Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-08-17
gateway in front. so that now people could


no longer enter at pleasure, but had TO
peep in through the trellis work; and then
the workmen all left, q monster paddock
appeared at the gate, and 10! Mr.. Thomp-
sons place was finished and ready for an
occupant
By this time winter had set 10, and peo-
pie were already talking of the holidays.
Just before the happy season arrived,
came back, sort of q harbinger OF Santa
Claus, Mr. John Thompson-not in a
dusty stage coach in the twilight, but
wrapped up in buffalo robes behind lot of
iinyling sleigh-bells, and well into the
hours of night.
The next day his arrival was the town
topic; everybody had expected him, of
course he locked older many thought, but
he was as active as ever, for all that-made
an early call at the Squire's, passed most
OF the day in going over the building and
grounds, and, returning in the evening,
slipped sway to his bed before any one had
even half a chance to see him. Then, as if
surprises would never end, or, rather, as if
Mr. John Thompson's fund of eccentrici-
ties were inexhaustible, there appeared a
day or two after, posted up all over the
village, an invitation to high and low,
rich and poor, young and old, to attend a
house warming to be given on Christmas
eve, by "John Thompson, Esq, of New
| Orleans, at his recently-completed resi-
dence in this village" And the village
newspaper in its next issue contained the
same invitation, strengthened by sundIy
hints, and pretty broad ones, too, that no
one could well afford to miss such an oc
casion as this promised to be. And so
days chased each other by, and people
wondered as they saw the preparations
for the festivities; tables, and chairs, and
crockery, and whole wagon loads Of good
things, all drawn up and quietly disap-
pearing within the mysterious gateway.
At last the eventful evening came, and
hundred lights glancing out from the
windows of the new building cast their
broad glare down the snowy road and Lit
up the garden and grounds with a blaze Of
light. The host had no reason TO regret
the liberal hospitality, as standing at the
wide doorway, he welcomed the throng of
rich and poor, young and old, who, at
tracted by various motives, had come in
response TO his invitation. Squire Jessup,
arrayed in his best suit, with high collar
and brass buttons, was everywhere among
the guests, looking happy and proud as
one who has discharged an important
trust And still the throngs flowed in at
the doorway, and Mr.. Thompson had a
kind word for each; and then, finally, the
great house was full Of people.
Just when the buzz of conversation and
the noise of many feet seemed at their
height, there came sound of some one
rapping to secure silence, and, looking
around to discover the cause, the guests
saw DIR. John Thompson standing on
chair in the center OF the hall, evidently
DESTROYS of saying something. "Sh-
sh-, sh-," when round the assembly
Quiet, there" shouted some. and amid
silence hardly to have been anticipated in
such crowd, the queer old man began to
speak, though in voice which seemed no
longer sharp and testy, but softened and
tremulOus with emotion.
my friends" he said, one and all,
who have come to visit me this evening,
and, hope, to enjoy yourselves, l would
ask your patience and forbearance while
| relate little story. On this same night
a good many years ago, so many that l
scarcely care TO count them, there passed
along ysnder highway, through driving
storm and bitter cold, a poor young VIC.
man, leading by the hand little boy of
six years-her SON. Whence she came, or
how, matters not in my story. She was
destitute, hungry and broken hearted, but
she saw the lights in yon village yonder,
and was pressing on with a fierce energy
toward hope and help in the distance
Alas! wearied nature could bear her up no
more, and she sank down under the dark
shadow of tree by the roadside. Even
then not forgetting to shield her poor
child under her thread bare scanty gar
ments from the cutting blasts They fell
asleep She is sleeping still in the dear
old church yard yonder The little boy
whom she warmed in her last embrace
was spared by Providence to grow UP to
be the old man whO'now stands before you.
God sent me kind and benevolent friends
from among you in those terrible days of
adversely. For my life, my education, my
whole character | have TO thank those of
you land there may be some here who re-
member the incidenO who took me in |
their keeping, and provided for me until |
in an ungrateful day, stole away to make |
my way alone in the wide, wide world.
My friends, it has been q hard, long |
journey for these forty years. ! have seen |
disease carry me to the verge of tomb to |
which / had previously consigned all |
whom loved. Storms and war and other |
misfortunes have time and again, left me |
all but Impoverished Yet | have come |
out unscathed, carry ing with me through
1t all the remembrance of that unpretend-
ing tombstone in yonder churchyard, and
the consciousness of one solemn impera.
tive duty to be done before / die. That
du v, by Gods will, shall 70 night dis
charge. Nevermore, if can help it. shall
poor struggling mother perish in cold
and want by your roadsides. Never shall
your poor, your sick, your aged want for
comfort, food and shelter. Sect this
building which have caused to be erected
do you know what it is for? For me
DO you think? l expect nSaer to enter it
again. 1t ia for your poor and sick and
destitute. [ have built it AID here the
old gentleman nervously pulled a docu-
ment from his vest pocket. "Seel here
IS eopy OF deed by which have trans
Eerred this house and ground entire to tie
proper authorities for this purpose. In
dong this act realize the dream, the aso.
Dis'on OF the or ster part of my life.
thsak God that he has enabled me to SO
realize IL. And now, in conclusion. NV
good friends, will say that you will and
music all ready in the other room for an
OLD fashioned dance, and a good srpper