Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-11-25
Dr.. Boneset's Thanksgiving
BY MRS. Z. L. BEERS.
CHAPTER /.

I've been turning round, and walking
back and forth and since then | have
been crying softly, so mamma wont hear.
| saw a goodish face, with gray eyes,
straight nose, mouth just fair to mid
ding with strong white teeth in it, to
be sure, and drift of yellow hair. I
bound that up though, so as to see fairly
and fully the twist in this poor back of
mine.
And then l looked pityingly at the
little woman in the glass, and whispered
to it, Somebody, sometime, will call you
ugly names, Nellie. Can you bear it ?"
What was it blunt old DR.. Boneset said
to-day, when [ asked him if he was get
ting ready to keep thanksgiving jollily?
He didnn't say it, though, after all,
but when he had finished grumbling on
his own account, declaring he hadn't
anything to be very thankful for, he
looked right straight at my bending
spine, and said:
81 don't know what you are specially
thankful for" Was he right? All me,
and Annabel Carysforth is so straight.
like tall, white lily spray.
No, no, little woman in the glass, bury
that pretty summer dream out of sight.
Call it July idyl, or June friendship,
and when Arthur Esten, comes back, re-
member he must look for some bright.
graceful figure to walk through life be-
side him. Talk about "books, and work,
and useful play" like good DR.. Watts
scholar but grandmother's cid fashioned
ring on the little hand that will wear no
lovers token, and then-look right
stright up to God to help you through.
After that, lay this craving self out of
sight. and see if there are no hearts for
you to cheer, no hands whose toll your
own may tighten, no saints on earth to
serve. Nay, nay, little woman, don't
shake your yellow locks at me. In Gods
fair woodland are the straight and steady
fr-trees, but there are the twisted vines
as well, and he will love and care for
both in his own time and way.
So I'll look no longer at the picture
that l see in shadows always, and I'll
'.count my marcies," as Aunt Chloe did.
First, there's mother, loving me straight
on through my moods and lenses, with
that tireless, patient soul of hers, with
that wistful look of compassion that nev-
er forgets itself into worrisome fits OF
coarse coincidence.
Then, there's Charlie! I guess he's a
blessing Sometimes he leases me fear
fully, and does the things he ought not
and leaves undone ''the oughts,'' but
after all, he's darling, and so bright
and smart that if mother and | can only
keep him at school little longer he viii
be wise man sure.
Let me see what else Oh, for deal
old Dominic Esten, the best and grand
est and safest guide one can have be
meath the stars, with his clear, soft tone.
telling the story in so many ways tina
one is never weary, and for the stancl
unbending faith that holds out strength
to the feeble ones just creeping into tn
kingdom.
And l am thankful for the promise O
the school this winter. | have beel
through the worst this summer TIL
boys have not been ugly since the da
Arthur left his class in Latin to tax
my part against rough, ill-tempered JAG
Johnnie.
And then [ am thankful for lots of lii
tie things-that l was not cross to Dl
Boneset to-day, because he is lionel
old man, and don't intend to be cross,
am sure. And I'm glad my hair curls
because | can wear it all round my shou
: ders, and (now this is very wicked, bu
: | cant help it just yeti am ever so gla
: Annabel isn't coming out to her uncl
Esten's this fall. And I'm just going
try to make lots of other people happ,
, Dr. Boneset and ALL Sometimes [ thin
he puts on that rough way because l
| is SO disappointed that all his skill h;
not made me straight and strong, an
= he is all alone in the world-that
e enough to make anybody cross, | CUES
: CHAPTER II.
+ CDR Boneset!''
t "Well I"
t at is l. Can come in?''
s Nellie Greg just put her pretty yello
: head inside the study door, as she sto
! ped on her way home from school
: Who's L? Oh that towheaded CIR
: girl. Come for jalap, or a lecture-e
/ towhead %
Il didn't come for either; but knc
II I'll get one, and it isn't the jalap.''
s. "Well, now you are here, what do y
d want of cross old curmudgeon, Ii
} me 2"
re 81 want you to be ever, ever so goo
d and come and help us be thankful ne
p, Thursday
1T What on earth do you expect me
be thankful for? All alone, like an
y tree left by the tempest! Dye spe
ID I'm thankful when | think of my lit