The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-12-02
'.but--I Iored him so -

| ''but--I LOred nam so
s.Don't cry, mother" Susan got up
from the cradle, where she had just laid
chubby, red-cheeked baby down to
sleep, and came to Mrs. Browns side.
I'VE can't help having sorrowful
thoughts for James, and wishing that
God could have spared him to US little
longer; but there's one consolation-he's
better off than we are, and we shall meet
him in Heaven. When think Of that,
can't help having thankful thoughts
and she bent down and kissed her mother
in-law' wrinkled face.
81 6now!' Mrs. Brown said, wiping
her eyes. "If it want for that thought,
don't know what Id do. miss him SO
sometimes. So does father, though he
don't say much about it.
$50 do we ALL said Deacon Brown,
with far-oR look in his eyes. Perhaps
he was locking with eyes Of faith to the
land beyond the river, where he believed
his boy was waiting for the loved ones
left behind.
! Il guess, on the whole. we haG better
do somethin' toward gettin' up a dinner
tomorrer,' Mrs. Brown said, half hour
later. 'rwon't do 20 let the custom
drop, you know; an mebbe twill liven
us up little she added, with sigh.
| So they went to work, and ere long the
kitchen was tull of all kinds Of savory
odors. You would have missed the old,
CHEEKY laugh of Mrs. Brown had you been
there. The shadow Of war lay over that
household as over thousands Of others,
and where, OF old, laughter rang and hap
py voices echoed, tears fell and weary
faces told of heavy hearts.
@'There, the baby's walked up, Susan
said, as Growing voice came through the
kitchen door. ..llear him talking to his
| grandpa"
.'Bless his dear little hearth Mrs.
Brown exclaimed, with quite as much
pride and tenderness in her face ana tone
IS there had been in Susan's. Eve
shouldn't know how to get along without
him, should we? He's about all the sun
shine we've got left, now JAMES gone
II think he looks more and more like
James, said Susan.
And so they worked, always talking
and thinking Of "Jamie." Did they make
pies or beat up cakes, Mrs. Brown was
sure to tell how much he liked them; and
if they spoke Of baby, Susan was ready
to tell of some little trick or look or ges-.
ture which reminded her of the husband
she had lost.
Thanksgiving Day dawned beautifully
bright and clear. There were services at
church. as usual, and Deacon Brown har-
messed up old STEADY" and filled the old
red sleigh box trimming full of hay; ''for
how he argued. could horse feel
| ho hn
had nothing to cat!"
Susan could not help crying when she
remembered that other Thanksgiving Day
four years before. Now everything
was So changed. An unknown
igrave held the brightest part Of
her life, and hopes that had been bright
and full Of promise had gone down with
the murky sun on that dreadful battle
day when James Brown fell fighting in
his country's defense. | am afraid there
were many hearts in the congregation
that day full Of such or similar sorrowful
thoughts as those which rose up in Su-
san heart, or expressed themselves on
Mrs. Browns kind old face-for there
were many graves in Baskerville ceme-
terry where soldier boys were sleeping,
, and many, many more on the battle
fields "down South"
Al length the sermon was ended, and
the congregation broken up. Deacon
Brown drove up to the gate to leave Su-
san, Mrs. Brown and the baby, before driv-
ing old Steady around to the barn.
ats purity slippery" he said. "Le'me
carry the baby, an oil Steddy can 60
round to the barn alone. He knows the
!, way as we'll as do. Git up, Steddy
gee there-so!'
..Steddy'' started off obediently, and
Deacon Brown Unattached the gate and
went up the path, carrying the baby.
Somebody's been here said Mrs.
Brown. Here's track in the snow that
don't belong to father
''Sam Pringie, like enough said the
Deacon, opening the door.
"Ile said he was coming
after the COW, hut he didn git round afore
we went. an want agoin' to wait for
him.
well 20 right into the kitchen till it
gifts warm in the other room,' said Mrs.
Brown. and led the way.
The pantry door was open. She went
and looked in and started back with a
little cry Of establishment. Somebody S
been here an eat half O. one O. them
punkin pies, true's you live! Who could
it ha' been, dye s'pose!'
"Who do you thinki' said voice.
They all started and looked around
them at the sound of the voice, bat saw
no ore. 1t was strangely like one they
used to hear.
81 don't see any body, but I'd ha' been
willin' to declar' twas James. ef |
hadn't known better. Eatin' that pie is
Jest like one o. his tricks. for all the
world. Like enough it's son Lemuel
come over alter scmethin' m hid on pur.
rose to s'prise us. Is that You Lemuel!''
called Mrs Brown, expecting to see her
eldest son step from behind some door in
answer.
mo, it amt Lemuel, but it's me,
mother" answered = voice from the hall,
and thin, worn face looked in upon
them with = great gladneSs shining over