Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-11-25
MAYS THANKSGIVING OFFERING.

MAYS THANKSGIVING OFFERING.
lT was such a happy Thanksgiving Day
at Mrs. Lees comfortable home. Rela-
tives from far and near were gathered
there to help make way with the huge
Thanksgiving turkey and all the other
good things beneath which the lady's hos
pitable table groaned. Aunties, uncles,
nieces and nephews drank to each
others health, while the small host of
children enjoyed the day and shared the
meTiment with their elders after their
own baby fashion. Nobody cared for the
snow which steadily whitened the dreary
streets outside, nor for the keen, wintry
air which ratified at the Window-panes and
tried yainly to find entrance within Mrs.
Lees warm, cheerful apartments. There
were games and 5mpr0naptW dances, songs,
merry laughter and all sorts of fun and
frolic going on, so that the storm without
was all unheeded
But one among the children thus gath
cred together could only sit quietly in her
little chair and look on while the others
played. Dear little May-the youngest
wee. pet Of them all-MrS Lees baby of
four years; mammals little wounded
dove" as the family called her. She
could not run and jump as the rest did,
because one tiny foot had never touched
ground save with the toes; and though
the child could walk without crutch,
yet it was very weary work, and she liked
to sit IN her own little chair, where her
toys and playthings were brought to her
by kind and loving little brothers and
sisters. Everybody loved the child A
SUMMER, sweeter face never was kissed;
bluer and merrier eyes never looked into
mothers face than hers; and such
golden little head 1t seemed as if a
quantity of sunshine had one day fallen
upon it, and, becoming so entangled amid
the soft, wavy tresses that it could not free
itself, at last settled forever there, like 4
bright golden crown, which earned for
the beautiful wearer the loving title of
" Golden Head"
ner, and big folks and little folks gath
cred around the well-filled board. But
little May at length grew weary of the
noise; her small brain hardly compre-
hended the wit and humor appreciated by
older heads, and she wanted to watch the
pretty snow tumbling flake by flake from
some mysterious height above. So, slip
ping from her high chair the little one
limped across the room and dragged her
self upon the large, broad windowsea
Here curled up comfortably she sat,
quietly Indifferent to all things save the
beautiful snow gradually piling itself on
the sill outside her window. What was it
that presently made the blue eyes open
wider and fill them with kind of sorrow
tul surprise? Only the sight Of a poor,
scantily clothed woman, who paused in
her wanderings to look up at the sweet
child-face pressed against the pane. Little
May did not know much Of the discom-
forts OF this life, nor Of poverty and woe
and want. Her own life had been so ten
derby guarded that even her infrmity was
OF little consequence to her, so ready and
anxious were others to help her in her
small desires. So when this half-frozen
beggar looked mp eagerly the child was
filled with wonder that, on this day, when
mamma, papa and others were so glad,
that poor woman was so sad and hungry
out in the cold.
"See! mammal she exclaimed, "here
is poor old woman! Sail May tell her
tum in and eat?''
Mrs. Lee only laughed, and shook her
head in the negative, even as she raised
refreshing cup of warm drink to her lips
which would have warmed the shivering
soul outside so gratefully. Then May
crept to her mothers side. Mamma, is
that woman any little dirl's mamma, like
you is nly mammal"
"What strange question, childn' re-
piled Mrs. Lee, tenderly laying her hand
on Mays golden hair. The chilo looked
puzzled, but asked no more questions, and
her presence for brief space was forgot
ten as the company merrily chatted on.
Meanwhile what was little May doing
creeping so silently about the floor close
by the table? Simply filling her little
apron with crumbs which in goodly mum !
bers had dropped /" from the rich mans
table" Dear child! Rapidly her little |
fingers worked until she could find no |
more, and then, with tie insignificant re-
suit of her efforts, she rose and limped |