Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-11-25

vile, Mrs. Brown declared.
Dear me susr' said Mrs. Brown,
folding her plump arms across her chest
and dropping into the great rockipg-c chair
by the window, Sim e'namost tired to
DEATH
The morrow dawned pleasantly. The
sky was clear as bell, and the air keen,
frosty, sweet, like draught of wine.
They were early astir at Deacon Browns.
Breakfast was dispatched, and then began
the hustle and confusion of preparing for
the expected guests.
James harnessed up his horse and drove
off to Mr.. SANKEY'S, where he knew a
rosy-eheeked girl was waiting for him. Ii
was the last time, he thought as he
hitched his horse by the gate, that he
should ever go there to see Susan Stanley.
When he came again, If Susan was not
with him, he should ask for Susan Brown.
His heart was full of tender little memo
ries of long, sweet walks under the star
light, and kisses at the gate, and whispers
so low that only themselves and the night
winds heard them. Now those walks and
talks were over, and they were about to
set out, hand in hand, upon the journey
oflife. "A good wife is the best thing
man can have except good mothe-,"'
Deacon Brown had said to him that morn
ing and James was just old fashioned
enough to believe him.
There were services at the church at ten
O'Clock, and directly after they were over
James and Susan were to be married.
The old church was filled to overlooking on
that clear Thanksgiving morning, and
many thankful hearts were there, for
earth had been very bountiful and lavish
of her blessings, and the good people of
Baskerville were not of the kind 10 be I'M
thankful for Gods favors to them.
Services were over AT last, and James and
Susan came forward and stood before the
white haired man of God. Mrs. Brown
was close by and Deacon Brown was look
ing ON with fatherly pride. The Stanleys
were there too, feeling just as much pride
in blushing, halffrightened Susan as the
Browns did in the youngest son of their
large family. And there, on that day so
full of happy, thankful memories, the
twain were made one flesh"
Mrs. Brown cried and laughed and
wrung Mrs. Stanley's hand, while people
newly married pair.
1.-The dearsr' exclaimed Mrs Brown.
How han'so they looked together
didn't they, Miss Stanley?"
THE best-lookin' couple I've seen in
long time, If one on 'em is my own
da'ter," answered Mrs. Stanley, with fond
pride in her eyes. Kind, motherly hearts!
She had found new son TO love, and Mrs.
Brown a new daughter, and there was
quite room enough for them in their AZ
fections.
The hand shaking and well-wishing
were over at last, and Deacon Brown
4" bundled" Mrs. Brown into the old red
sleigh, with rs many more as could ride,
and drove off home, followed by the Stan
leys, who were TO take dinner with them.
wish / could tell you about the dinner
and dc it justice, but | quite despair of
doing that Such crisp baked, juicy
meated turkeys never graced Thanks
giving table before, feel assured, because
Mrs. Stanley whispered TO the delighted
Mrs Brown that "She never see the beat
in all her life," and Mrs. Stanley had seen
a great many fine Thanksgiving dinners
and was considered almost as much of an
authority on the subject as Mrs. Brown
was, therefore was quite capable of judg-
ing, and her opinion must go a good deal
further than mine. The young genera
ton of Browns and Stanleys, peeping in
at the open doors of the dining room,
wondered how long it would be before
they got big enough TO sit down with the
other people and not be obliged to wait. !"
On such occasions as this, to "wait" was
to suffer martyrdom The delightful,
savory odors of nicely Drowned turkeys,
the bubble of sparkling cider and the
busy clink of knife and fork were simply
tantalizing.
Mrs. Browns pies and cakes and dough
nuts and the many other good things her
skill had prepared for the occasion were
admired and praised till she was perfectly
satisfied that her efforts had proved emf
nently successful, and Thanksgiving had
lost none of its old, time.honored charac-
ter from failure on her part TO do 1t justice.
IF God is willing" James said, very
reverently, as he and Susan stood together
after dinner In the empty sitting room,
1--WE will live to see many Thanksgiving
Days as pleasant as this one"
~ hope So" Susan answered, and then
he kissed her.
"If God IL willingl' You see James
had another old-fashioned way clinging to
him. II was to not forget that God has
something TO do with US, albeit he lived
In modern times when creed and theory
would almost lead one TO believe that peo-
pie could get along without God well
enough.
To-morrow's Thanksgivin', but some
how can't seem to enter into the speret
of what such day ought to be- Mrs.
Brown said, IA she sat before the fire In
the November Of 1856, much the same as
she had sat there in the November of four
years before, and she wiped her glasses
which had grown dim with the moisture
of tears.
81 know 1t don't seem like Thanksgiy-
in season." Deacon Brown answered sad
ly. "still we ought to be thankful for what
we have enjoyed"
90 dearl o dearr' cried Mrs. Brown,
breaking down completely, and folding
her arms upon the arm of the rocking.
chair she laid her head upon them and
sobbed IL can't be thankful when
think our boys gone-all the one we had
left to love and care for us In our old age.
try not to think of IL sometimes; but
can't shut my eyes 'thout seem him lynn
In the grass, dead or dyin'. Poor boyl
Poor Jamiel | know he thought OF you
an me, an Susan, and wake up in the
| night thinkin' bow like as not he KEEP
calm for US. when he died, an we
| couJlnit sne nr answer him an the moor