Smyrna times., 1874-12-23
e/LUW e OHS
A Story Of Thanksgiving.

81 know it, said Miss Pamphylia, answer
ing a rueful glance from Miss Mehitab les
brother; "still it's great comfort to reflect
that she could have the trumpet"
Miss Pamphylia certainly had very peculiar
way of looking at human griefs She would
stand still for one moment Of dire dsmay, and
then suddenly illuBinate with some comfort
ing reflection" about something that bad
been, or hadn't been, or c0nld be, after ALL
1t always reminded Miss Mehitabe's brother
of a cluster OF ripe grapes he had noticed one
October day when the skies were ftful. For
one instant, while cloud crept over the sun,
they hung heavy aud dark as the leaden shadow
behind them; then, as quick, strong ray of
sunlight pierced the cloud, the red wine that
was in them took FIRE, and CLEANED aud blazed,
until his very pulses warmed as he locked
He felt them suddenly warming again in just
the same way, as Miss Pamphyla uttered the
words. "She could have the trumpet" What
a thing it would make of iIe if that could
only began with w instead of ''c!" But
as it did not, aud there wasn't the least pros
psct that it ever would, Miss Mehitable's $
brother patiently took it with the &C, much
as he would have huggcd warm sOapStOne if
wandering ia the dark among the glaciers Of
the Alps.
Miss Mehitable, meanwhile, peacefully un-
| conscious that either of them had said any
| thing, sat gazing into the glowing hearth Of
Goals, with a satisfied little smile on her face,
and fresh-foded handkerchief in her lap.
| She always did haye a fresh handkerchief in
her lap-it was SO tidy just where the hands
| lay and as for her smile, her very features
were as likely to disappear. That was because
she found lite always so pleasant; Indeed it
| contained but two regrets tor Miss Mehitable,
| and it would have been fOollshness to let such
| minority disturb all the rest One OF these
regrets was that Pamphylia did not feal quite
inclined to marry Phenix. lie had asked hel
every Thanksgiving day for ten years in sue
ccssion, though never until after dinner for he
liked everything hot, and the talntest hope il
a warmer sauce than disappointment, but il
was no use. Miss Pamphyia inclinatiOns did
not quite agree, and the trial was put over til
another term, leaving the first part OF the even
ing a little dOwnish, until Miss Pamphylii
regularly frightened with a cOnsong thought
After all, )" she said lit is q great comfOr
to reflect that he needH't ask me if he didn'
! choose"
Don't be a goose, Phenx," Miss Mehitabl
always said greatly, the next morning, to com
fort him and though perhaps he had scenes
little like one, pluming himself and pickin
up his crumbs go maRy months, only to b
slain on this fatal day, still when IIetty sal
this, he remembered what he really was an
rose from his ashes to begin another year.
But it seemed such pity about spelling tn
evenings, particularly as Miss Psmphyia onl
came once q year, that she had at last insSte
upon different arrangement.
"Don't ask me again until am ready to SO
yes" she said, with the frmest air.
And when will that be, asked PheniK.
Miss Pamphylis hesitatsd a moment, an
then looked up with a sudden glsam of mi
chief in her eyes.
G.. Al kr,,ua moi
she said.
That was coming very near the second I
Miss Mehitable's regrets in life, which wi
simply the miserably indlstinct way in whIc
peopls were allowing themselves to speak Il
last few years. 1t was growing upon then
too, instead of improving, until she had real
given up expecting to hear anybody unless the
came and spoke directly to her. Then,
course, they took care to enunciats properl
knowing how much she disapproved Il
modern carelessness, but the moment th'
turned away it was all forgotten, and ev'
Phenix and Pamphylia, who were as VI
brought up as herself, did no better than q
rest One said, IN m-m-m, and the 9th
answered, MIN nm" aud it was 0nly
miracle that they ever made head or tail
each others remarks. But Miss Mehitat
always preferred her friends should plea
themselves rather than hOr; so she sat peaC
fully by, heard what she could and let the 81
60. t... ,.t. ...
1t was not till the circle Of these W
attempted proper enunciation had thinn
down to the very strong-winded ones, and NJ
Mehitable' sreplies to even their remarks son
times fitted about as we'll as il she had put
own bonnet on Phenix's head by mistake, II
one Of the bravest of them Ventured q 81
gsstion.
Would it not be a little strauge If all |
L Al =
it not be possible that her hearing had los
trihe Of its acutensss2
! The suggestion was rspudiated With only [