The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-11-12
DELAYS THANKSGIVING DAY.
A story for Young Folks.

an ugly pOut on ner ups. one iihu oiiPPeN'
her clothes on, but not fastened them
her hair was still in tangle, her face
and hands unwashed; there was no fire
in her bedroom; she was uncomfortable
and shivering with cold. The tall clock
on the hall stairs struck Z; the prayer
bell would ring in few moments; her
father had requested her to be down
early; she promised she would, but she
was only half-dressed and did not hurry,
though she knew her mother in the
nursery with the four younger children
would need her help.
Della fattened her cold nose on the
colder glass pane; then she breathed ON
it and made figures and letters on the
damp spot, ana wrote her name, "Delia
Brown" and under that, Thanksgiving
Day." though she was not feeling thank
full for anything that morning.
"Delia! Della :" Her mothers voice
sounded weak and tired, though the day
was just commenced.
"My dear, come here, II you are
dressed"
eyes, ma'am, in minute" answered
Della, standing before the glass, as she
began to brush her tangled hair; 1t was
thick, but net pretty; 1t was not curly
like Jenny Martins, but stiff as poker,
not twist nor turn in it OH If it was
golden, like Ada Spencer's, she might
crimp it and let it float down about her
shoulders then she thought of Ada's
blue eyes, as she glanced at her own
gray or greenish color, as some OF the
schoolgirl called them she was not at
all like Ada, her glass told her the plain
truth how hard it was that some girls
should be so pretty that everybody liked
them as soon rs they saw them I; no per
son ever turned around i'll the street
when she passed to get second look at
her face no visitor mt the school ever
said of Della, "Who is that lovely
creature" as they often asked of Ada
she was not a beauty, and, dreadful
thought, perhaps she would never be-
come one she was not fair, and she had
no roses on her cheeks, and her express
sion-the tell-tale index of the heart
was not lovely or pleasant.
"Perhaps when l get to be young
lady, and trizz my hair this way or turn
il back that way, or wear earrings, l
may be better-looking, thought Della,
turning and twisting her hair as she
stood before the glass.
"If my mouth was only this shape
she puckered ii mp into sort of knob
land my eyes as large as they are now
when l have them wide open, would
certainly be prettier.
"Delia, my dear, are you coming =
She started as she heard her mother
calling the second time, and washing her
face and hands in a great hurry she en-
tered her mothers room with q very
cross look on her face.
"You know, my dear, you promised
to be down early this morning, said her
mother, gently.
"Well, / would have been if l had not
been frozen almost stiff while I was
dressing. do wish had fire in my
room every girl L know sleeps and
dresses in a warm place.
Delia's tone of voice was as unpleasant
as the expression of her features as she
answered her mother, who said, with a
sigh:
"You can come in here, my daughter,
where it is much warmer"
Della made no reply. She did not
want TO dress IN room where there was
no glass F; for, although she was not pref
~, she liked to look at herself, and was
always hoping some people might con-
slider her beauty.
She pulled her little brother Harry
toward her very roughly, as she button
ed his dress, and brushed his hair the
wrong way. He WINGED and drew back.
and said that she hurt him; and Della
was only more ungentle. AT last she
"a, b., l.. Al
disagreeable duty of all-and Harry cried
out:
ooh, sister, you pinch me 20
Her mother said, reproachfully:
"Do try and be more gentle, Della. 3"
Her face flushed as she glanced at her
mother, who, pale and worn, and IA
tigued with anxiety and nursing the sick
baby, was trying to get the children
ready for prayers, and succeeded in
having them all in the diniug-room soon
after the bell rang. Della did not hear
the lesson her father read from the
Bible. Her eyes were fixed upon n
blue spot in the carpet; the color made
her think of Ada Spencer's new silk
dress; she wished she could have one
almost like it, though she thought she
pinked ruffies around the bottom and a
longer overskirt. Her mind wandered
away entirely from the present scene,
and she could not have told, to save her
life, if her father had been reading
about Saul or Solomon, David or Daniel.
Her father remembered and gave
thanks for all the blessings and mercies
of the past year in his prayer. Della
forgot that she had received any good
from the hand of God; she never thought
of being grateful for the ordinary bless.
ings of life, for health, food and raj
ment, and hundred other gifts bestowed
by the Father of Mercies;" and per.
haps if her eyes had been beautiful, he1
hair golden and her body clothed in the
richest garments, she would not have
been more grateful, for the spirit of dis
content and dissatisfaction had stoler
into her heart; they had found lodging
place, and it is harder to put such feel
ings ont than to let them in; and as tn,
day went on these restless spirits she hat
chosen as companions gave her more I'M
easiness and discomfort.
"Oh, my" she thought, with deer
sigh, as her eye wandered over the new