South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-12-21

personal favor to Kitty. who had taken
such fancy TO Tom.
The last afternoon of Mrs. Graham's
stay Kitty called her mother into her
room. Mrs. Greenough SAW spread out
upon the bed a thick, warm soft Jacket.
WOODEN dress n last years hat.
You know them by sight. don't YOU.
mother. mine? They are the last winters
clothes that | grew away from, and have
taken leave OF Msy Tom have them?'
Yes, indeed, if you'll undertake TO
give them to Toms mother
Kitty had seldom undertaken a more
embarrassing task. She stole into the
sewing room with the things in her
arms.
You'll be sure. won't you, Mrs. Ora
ham. not to let Tom know she's going to
ride until get there, because / want TO
see how surprised she'll look
Yes, I'll be sure, never fear
And Mrs. Graham. here are my coat
and hat and dress that wore last year,
and I've grown away from them. Would
you mind letting Tom wear thcm?'
Would / mind?' A swift. hot rush
of tears filed Mrs. Graham's eyes, which
presently she wiped away. and somehow
! then the eyes looked gladder than Kitty
had ever seen them before do you think
l am so wickedly proud "a to be hurt be-
cause you take an interest in my poor
girl, and want to put little happiness
into her life-that still, sad life which
she bears so patientlyS God bless you.
Miss Kitty; and if he doesn't it won't
be because l shall get tired of asking
Him.
'And You'll not let her see the hat and
jacket till come, for fear she'll think
something"
At last Mrs. Graham smiled-an &C
tusl smile.
How you do think ofeverything. No,
I'll keep the hat aud jacket out OF sight
and I'll have the dress on her all ready
| When Thanksgiving came Kitty scarce
! ly remembered to put on the new apron
that Mrs. Graham had finished with such
care scarcely gave thought TO the fam
! lily festivities at home, so eager wa she
about Toms Thanksgiving. She was to
go to Hudson street just at noon, so that
| Tom might have the benefit Of the ut
most warmth of which the chill Novem E.
Der was capable.
| First she saw the dinner packed.
! There was a turkey. and cranberry sauce,
and mince-pie, and plum-pudding, and
great cake full Of plums, too, and fruit,
and nuts, and then Mr.. Greenough, who
4 had heard about the dinner with real
! interest. brought out q bottle Of plrtic :
ularly nice sherry, and said to his wife:
! Put that in also. 1t will do those fro.
zen.up souls good once in the year
! At last impatient Kitty was Off.
! Bridget and the basket filed all the spare
space in the coupe, and when they reach
! ed Hudson street, Luke took the dinner
and followed Kittyup stairs, while Bird
get stood by the horses head, according
/ TO the programme. lie set the basket
! down in the hall, where no one would
be likely to notice it in opening the door
! and then lie stood out OF sight himself,
while Kitty went in.
There was Tom in the warm crimson
thibet--a proud happy-looking Tom as
( you could fnd.in Boston that Thanksgiv.
ing day.
Il have come to take You 10 ride cried
eager Kitty. VIII you go?'
! f. was worth ten ordinary Thanks
givngs TO see the look on Toms face -
| the Joy and wonder, and then the doubt,
as the breathless question came:
How will get down stairs?'
And then Luke was called in, and that
mystery was solved. And then out OF
/ closet came the warm jacket, and lie
1 hat with its gay feathers and there
/ were tears in Toms eyes, and smiles
round her lips, and she tried 10 say some.
! thing, and broke down utterly And
| then big. strong Luke took her up as il
she were baby, aud marched down
stairs with her, while she heard Kitty
I say-but IL all seemed to her like a
dream. and Kittys voice like a voice in
dream:
I'm sorry there's nothing pretty to
/ sec at This time OF the year. IL was so
/ lovely out doors six weeks ago
Through Beech street they went, and
I then through Boylston. & then Common
was beside them, with its tree boughs
/ traced against the November sky, and
/ the sun shons on the Frog pond, and
the dome OF the State House glittored
/ gOldculy, and there were merry people
walking about with their Thanksgiving
faces on and % last Tom breathed q
long. deep breath which was Glmos. a
sob, and cried:
Did y3a think there was nothing pref.
T ~ TO see TO day-this day? Why | didn't
know there was such world
The clocks had struck u when they
! left Hudson street the bells we're ring
ing for ] when they entered 80 sgaiu.
Bridget was gone but n good natursd
boy stood by the horses head. and Kit.
~ ran lightly up stairs, followed by Like
with Tom in his arms.
Kitty threw open the door. and there
was a table spread with a. good thanks.
giving dinner as the heart could desire
with TOMS chait drawn up beside il.
Luke set bis light burden down.
Kitty waited TO hear neither thanks
nor EXPLANATIONS. She saw Toms