The Portland daily press., 1874-11-28
Hannah Berry's Thanks
giving--In Two Parts.
BY OLIVE THORNE.
PART L.
IN THE POOR HOUSE.

out everything that could shock fastidious
taste might as well not begin at all. For
il is shocking all through. 1t tells of common
people in common New England village, and
there isn't person of style in it, from begin
ming 10 end.
So now. dear readers-who care to read on
after this. announcement-let us begin-n the
Poor House.
'Next Thursdays Thanksgiving, Hannah"
said old Sally Wilder; 'Lotty went to meet
ing last night, and she says the minister gave
it out" Hannah sighed, and her knitting
needles stopped for a moment
swell, well,'' she replied, Thanksgiving is
not for us. We've got nothing to be thankful
for-that / know Of"
Mot much know" said the first old wom-
an in the tone ofone reciting a lesson snolh-
ing but a roof to shelter US; enough to eat
such as it IS" she added in a lower tone, sand
clothes to cover us-mighty coarse cues at
that" she added in the same low tone.
eyes," said her companion bitterly; 'but
if we hadn't been SO kindly cared for we
would have been dead ard out ofour m sery.
For my part wish was dead in ditch long
ago."
s'Deary mer' said Sally, shaking her head !;
II don't. 1 kind O cling to life if it is in the
county house, and I have not chick nor a
child above the sod to bless myself WITH"
'sMuch good It would do you if you had,"
muttered Hannah Berry. There's no de-
pendence TO be placed on the love Of children
that you've born and reared, aud worked your
fingers to the bone form this world"
II can't feel to blame you. Hannah" said
Sally, kindly, 'sfor feeling hard like toward
children you'v brought up and shaved for,
who turn you out in your old age, to come
upon the town, But there's one comfort left
us, old friend.'
s'What is that?" asked Hannah, taking up
her coarse blue checked apron to wipe away
solitary tear which took its lonely way down
her worn cheek.
1T is the Blessed Book that has SO much
comfort for u.s.
Hannah's knitting peedles fairly snapped
her gray eyes-faded with many tears-spark-
led, ana her voice grew almost fierce as she
answered; 'Fm glad you can find comfort
in it Sally-God knows you need it, But for
me / cunt feel to enjoy it. Don't 1t say SOME
thing about the good man, and his widow uev-
er deserted nor wanting bread? Aud can you
show me better man than Captain Berry
always was, and haven't l wanted bread
many many time? Don't tell me! There
isn't speck of comfort for me in that book.
Dear mer' she went on letting her knitting
drop in her lap, and rocking back and forth
In her wooden rocking chair, 'how my Ben
would Lave felt to know his little wife, as be
used to call me, would end her days in the
when you and married smart young fellows
owners of their vessels both OF them, aud sci
u housekeeping so snugy, with everything sc
nice, that we would sit together in this place
in our old age, aud knit socks for paupers.','
"Ah, well-a-dayp' said Sally, chtertully
'fmaybe it's all for tho best;
tell 11e! Is it all for the best that my own
- children that brought into the world, and
took care of when they were helpless babies,
and worked for when their poor father was
lost at sea, and tugged and toiled that they
might be comfortable, and dress well, and
hold up their heads with the best, and spens
every cent l could earn, and sold every stick
of furniture that their father bought me, even
the dear old cottage itself; and left myself
old and worn out, and destitute-is it for tn e
best that they would turn me out to starve ?
or to come on the town, which is worse? ?
No! no! it's no use talking to me, Sally.
know yo1 mean kindly, but you cant under
stand the sharpness of it. It's a thousand
times worse than DEATH" she went on more
quietly, "and as l sit here aud knit, think
OF it every day. and it cuts deeper and deeper
into my heart," aud / wonder L don't die,
just with the ache of it,"
She had stopped rocking now, and her
head, with its snowy hair closely banded
away from her face, lay heavily against the
chair; as though too weary to live.
Don't take on so now,' said Sally kindly.
''You amt so bad off as you might be.
Spose'n 1 wasn't here to talk to you, and
there's Lofty !sthat childs real comfort to
you-so kind and thoughtful for you-now
amt she?'
HANNAH sat up and resumed her knitting.
She could not indulge in luxury OF rest
eyes," she said, after moment, 'You
are comfort to me, Sally, and Lofty, too:
only my heart aches for the child having to
begin in this dreadful place. It's bad enough
for us old ones, who have had our good
times, TO end here"
80 well, nobody knows what good luck
may come to Lofty. She's got a neat and
wholesome look about her, for all her Italian
blood" said Sally, who was in lined to take
more cheerful view of things than her old
friend.
'.Nothing so good that she'll ever be able to
forget her life in the poor house, I'm afraid"
said Hannah, sadly.
NWell, there's worse than the poor house
for young girl,' said Sally.
sob, yes! of course there's always some
thing worse" said Hannah, as the door
opened to admit girl of a. She was very
dark, and her hair, whiclrwas black and very
thick, was cut short in her Eeck.
She closed the door and came up to the
fire.
There's a man in the other ROOM" she
said in pleasant voice, "asking for Mrs.
Berry,
"Why, that's mer' said Hannah, retiring
as quickly as rheumatism and trembling knees
would let her.
what can he want with NE? Maybe it's
johnny come back after his mother after all.''
she muttered to herself as she hobbled across
the floor to the door.
No repentant son met her eyes as she en-
tered the best room. Nobody but Caleb
Bent, an old neishboa. Her face fell-he
saw it.
'How de do, Mrs. Berry?' he said bi;skly.
"ain't over'n above glad to see me bevp
Wal, never mind, don't bear any erudges-
I've just stepped over on business, YOU see"
business" said the little woman, "lben
you didn't ask for me?" AMI she turned 70
"stop bit!-hut did though, just that
very thing, and I've got some news for Won
though Pm blamed if 1 know how TO ' Tell
her." he added to himself.
"News? % said she eagerly, ''not from John
ny--or-"
'Not from any one Of them sons of guns
scamps every mothers son of them must
say"-he went on, ''but ST. down Leishbor.
I'll tell you all about it,''
sThen it's nothing care for" said Han
nah, hopeiessly, "but don't mind hearing
it," and she sat down.
~D Suo vi JIG CuSS vi IL CUdlf. Will BIS
hat in his hand, fidgeting about as though he
dia not know exactly how 10 begin.
,,,,, waii' he said at last, 'TlI tell you the
nun ont aud you can take it for what it's
, worth, and mebby that's just nothing at all.
w uals m't tonnS When got upa leete late
kitchen like I'll possessed, lust 5ilin, ,n
forgot to get her any dry wood. That lite
furry of snow we bad one night. Won ,,now
just spilled every stick she had, and 1no Sha
couldn't get a fire no way Wall Mar Snr
amt none o'your soft spoken critters, Mariar
amt, and she just ripped around there till
thought she d raise tine roof, and Jest to nae
ify her, went into the shed to see what T
could find that would burn. The fust thine
sol eyes on was that air old secretary Of
Berry's that bought dozen years ago. that
Ia put out there'cause it was wore out
much as a year ago."
Hannah bad been listening from poiteness,
but now she looked eagerly at Caleb That