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

one consolation-he's better Oft 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.
II knowp' Mrs. Brown said, wiping
her eyes If ii want for that thought L
don't know what I'd do. miss him so
sometimes. So does father, though ae
don't say so much about it."
$50 do we ALL" said Deacon Brown,
with a far of look in his eyes. Perhaps
he was looking 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'd better do
somethin' toward gettin' up dinner to-
morrow" Mrs. Brown said half hour
later. "'Twon't do to let the custom
drop, you know; an mebbe twill liven
us up little" she added with a sigh.
So they went 10 work, and ere long the
kitchen was full of all kinds of sayory
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 happy
voices echoed, tears fell and weary faces
told Of heavy hearts.
There, the babys walked up" Susan
said, as a Growing voice came through the
kitchen door Hear him talking to his
grandpa
Bless his dear little hearth Mrs.
Brown exclaimed, with quite as much
pride and tenderness in her face and tone
as there had been in Susan's. We
shouldn't know how to get along without
him, should WEI He's aboutall the sun
shine we've got left now Jamie's gone"
g think he looks more and more like
James" said Susan.
And so they worked always talkingand
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 gesture
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 thankful standing out in the cold, If
he had nothing to eatg"
Susan could not help crying when she
remembered that other Thanksgiving Day
four years before. Now everything was
so changed An unknown grave 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 sim.
liar sorrowful thoughts as those which
rose up in Susan's heart or expressed
themselves on Mrs. Browns kind old
face; for there were many graves in Rash
erville Cemetery where soldier boys were
sleeping, and many, many more on the
battle fields down South"
At length the sermon was ended and the
congregation broke up. Deacon Brown
drove up TO the gate TO leave Susan, Mrs.
Brown and the baby, before driving old
Steady around to the barn.
It's purity slippery" lac said. " Le'me
carry the baby, an oil Steady can go
round to the barn alone. He knows the
way AS well as do. Git up, Steady; gee
there-sow
con Brown unattached the gate and went
up the path, carrying the baby.
Somebody's been here" said Mrs.
Brown. Here's a track in the snow
that don't belong to father"
"Sam Pringle, like nough," said the
Deacon, opening the door He said he
was coming after the COW, but he didn't
git round afore we went, an / want
agoin' to wait for him.
"We'll go right into the kitchen till 1t
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 lit
been here an ct half o. one o. them
punkin pies, true's you live. Who could
ii ha' been, dye s'poseg"
Who do you think ~ said voice.
They all started and looked around
them at the sound Of the voice, but saw no
one. 1t. was strangely like one they used
To hear.
Il don't see anybody, but I'd ha' been
willin' to declar' twas James, eff | hadn't
known better. Eatin that pie Is jist like
one o. his tricks, for all the world. Like
enough it's son Lemuel come over alter
SoihEthiH hsl oh PulptHS w Dilo'
us. Is that you, Lemuely" called Mrs.
Brown, expecting To see her eldest son
step from behind some door in answer.
No, IL amt Lemuel, but it's me,
mother" answered voice from the hall,
and "a thin, worn face looked IN upon
them with great gladness shining over ii.
My Godl it's James, . and Susan held
out her arms toward the husband who had
come back TO her from the grave, and
sank down, faint and white, upon the
nearest chair.
Yes, Jamie's come back to you" he
answered, folding his arms about her and
kissing her again and again. " You
thought | was dead, didn't your I'm not
you see"
my boyp' Mrs Brown cried, her old
face all beaming over with sudden, hard.
ly -comprehended happiness, while tears
ran down her cheeks. " / never expected
TO see you again---neverl But God Is good
to us--so goodi" and she sobbed out her
JOY upon her baby's breast Though
twenty-five years had gone by since first
he lay upon her breast, he was her
baby" still--would always be.
And Deacon Brown, with his arms full
OF the struggling, squirmiDg specimen Of
humanity, bundled up In white flannel,
looked on, hardly comprehending his
eyes or ears.