St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-11-24
81 goh'nsburp elradrmp Gul,mun.
Thanksgiving Beforehand.


home and the family circle rise before
those of us who are afar from such
scenes. With eager desire the school
boy looks forward to the time when he
can again join himself to the after-tea
talks around the hearth The long sen
alation from those he loves makes him
:" impatient to see them that some
times he torgets his lessons and wanders
off into ''Day dream Land
Again the train leaves him at the
familiar station once more he holds
the ''tiller ropes of his much loved
tr"tter. Down the street he goes. pass
ing famllial faces and familiar turn-outs.
There's the old deacon in his ..ark,n
going to see the sick and the DOOR.
twitching, little 10y little, the tongue
from his old gray mare. What an hon
est old soul he is There he is bow
ing. Il didn't think he would know
me" Here comes farmer Eastman with
his old familiar box sleigh well filled
with turkeys and chickens. There is
MIR. QuecIbodN taking his morning walk.
| never saw the old gentleman Ion
wheels" he always walks. | believe he
even walked to the Centennial and |
don't blame him much, for the poor.
little man would have been crushed bN
the bulls and bears of PENNSYLVANIA
ear. "IIurrah If here isn't our old
>chool-trllow. Will Ellis" GLOW are
yuu Will ,"
First rate. How d doe Come
around Tonight We are to have Il little
Soircr."
"ThankS I'll try"
Now he leaves the mann road and has
an opportunity to ask few questions
about home. Are they all well ? Have
all the brothers come How is the
skating? Lastly, thinking of his long
fast; have they good supply of tur-
keys and mnce pies
Now he is driving up to the house
Again he swings open the large iron
gate and ont leaps the old barn dog.
Prince. Il great big fellow. almost knock
ing him down III his joy to see IL new
him over enough and has got Il gl"N {
from his pocket. the little pet. ii Skye
terrier, baslfully comes siding up.
wa%glng himself to pieces in teasing to
he taken up from the cold SNOW. This
Is ut the gate. inside the door, it is the
old welcome home, given to every
/ school boy. Who has not experienced
! it! The mother receives her boy with
loving words and mothers kiss. look
ing tondly upon his growing form and
his look of fresh, young health the
father grcets him III his business like
manner, not showing the real. deep
feeling at his sons arrival his brothers
and sisters are oVer-joycd and immed-
atcly Try to drag him into the game OF
the hour.
But his first thought is for his own
room and he wishes to see if all his
pictures are as they should be, if his
camping memcntocS are all safe. if his
love letters are undeStroycd. Thanks
to the mothers fOrcSeeing love, these
are all safe and in their proper places.
His gun, tiShimg-rod. bat and ball. are
just as he left them. What change
from school books and study table
| l.. Il -, l..
ready for tea. The tea bell rings and
involuntarily he wonders if the Acad-
emy bell has rung. He could go down
stairs and take his seat at the table with
his eyes shut. Tea is finished early
for they want Il long talk in the sitting
room before the older boys excuse
themselves on the plea of engagements.
The mother sits in the midst of the
group gathered around the hearth, gaz-
ing tiISt at one then at another. NcaI
her, sitting upon IA low ottoman, is til,
returned school boy. Such are his fist
free hours ut home and the rcmem-
brance of his ride, his reception, comes
over him while looking into the bright
ly burning wood fire, by which light
alone, the darkness of the room is
broken. The moon comes up over the
very same hill that it did il year ago
and sheds its light into this room of JOY.
They talk of the things which have
happened at home during the year.
| IrINl Il 4 4 4
vet trusting in His mercy, tells of the
| little one
Who waited until the snow flakes came
For them to see which fairer.
Then back to her gentle Shepherd sped,
He willing it for her His blood shed.
| They talk of the few days which the
boys will spend at home; of what they
are to do; of the grand party on Christ
mas eve given by them. On the NOR
row, there is to be skating party on
the river in the morning and IL moon
| light ride in the evening; so he must
see if his skates are in good order and
| if his driving gloves do not need mend
ing, us most school boys do ut the end
of the year.
He gives his mother his best essays
and with an honest pride shows his last
reports. His father silently notices that
they are improving and is satisfied.
Then he distributes his presents to his
little brothers and sisters (if they have
not already plied into them as children
will \ and shows them his trophies from