The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-04

1A .I01OOA oeI1lB1Al1 1din as IL we
hadn't the good things to make 'em of
That 'ud be worse, i reckon"
don't know, father, " said his wife,
when make victuals I like to have
EN- eat, that's all, and not have 'em
dry up and be good for nothin'."
While the deacon and his wife were
| inside the church listening to Parson
Iuttle's Thanksgiving sermon, Nettie
and Mamie had borrowed their old
| horse, Dick, hitched outside, and were
having "lovely ride" The snow was
falling very softly. Now and then a
cool little flake would light on Mamie's
nose, and once, when she turned her
face up, a daring big fellow settled
on clover. What charming kiss 1t
was Mamie laughed, and tried to
show it to Nettie, but it was gone.
| However, they both took to catching
snow-hakes in their mouths, and old
| Dick had his own way as to where he
! should go. OF course he took the
| straight road home, which he had trav
/ eled for twenty-five years, and of course
he drew up beside Deacon Pettingill's
| side gate where mother always got out
When he stopped, the little girls con-
cluded to get out a minute, as their
| noses were a little cold. They thought
back to the church, hitch up the horse
again, and then make their way back to
| the institution before dinner.
AS no one needed their soft little
knocks they ventured to open the
door. They found wood fire, covered
up little with ashes, and a splendid,
great maltese cat blinking at it from a red
and black patchwork cushion. The cat
rose up, stretched herself, gave yawn,
and then lay down again as if to say:
You are quite welcome make your
selves at home, but don't disturb me,
and, whatever you do, don't keep that
door open"
Old Dick, thinking his duty done
when the children had climbed out of
the sleigh, and not enjoying the snow
as much as they had, walked around to
barn, as he knew the way perfectly
well. He walked in, pulling the sleigh
after him, like the careful old horse
that he was.
About the time Nettie and Mamie
were looking about for Dick, to ride
back, and in great CONSERVATION to find
him gone, Deacon Pettingi1 and his
wife came out of the church, with the
rest of the congregation to go home.
The deacon was talking earnestly with
/ the minister about the sermon. The
parson and deacon walked out to Dick s
hitching post before they observed that
Dick wasn't there at all
't [ tell you," said the deacon, feeling
! for the hitching strap while he looked
at Parson Iuttle, s. that argument can't
be answered no way
"Why, father, where's Dick ?" said
Mother Pettingill, who had followed
them. Why-ah-bless my soul,
where is he ?" said the deacon, looking
| bewildered.
The parson helped in the search for
Dick. They all walked back to the
church where the sexton was just about
| to shut the door, and all looked in earn
estly.
They didn't find him in there, how
ever, and the whole party walked back
to the sidewalk, and stood looking up
and down the street in dazed sort of a
way.
"Well, it beats my time,'' said the
deacon. Mother, did I hitch Dick
this morning?"
Why, father, you must ave." said
forget that"
"He must have got loose and gone
home" said the deacon.
"Come right home with me, both of
you," said the parson, " and have din
ner, and then we'll find the horse, ]
guess.
But neither the deacon nor his wife
could think of leaving the great turkey
| browning slowly in the brick oven. to
dry up and burn in the pan. They
must get home, SO a horse and sleigh
were borrowed of the deacon's nephew,
who lived in town, and the puzzled old
people drove home.
OF course we know what they found
there. Mother Pettingill found the
bright-eyed little girls, who wouldn't
answer word she said, and the deacon
found Dick comfortably in his stall,
with the sleigh drawn in carefully out
of the snow.
When he came in from the barn he
found mother speaking as loud as hel
soft voice could be raised
Who are you, dear? and where or
earth did you come from q
Nettie was looking around her for 6
pencil, making sign of writing in hel
open hand. Mother Pettingi1 was
completely bewildered.
sc Must ave lost their senses, she said
"Oh," said the deacon, after looking
at them moment, !" them's two O. the
little dummies I know their signs.
guess they must ave drove Dick home
for I found him and the sleigh in thu
barn.
D1d you ever {! SAID his vile.
The deacon went to spreading ou
his hands, throwing them ovsr his heaC
and waving them about in all sorts o
circles, making queer faces all the time
: Nettie shook her head, and still aske'
for pencil and paper. The deacol
pointed to the town. Nettie nodded.
: eyes," he said to mother, "the
Q came from the deaf and dumb. Let
have dinner, anyhow, mother. I kno'
they're hungry"
Mother never saw the time she WASH
glad to have to have some one help
dispose of the victuals she was SO fon
e of cooking, and could eat SO little {
herself. So that suggestion set her t
work at once.
At sight of the table being spread
4 Nettie locked dismayed and ran to th
window. The snow was falling fur
ously now, and the horse and sleig
! ! was gone ]
: Mamie began to cry, but the deaco
: drew up two fluffy cushioned rocker
- - before the fire, lifted the two childre
? into them, and then brought them eac
: mug CT milk and a caraway cook.