with people who
had been up in Wilmington laying in
supplies of the holiday. Even the
passenger-cars were heaped with bas-
kets aud bundles. Thinner had his lit
tie package, too-something for Dan.
| saw him peeping into it with his eyes
twinkling once or twice. | remember
how pleased he was when l brought
him monster turkey for Mrs. Tanner.
The old lady, although she had only
seen me on the train as it whisked by,
had taken an anxious interest in sore
throat had, and sent me bottle of
myrrh tea by the old gentleman.
| don't know whether it was because
| had come from a part of the country
where they never keep Thanksgiving,or
because of the horror that followed, but
remember that afternoon as one of
the brightest and cheerfullest of nv
life. The air was cold and crisp. There
was Il red mist over the hills; in the
ears ami stations there was nothing
but good humor and friendly good
wishes. don't think much of serious
things, yet it seemed to me that day
The people came with one accord near.
ar to God because Of Thanksgiving.
One old gentleman on board had the
same idea, | suppose; for, as | sat
nown behind him to-te'>..t my change,
saw him watching the passengers and
houses we passed wTnmh amused smile.
and, turning to his companion, be said.
There's something very wholesome
in the effect of these holidays, Colonel.
They awaken men to a sense of depend
ence and gratitude,as a years sermons
can not do"
The other was so long in replying
that | looked up at him.
when a man has home or home
ties to give thanks for, the holiday is
useful, no doubt"
II was so queer and cold an answer
that / felt curiosity about the man.
He went hack to his newspaper (Which
was an English one, | noticed), and
hegan to talk Immediately about the
duties on silks and linens. | soon
found that he was largely interested
in both; had travelled over good
part of the world, traded in China
and Japan, and, as guessed, success
fully. He had the air Of man ae'
customed to command, and to life ot
ease. He was a middle.aged, stoutly
built man, with a clean shaved, power
ful face, aud shrewd, pleasant eyes.
noticed through all his conversation hi
tried to avoid seeing the happy groups
of people who were incessantly getting
on or off the train; and once, when {
child in passing pdlled at his cane, h'
turned his hack roughly on it. Yet
had fancy-I don't know why-tha
the people and Thanksgiving mattereC
more to MIN than any of us,
His friend said to him presently
"You are not well, Colonel ?" 'Neve
was better. But the truth is, Venn
this country is all familiar to me, ant
anything which recalls old times make
me nervons aud irritable. It's weak
ness which | will outgrow probably
If you will excuse me I'll go forward.
| He saw mo Just then, and, touching