South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-12-21
Toms Thanksgiving.
A Story for the Season.

Greenough said. half in fun and half in
earnest. Her fall sewing was just COM
ing ION, and here was Lizzie Brown, who
had suited her so nicely, going off to
be marie and she had no resource but
to advertise, and take whomsoever she
could get. No less than ten women
had cen there that day, aud not one
would answer.
There comes number eleven; you
will see.' she cried, as the bell rang.
Kitty Greenough looked on with. ia
terest. Indeed, it was her gowns. rather
than her mothers, that were most press.
ing. She was Just 16. and since last
winter she had shot up suddenly. as girls
at. that age so often do, and left all her
clothes behind her.
Mrs. Greenough was right--it svas
another seamstress, and Bridget show
ed in a plain. sad-looking woman of
about 40, with an air of intense res
probability. Mrs. Greenough explained
what she wanted done, and the woman
said quietly that she was accustomed to
such work-would Mrs. Greenough be
so kind as to look at some recommends.
tions? Whsreupon she handed out
several lady-like looking notes, whose
writer's Endorsed the bearer, Mrs. Mar
garet Graham, as faithful and capable,
used to trimmings Of all sorts, and quick
to catch An idea.
very well indeed Mrs. Greenough
said, as she finished reading them; Il
could ask nothing better. Can you be
ready to come at once?'
Tomorrow. if you wish, madam
as,.the answer, AMI then Mrs. Graham
went away.
Kitty Greenough was an impulsive.
imaginative girl no subject was too
dull or TOO unpromsing for her fancy t,
about every new person who came in
her way. After number eleven had
gone down stairs, Kitty laughed
Isn't the O sobersiies, mamma? /
don't believe there will be any frisk in
my dresses at all if she} trims them
'There'll be frisk enough in them if you
wear them her mother answered, smi'.
ing at the bright, saucy, winsome face
of her one tall daughter.
Kitty was ready to turn the converse.
ton.
What do you think she is, mamma
wife or widow And then answering
her own question: Il think she's,mar-
ried. and he's sick and ahe has to take
care'of him. That solemn, still way she
has comes OF much staying in sick.
room. She's in the habit of keeping
quiet. don't YOU see? | wish she were
little prettier; think he would get
well quicker.
'There'd be no plain. quiet people in
your world if you made one her moth
err said, su1iling you'd make mistake
to leave them out. You'd get tired even
OF the sun if it shone all the time.
The next day the new seamstrcss
came, and thoroughly good one she
proved better even than Lizzie Mrs.
Greenough said, and this was high praise.
She sewed steadily, and Lever opened
her lips except to ask some question
about her work. Even Kitty who used
to boast that she could make dumb man
talk. had not audacity enough to in
trude on the reserve in which Mrs.
Graham intrcnched herself.
Hes worse this morning. whispered
saucy Kitty to her mother; 'and she can
do nothing but think about him and
mind her gathers
But.by the same token. he must have
been worse every day for during the two
weeks she sewed there Mrs. Graham
never spoke Of anything beyond her
work
When Mrs. Greenough had paid her
the last night, she said:
Please give me your address, Mrs.
Graham, for l may want TO find You
again
Seventeen Hudson street, ma'am up
two flights OF stairs; and, If I'm not
there, Tom always is
There, didn't tell you?' Kitty cri-
cd. cxuitinglY, after the woman had
gone. Didn't l tell you that he was
sick" You see, now, Toms always
there
Yes but Tom may not be her hus-
band, and don't think he is. lie is
much moro likely to be- her child
Mrs Grecnough I'm astonished at
you. You say that TO be coniradic-
tious Now. Il is not nice TO he contra.
dctous besides she wouldn't look so
quiet and sad il Tom were only her
boy
But weeks passed on. and nothing
more was heard Of Mrs. Graham, until
Mt last Thanksgiving day was near at
hand. Kitty was TO have n new dress,
aud Mrs. Greenough, who had unders
taken 10 finish it, found that she had
not time.
oh, let me 90 for Mrs. Graham ma
ma, cried Kitty eagerly. Luke can
drive me down TO Hudson street, and
then l shall see Tom.
Mrs. Greonough laughed and consent.
cd. In few minutes Luke had brought
to the door the one horse coupe, which
had been The last years Christmas gift
Of Papa Greeuough 20 his wife, and in
which Miss Kitty was always glad TO
make an excuse FOR going out. Arrived
at II Hudson street she trippcd up two