Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-12-06
THAT QUEER LITTLE MAN.

Thanksgiving Story.
"This must he the house. No, 2S7
b. Court Let me be sure Where $
the letter? Here it is in my coat pocket,
of course; now for gas-light.
Yes, 2S7."
The queer little man folded the letter
as he spoke, replaced it in his pocket,
and knocked at the door of 2S7. 1t was
after dark, on dull evening in Novem-
bcr, but the gas light, under whose
friendly glare the letter had been con-
suited, shone upon the figure now stand
ing at the door, and showed him to be
n very odd figure indeed. His head
was so many sizes too large for his body,
that it made him look top-heavy, and
this effect was certainly not diminished
by the fact that he wore his hair long,
thick, and curling, and a beard that fell
almost to his waist. His clothes were
coarse and ill made, but. warm, and in
good repair. His slight figure, small
hands and feet, and quick movements,
made the great head and -brimmed
hat almost grotesque in their dispro-
portonate size. Getting impatient, he
gave a second knock at the door of the
small house, and this time so long and
loud that the door flew open before he
had taken his hand from the knocker.
A little girl stood in the entry, cycling
him with an expression that seemed to
argue debate in the mind whether to
remain, and let the visitor come in, or
to shut the door and run away.
" You take good while to come to
the door, ma 'am," he said, and ut once
decided the question in the mind of the
little girl. A voice and Il smile like
that could never belong to cruel ogre
who ate up little girls without salt or
pepper, however big his head.
Do you want to see Aunt Hen
rietta ?"
"Who is Aunt Henrietta ?''
"Miss Mosely. The lady who owns
the house, and lets lis board here"
ooh Yes, I want to see her."
If you will walk in the parlor, she'll
be i'll presently; she's gone to market" >"
and musical little gleeful laugh fol-
lowed this announcement.
Gone to MARKET"
eyes, and Cora's gone too;' here the
delight could not be suppressed.
"They've gone to buy a turkey fer to-
morrow, and I'm taking care of the
house and Eddy till they come back"
Gone to buy Il turkey for to-mor-
row?'
eyes, it's Thanksgiving, you know !?
We are to have Il treat. Aunt Henrietta
promised it week ago, and she never
forgets, nCrcr ''
"Shc must be famous aunt.
"Well," and here the little girl came
close to her odd visitor and took IL seat
beside him, on the sofa, "she amt our
aunt really, you know; not our very,
very own. But she's just us good to
Cora and Eddy and me-"
"Who is Cora ?"
"COra is my grown-up sister; she's
ever, ever so old, almost nineteen. I'm
ten, and Eddy is two and half Cora
gives music lessons, and she is out al
most all day, and Aunt Henrietta makes
flowers, and help her. Eddy plays"
but where are your papa and
r.amma? ?"
"Papa died when Eddy was q wee
baby, and we came here then to board
with Miss Mosely Mamma sewed all
day, and Cora practiced. Then mamma
died too, but Aunt Henrietta said we
must stay, and manage the board some
how, for she would not let Cora go away
to take care of us all alone. You see
this amt Il very good house for board
ers," aud the little face looked very
wise," and the front room has been
empty long time
"Yes, indeed. We have the third
story front, and Mrs. Manners, she goes
out nursing and amt here much, she
has the third story back Aunt Hen
rictta sleeps down here i'll the back par
lor, so there is nobody at all in the
second story. That was the reason
Aunt Henrietta sent away the servant,
and makes flowers for the milliners
stores. 1t takes so much money to feed
us all, and buy our dresses and boots. "
But, my dear child, have you no
lncles or aunts, nobody to help Sister
Cora ?"
"No! Uncle James Reed is in Cali
fornia, and of course he can't come.
Cora wrote to him, but l guess he didn t
get the letter Anyhow he didn't an
swer it.
"Did you ever see him?"
"No, indeed He went away when
Cora was il baby and never came back,
but he often sent money in letter to
mamma"
A knock at the door interrupted her.
'fThere they come I'll tell Aunt
Henrietta you are here" and away she
ran, and was in another moment heard
making anxious inquiry regarding the
size and tenderness of the turkey.
A lady's voice answered her.
"There's gentleman wants to see
you, auntie," said the child "I'll help
Cora take the basket to the kitchen" "
Miss Mosely at once went to to the