American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-12-11
VOL. XIV.


up her own babies for her to look at In
her new motherhood, and had patted her
on the head, and said:
Keep MP your heart, Sara-keep up
your heart Well get him through yet
You'll not be widow this time"
He would live, and what did she care
for barn or storel Let all 60, so that she
had him.
But there was a weary time before her
DAYS of fever and delirum, days of weak
misery when the strong man had become
like q fretful child. Sara's round cheeks
grew thin and her hands began to show
their bones. Often she wondered whether
she could keep on her feet much longer,
but she did; and after three months Ill,
ness Hiram got about again, gaunt ana
sallow and lame, too-though that would
pass away in a month or so, the doctor
said-and was enough himself to make It
necessary that he should be told what had
happened; that his barn was burnt, his
hay, his corn, all his provisions nearly
gone, and his horses and oxen, too-5ust
the one dun COW that gave them milk, tied
in shed that Ben had knocked together,
that was all.
al suppose my lantern broke in the hay,
Sara" he said, when he could speak.
found the door open and went IN and
there was Q man there. grappled him
and he struck me-that's all / know.
Either my lantern did it, or the man was
there to fire the barn. However i was, it's
all over now It will take-Sara, you
took care of my pocket book ~
She came across the room and took his
hands.
Darling" she said, " have patience.
Your pocket-book has not been found
I've drawn my little savings to live on.
thought you might remember where"
"Ialways wore it in my vest, he said.
" You know thai. kept my coupon
bonds in it. kept all / had about me.
There were $500 in money, too, and
receipts 1 dare not lose, for they are
signed by rascals. Sara, every chance /
had of retrieving my losses 10 gone for
ever. I suppose was robbed as lay
senseless, and I thought my own person
better and safer than any bank; Look at
me now, q miserable, crippled, shaking
shadow, that any child could master"
"But you'll get strong again." cried
Sara, land we've the house and the
land" But Hiram was too weak to feel
any hope or courage. He took to his bed
again, and lay there still when it was time
for farmer TO be busy
However, he did not die, and there was
another convalescence. Sarah had not
had time to be i'll. She dared not. What
she could do she had done. But q farm
for food that year, despite neighborly
kindness and Ben's VOW to work forever
without wages, If need be, that was all
they could do. And it was . poor year.
No fruit to speak Of; vegetables small and
mean, and corn disappointment.
Moreover, one of Fielding's creditors
did prove himself rascal; and though
the farmer swore TO having paid his debt,
there was no receipt 70 be found, and a
Of s6n I~v ha
Often the discouraged man declared that
he wished the thief had also murdered
him, and he meant it.
But Sara Fielding kept her courage up
and now that her husband was fairly on
his feet and had even flung away cane and
crutch, would have been perfectly happy
could she have made him so.
And thus Thanksgiving came about
again, and friends shook their heads once
would have different Thanksgiving from
what she had been used to-" And many
invitations were sent to those who had en-
tertained so freely while they could but
Hiram would have none of them, and, to
tell the truth, little toes were out and little
dresses were not fresh and holiday-like
Gwen keep Thanksgiving at home"
said Sara Fielding.
:" Thanksgivingp' said Hiram, sadly.
-
one, and can't say feel thankful much,
either"
ssAnd then there amt any punkins,"
said little Lizzie, and no turkey"
There isapumpkin," said the mother,
watch over tits ali right"
Hiram groaned, thinking Of the wagons
full that rolled to market the year before.
And" said the comfortable woman,
81 think roast pork with apple-sauce as
good Is turkey. We have got two barrels
Of apples. I shall keep Than ksgiving.
I wouldn't miss it for any considera ton |;
and. Hiram. YOU 20 to church and take
Jack, and I'll get dinner for you-I and
Lizzie and Sue"
"Churchp' said Hiram.
eyes, church," said Sara.
And she had her way.
Madge, the faithful, had gone with
many tears to service elsewhere, long be-
fore, and Sara had no help; and now,
having tidied the house, she went out
doors to look for eggs.
Some of the chickens had been lost in
the fire; some had since died mysterious
ly; but there were few left. But her
search was not as successful as usual.
SPeckled Gray had taken to hiding her
eggs, and, according to calculation, there
must be three or four somewhere.
At last Sara heard a cackle, and, look
ing carefully, espied- Speckled Grsy's
head protruding from the ruins OF the
barn.
Certain beams and boards had so fallen
as to make hiding place for Speckle, and
thither she was vending her way. Sara
Fielding followed her. An arms length
in she could see, by crouching low, the
great white pearls that were to make her
one pumpkin richer. She putin her hand
and drew them forth-four--five-and
stained, blackened thing, with giimpses
book? Was it-Yes, it was q great, soft
fiat pocket book-the pocket. book in which
Hiram Fielding had carried his wealth
about his person, in his great confidence
in his own strength and safety.
Saradrew it out, and, trembling, looked
at it. 1t was warped and melted into q
wad, but somehow only on the outside.
As she tore IL open she saw that what was
within was discOlored and stained, but not
burnt. Their little fortune was saved !;
there was hope and courage for Hiram
| now.
| 1t Is strange how much determination
will do. Sara Fielding would have
tainted on the ground but for the spirit
with which she fought away the weak
ness that crept over her; but she did get
into her kitchen without doing it, and
then she flung herself upon her knees and
wept and prayed together and grew strong
again.
rying in after church. "Ain't it good
though? Pa, dinner is ready
And I'm ready for It," said the farm