Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-26
WITH A SONG.
A Thanksgiving story.

A Thanksgiving story.
"Bat can't even turn a tune, Bet
tyl' and the voice of the speaker, a
young man, apparently about %
years of age, was very sad as he ut
tered the above simple sentence.
"Weli, what if you can't turn q tune,
as you call it, replied his companion.
"That don't make no difference It's
my opinion, and its always been my
opinion, that everybody in this world
ought ID sing. / amt much on music
myself. Come to think of it, l don't
believe that l ever hum anything ex-
cept Coronation and Yankee Doc
die, and one or two more such old fash
Toned hymns, but one of these is just as
good as another for an emergency, and
make pint of having one or t'otiler
of 'em close by to call upon whenever
I take notion that the Old Adversary
is sneaking round, looking for a chance
to take me unawares. Most of the
trouble that We have in this world,
Mister William, comes upon us in this
sort of style; and 1 never found any
thing that would give old Satan his
walking ticket half so quick as a good
ot1OGe N&OcO VA o11klnAs udNCu TIC
least idea what it does, but it seems to
me Just as if it put some kind of a
something into the air that the old fei-
Ter couldn't see through. tell you,
William, I've sent him about his bust
ness IN this way a great many times,
very much disappointed"
blessed be cheerful disposition -
responded the young man, fervently.
"Jus' So" said Betty, looking him
squarely in the eye blessed IS the
man or woman who is given a cheerful
disposition to start with, but thrice
blessed the one who, not having it
naturally, keeps watch over his temper
and his spirits, and comes off conqueror
at last"
This closing shot of Betty's went
home, just as she intended it should /;
for William Harcourt responded with
his whole soul aglow IL his face,
Amen, Betty p" and, without another
word, walked out Of the pleasant din
ing-room, where this kind hearted
friend and capable servant was arrang-
ing the table for tea, and moment
after size saw him turning the curve OF
the road leading to Squire SEYMOUR
palatial residence, where a gay party
was already gathering to spend Thanks
giving.
"That's the last we shall see of him
till bedtime" she continued, softly, to
herself. Something out of the com
mon run IS the matter with that boy
That's as plain as the nose ON your face,
Bet Halstead, and faint no new thing
Hor1 ~ -,
down for good while. It's the old
trouble. suppose"
And Betty put the finishing touches
70 the tastefully set table, lingering a
moment, as was he- custom, to see that
every detail had been attended to before
she rang the bell for the family to
assemble.
Let Us look at the members of this
household, as they file in to the pleas
ant ting-a-ling of Betty's bell.
First entered Mrs. Harcourt, hand
some, dignifed, middle-aged woman,
with very dark eyes and very white
hair, but with complexion as fair and
face as free from wrinkles as either of
her daughters. s w
It was plain to be seen that Mrs. Har-
court, although born New Highlander,
had never served the usual apprentice
ship to the science of domestic econ
omy, and had known very little of phys
ical suffering. A zzae
There was look of power about this
woman's face that affected almost every
one IN the same manner. That she
could be a good friend, all instinctively
felt that she could become bitter
enemy, did the object prove unworthy,
was quite as apparent e
She could thaw those whom she
wished 10 cuiuvste, and freeze those
unlucky enough to come under the ban
of her displeas;ae, in the very same
breath. A fash of those wondrously
large and beautif VI eyes, and simple
curl of the still full and rosy lips, were
quite sufficient to tell the whole story.
In sickness, no hand was SO tender
and wiling as Mrs. Harcourt's in mis-
fortune, IN poverty, her house was al
ways open, her purse ever ready but
for the troubles that spring from wrong
doing, she had neither sympathy nor
patience and her neighbors knew her
too well TO endeavor to interest her in
any case where had been the slightest
deviation from the straight and narrow
path of rectitude.
The lady seated herself at the head
of the table, giving Betty an aprrecia-
tive smile as she took In, with one
sweeping glance, the exquisite neatness