The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-08
a THANKFUL THANKSGIVING.
PART |.
ON THE HILLS.


but, Harry, you surely do not think"
Harry took his mothers face between his
hands.
"This is what think, you most precious of
all mothers There is no game in the woods;
there is nothing, or next to nothing, to eat
here in the house Hector knows the first as
wellas l. and you the rest; so we make very
respectable majority you see"
Hector, hearing his name called, lifted his
huge self from the floor and came over to join
in the conversation If you will add together
all the best dogs you ever saw or heard of and
then multiply by two, you have Hector to the
life. I'll not attempt to describe him all over,
for | couldn't do it. He was not a handsome
dog, but oh! he was just splendid inside; if
you know what | mean, and Pm sure you do.
But mustn't skip the top of his head. Such
soft, silky hair, parted straight down the mid
die. just the place exactly that baby hands
would love to pat.
Hector" said Harry, 1--WE went hunting
this morning; didn't we!'
Hector looked up at the gun over the door
and then he sneeZed.
Right, old boy" said Harry. "Any SPUR
relss"
At the word squirrels" Hector nearly went
mad. Then he seemed to remember that he
hadn't seen any at all that day and he sobered
down at once.
What No squirres!n asked Harry Now,
Hector, boy, if you saw single one, want
you to tell us the truth; but if you didn't see
even tail, just roll over twice"
Over went Hector i'll a twinkling.
"Any cartridges? No. That's right. And
now really don't suppose we have seen hare
for long, long time"
Hector hung his head
IF We hare seen hare in a long, long time,
want you to sneeze."
Hector sneezed: but it was very sad, slow
sneeze, and his tail and head were hanging
very low indeed.
'|Then, if we saw hare, why didn't we
bring it home for superb
Hector didn't move.
"Perhaps the little mite of hare got away
from great big dog"
Hector started for under the bed.
"COme come, Harry, I'll not have you make
that dear old dog feel so bad,n said his moth
err and Hector gave the littlest waggle of his
tail, Just to show there might be a small bit of
happiness way at the tip end.
SECT up in that chair, sirn' said Harry.
Hector meekly jumped up, stood on his hind
legs and folded his front paws.
so he's afraid to look his master in the
face" Sure enough, Hector's eyes were shut
tight.
''Open your eyes, sir, and look me in the
face!n
The dog blinked and tried hard to obey or
ders. But he was SO ashamed it was very hard
work.
"The next time we see a hare (where are
your eyes, sr0-I say, the next time we see
hare, what is going to happen!"
Hector slowly opened his mouth-wider
WIDER wider still, until you couldn't see his
eyes at all; and then he shut it with snap.
con you are going to catch him, are yOu!"
Hector gave a sneeZe that almost shook his
head off.
"Well, then, come here, old boy, and We'll
make it all up"
Over went the chair and Hector bounded to
his master, the happiest dog i'll Upper High
lands.
1t was going to be an early winter even for
Upper Highlands. The leaves said so, as they
tumbed and rustled through the long gulles
of the wood and the wild geese said so too, as
they focked southwark, in long, waverng
lines, looking like black, crooked arrows high
up in the sky. But, surest of all, the children in
the valley said so, as they bundled off to school,
trying to think of lessons which, somehow or
other, wouldn't stay lessons, but would change
into skates and sleds before they knew it.
Back on the hills where Harry and his mother
lived winter was surely coming. The bleak
wind whistled about the little house and
roared down the large chimney. The forest
gave up plenty of branches, which the trees
generously shook down, so that the fireplace
was always roaring with plenty of warmth
and to spare. But food was scarce. The little
farm had refused to do its share and the har-
vest had been small indeed. In the woods,
too, where game had always been so plenty,
this year it had failed, and the little house
hold was sorely pressed.
''There is no help for it, my bOy,'' said his
mother. "You must go to the village for as
sistance."
''Not to begr'
sNo, no. Not to beg" answered his mother,
cheerfully "But see here"
Harry took in his hand the little white box.
In its soft nest of pink lay pair of tiny dia-
mond earrings, The setting of gold was old
and dingy, but the stones sparllled brilliantly
as ever
81 bought those, Harry, when quite a young
girl; and wonder I've never thought of them
before"
"And you shall not think of them now, dar
ling. Why will you not let me go to the vii
lage and get work! Hector shall stay with
you, and every night will come back
ono, Harry; no. You couldn't come back
over the hills at night and Icouldn't have you
away. There must surely be game in the
forest, my boy; and in the meantime we will
bridge over this little Improbable season with
supplies from the village below. Why, all the
associations of these earrings have been tear
full | cried before / got them, and cried
afterward to think how foolish had been"
They sat and talked far into the night.
With bedtime came the bringing in Of wood
for the mornings fire, and the rather unneCes-
sary precaution of locking the rough-hewn
doors.
"Whats the matter, Hector3 Want to
have a little racing before turning in for the
night1 .# ...
The dog was standing with his fore paws
upon the latch, snutng at the crack Harry
opened the door. Whewl They had been SO
busy talking that they hadn't noticed the ris-
ing wind, nor suspected the snow, that now
whrled into the room
another" said Harry, with his arm on her
shoulder" Mother, the snow has Gomez.
"Yes.n ....
That was all they said. 1t wasn't ques.
ton of snow-baling and coasting with them
It meant bitter struggle against poverty
this coming of the snow before its time But
whatever the others thought of it, Hector was
as jolly as a schoolboy A whistle brought