St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-04-19
watch over it. Pts all right.

Hiram grOaned, thinking of the wag
ons-full that rolled to market the year
before.
And, said the comfortable woman, 1
think roast pork with apple sauce as
good as turkey. We have got two bar
rels of apples. shall keep Thanks
giving. | wouldn't miss it for any con-
sideration, and Hiram, you go to church
and take Jack, and III get dinner for
you'll and Lizzie and Sue.
Church said Hiram.
Yes, church, said Sara.
And she had her way.
Madge, the faithful, had gone with
many years to service elsewhere, long
before, and Sara had no help; and now
having tidied the house, she went out
doors to look for eggs.
Some of the chickens had been lost in
the fire, some had since died. mysteri-
Ously but there were few left. But
her search was not as successful as usu-
al. Speckled Gray had taken to hiding
her eggs, and according to calculations,
there must be three or four somewhere.
At last she heard a cackle, and looking
carefully, espied Speckled Gray's head
protruding from the ruins of the barn.
Certain beams and boards had so fall
len so as to make hiding-place for
Speckle, and thither she was vending
her way. Sara Fielding followed her.
An arms length in, she could see by
cIouching low, the great white pearls
that were to make her pumpkin richer.
She put in her hand and drew them
Northumberland then what was
that lying there-that stained, black
ened thing, with glimpses ofred leather
at the edges ? Was it book Was it
yes, it was great soft, fiat pOcket-boOk
in which Hiram Fielding had carried
his wealth about his person, in his great
confidence in his own strength and
safety.
Sara drew it out, and trembling,
looked at it. 1t was warped and melt
ed into a wad, but somehow only Oh
the outside. AS she tore it open she
saw that within, it was discOlored and
stained, but not burnt. Their little
fortune was safe; there was hope and
courage for Hiram, now.
1t is strange how much determination
will do. Sara Fielding would have
tainted on the ground but for the spirit
with which she fought away the weak
ness that crept over her; but she did
get into her kitchen without doing it,
and then she flung herself upon her
knees and wept and prayed together,
and grew strong again.
smell the fire, said little Jack, hur-
rying in after meeting. Amt it good,
though, pa; dinner is ready.
And Pm ready for it, said the farmer.
How bright you all look, girls. What
is it, the one pumpkin
He spoke little bitterly as he utter
ed the last words, and drew his chair to
the table. There stood the pork, the
potatoes, the great golden pie, a dish of
apple-sauce, and another-cOvered.
What's that .?
Oh, Jack cried Susan.
Hush said Lizzie.
Will you give thanks. Hiram ? asked
his wife.
suppose ought, said Hiram. We've
got a house over us this year. Next
perhaps-nO matter.
He bent his head and uttered few
words of thanksgiving, thinking of all
that a disappointed man does think
even then.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
Why, what's in the little dish asked
Hiram. Why do you look so
And Sara reached across and lifted
the lid ; and Hiram knew.
Everything was safe-the coupon
bonds, the money, the receipts-that of
the wicked creditor included. In con-
trast with his state yesterday, Hiram
felt himself Il rich man, and he had the
opportunity of starting fair and even
with the world again at least
Sara was not the only one down
whose cheeks ran tears that day-tears
of joy and thankfulness.
And it all came about, Hiram says
to-day, because my Sara kept up her
heart so well /; was thankful to heaven
for all its mercies, and made the best
she could of our one pumpkin.