Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-12-12


The proper thing to do Is to 20 into the
country to spend Thanksgiving but
Thanksgiving Day is not what II used to be,
and the country isn't at all what II used to
be- SO l was Informed. The Puritans
themselves are entirely out of date, and
almost out of mind. However. l went into
the country.
As usual turned my face mountainward.
aud hackman, with wholesome fear of
the epizootic. deposited me in front OF the
depot, In a field of mud. where he left me
while he took care of the irresistible trunk.
aud held a lively conversation with a
friend. Then he considerably took me out
of the mud. The cars were packed with
old men, and young men. and maidens,
going home to Thanksgiving" so. as a
special correspondent" 1, OF course. took
note OF everything. Near me was aquon-
dam stage-,lriver. who entertained select
group OF friends with accounts of his dar-
! ing exploits in We olden time when he
held the ribbons" One Of these friends,
inspired by admiration OF the hero. eN-
/ pressed his conviction that 8 railroad com
pany commencing operations should give
/ to all former stage-drivers q number of
/ shares in the road. or, at least, make EN-
conductors In this opinion the stage
driver agreed so heartily that one venture
/ some soul was led To suggest the probable
consequences TO the road. But he was
silenced as making a very unnecessary dis
play OF excitement in regard TO a matter
about which he knew nothing. lie was
( told plainly that he had no stock In the
road. and had never been stage-driver,
and for a man without any motive, to
entertain an opinion was bad enough
but for him To express 1t wouldn't do, SO
fell TO moralizing and the hero and his
friends discussed the weather and the
'don." which is, being Interpreted. tie
sleghing. There was an enormous woman
no wore a light brown dress. and jochy
hat. and whose jewelry was so abundant
that she looked like an animated brown
paper bundle tied up with gold chains.
There was a young lady with great pre-
tensions TO gcntiliiy which fact she assert
ed by wearing her hat on the back of her
head in the most approving style; but in
spite of her gentiiiy she chatted with her
ueighbors with an ease which quite
amounted TO familiarity. Her companion
was lively widow wearing a black dress
covered with round white spots-''pin
holes in the night Of her despair" a.
Judged from appearances. In painful CON
tra>t OF these two females was little, pale
woman. hopelessly. almost help lessly, de-
formed. Looking at her that chilly Mo-
ycmber day. the air seemed bleakcr aud
colder than before. looked AT her hand,
which were only encumbrances To her; at
the stiffness of the sharp features. AT the
thin. white lips pressed close togsther; al
her weary attitude-all telling OF the bon
dage of suffering that she had endured for
ycar>-and. a. | looked wondered.
Could she be thankful Could any woman
bear this cross meckly? Never TO have
any childhood like other children; 20 be
- shut ont from the busy, happy world;
10 bear alone all the yearnings and long
ing> Tor the active life with which she has
30 little IN common; 10 Ice always an object
OF pity, or. sometimes. perhaps, of rid'cuie;
how could she bear all these things 2
And could there be In her heart thanksgiv-
ing: Presently She turned aud looked
directly Ia my face aud a-ke! about the
distance. aud my queStionings were most
effectively answered. With those brown
eyes looking straight into mine there was
uu need 10 ask II life was. to her, anything
more than endurance. saw 4 world oi
patience In those eyes. and knew that
he felt 10 the utmost the Infinite tender
mess and mercy that cncircled her: and
>aw that, step by step. with a fortitude aud
strength which no human resolution could
command, she was climbing The great
worlds altar-stairs that slope through
darkness mp to God Surely there re-
ma!neth for her deeper, sweeter rest than
her careless iellow-passeugers can claim.
But sighed for new worlds To conquer
and begged That ght ride on the engine.
Imagine that The biackncss of darkness
ali around me; the sparks flying through
the dull. cold air, in a WAY which led me 10
suppose that | must be riding on 4 comet;
the snow white al Il distance but red and
- Har- . -
light; the tall. bare trees. looking cold aud
discouraged; and occasionally caught a
flash from that huge. red eye that watches
over IT all. On the engine the speed seem
ed twenty times greater than when in the
car. and as we tore frantically past Hiram
Falls lying white and still under the dark
ness. | decided that we must all be crazy
together. The cracking. Yithcred leaves
shiverlng and groaning in the air. shrieked.
Winter. winter p so plainly with their
chaitering tongues, that il made me SILVER,
and dare say gruaned, | rang the engine
bell with great gusio but didn't presume
10 whistle. Ia process OF time found my
self standing on the platform OF n depot,
brilliantly lighted by one lamp and a lam
tern. There were six people 10 go 10 the
village" and one sleigh TO take Us there.
There were five trunks and it took fifteen
minutes for each one of u TO select hi
oWn. but we did Il. in >emi-darkness, gn!
left the trunks TO come up" by and by
have no doubt "A freight train might
have been unloaded while those trunks
were bein. disposed OF. but then this WAS
Thank giving. Riding with -ix people in
one sleigh isn't conducive To meditation.
but had an opportunity TO see that the
clouds looked Ike a,he,. and to reflect
upon the beauties OF our climate; so made
NY my mind that ii had been Pilgrim
Father | could have done better than 10
have found New England 50 far north.
and that. being a Pilgrim Father, should
have guided NV frail boat 10 some other
shore. But in the morning the sun rose
red and glorious. clouds OF ashes We're
clouds of gold. aud the far-off mountains
looked almost warm in the sunlight. This
Wa Thank giving indeed We must 90
10 church of course and saw there. stand
ing among the people whom he loves.
>liVer-haired preacher, whose face Is a
benediclion" and whose life is indeed 4
ministry. The sweetness and pureness OF
his living make one feel that even the
wants and WEAKNESS oflife mag be bless
ins>. and felt tina, his kindly face was in
itself a sermon.
Then came dinner, but | spare the mod
est blush OF my hostess aud Withhold the
+ blll OF f&re-aud my share.
This evening DIR. Gordon lectures here,
but will spare his bushes and send my
letter before he comes
What may happen to me before reach
home | don't know. but dare say my re-
turn trip will be in some way eventiul
ERYEBURG, Nov. 18th.
t The STATE.
ShaEdsDearean OuOf2tions for fhe