Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-10-31

begging Tor bread.
50 Is your brother at the gate " ask
ed Sadie.
"Yes, he was afraid to come in" was
the answer.
Aunt Kate went to the gate and found
a short boy, bundled up III an old
shawl, capless and shoeless, making
snOwballs with his red fingers.
When she went back to the kitchen
with the little odd figure at her side,
terested in the two children.
Her mother had gone up stairs to
look for shoes and garments for them,
Aunt Kate was busy giving them food,
and as Sadie watched the girls motions,
new light began to dawn upon her
awakened faculties. Meanwhile the
boy munched his broad and butter, and
eyed the room and its contents as If
taking mental inventory of every
| thing in it.
&" Have you always been blind, little
girll" asked Sadie, gazing curiously
at the large, cold, eye-balls fixed on
vacancy.
Z" Yes, ma'am | was born blind.
"Then you never saw your mother "
cried Sadie eXcitedly.
Il never saw nothing was the de-
jected answer.
Sadie drew long breath, and felt
her own ewes, as if they had suddenly
gained greater value than ever i'll her
estimation. "And how do you know
what is in the basket" asked Sadie
again.
mother told me matches three
cents box shoe-laces, two cents a
pair; pins, ten cents paper: backing,
! She put her fingers on each article as
she named it, and having felt her treas
ures in turn and satisfied herself that
nothing was lost, sat III patient eXpec-
! tation of aid and sympathy.
- am going home with you, l want
to see your mother, +" said Aunt Kate,
who had been filling a basket with vari-
Gus good things for the sick woman.
I" May go with youl" asked Sad e.
eyes, put on your cloak and hood
If we make haste we can be back in
time for church, "rephed Aunt Kate,
While Saoie got ready for this, to her,
novel expedition, the poor blind girl
put on PAR of Sadle's shoes, and a
warm cloth jacket that Sadie had dis
carded Her little brother also fitted
shoes to his red feet, and having put
the bundle of clothes on his shoulders
prepared to lead his sister home.
In fireless room in the garnet of an
old house but a few streets away, Aunt
Kate found the poor woman. She was
lying on miserable bed, exhausted for
want OF food, and shivering with cold.
When Sadie saw the bare floor, the
curtainless windows, the empty closet,
and the small black stove filed with
ashes, she felt tears coming to her
brown eyes and became ashamed Of her
foolish speech.
Aunt Kate, however, knew just what
to do. She sent the boy for coal and
wood, and unpacked the basket Mean
while, to Sadies amusement, the blind
girl got on her knees before the stove
and began cleaning it out When that
was done, she felt her way into the
closet, took out tin kettle, and then
went slowly, cropping her way down
stairs for water.
Her mother told Sadie that they had
lived in the house for several years, and
Nellie knew her way all over it. In
spite of her blindness she was general
ly merry, and could do many useful
things about the room. The poor
woman had supported her children for
some time, going out as a washerwoman,
but lately her health had gwen way,
and she could only sell little things
about the streets.
Aunt Kate resolved to befriend this
pool family, and having waited until
the fire was made and the kettle boil
ing, she fixed a cup of tea for Mrs.
Davis and then SAID goodbye, promis-
ing to return later iii the day with more
assistance.
Once in the street, Sadie stole her
hand into Aunt Hates and said softly:
q know now, aunty, why people
keen Thanksgiving"
Yes, Sadie, we all have much to be
| thankful for, the least we can do is to
| feel grateful for our blessings. Now
You wish to go to church"
40 yes, | think that after this | shall
always wish to go to church on Thanks
giving Day. Do you think Nellie knows
it is Thanksgiving
perhaps not, but | think she is Civ
ing thanks in her own heart at this mo-
ment. If she had not gone out so
bravely in the cold, 5arefooted and
blind as she was, what would have be
come of her poor mother. But, Sadie,
! she did her duty, and You see her &C
ton brought its own reward. Besides,
my little Sadie has learned lesson
that hope she will never forget You
will never ask again why people keep
Thanksgiving "