The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-05-02

cheeks grew ibia, and her hAbas beEan 70
show their bones. Ohen she wondered
whether she could keep up much longer,
bot she did and, after three months ill-
ness, Hiram got about again, gaani aud
saliow, and lame, too although thst
would pa,s away in month OF 80, the
doctor ssid-and wSs well enough him
self 10 make Il necessary that hc should
be told What hsd happened; hGi bis
barn wac burni, bis bay, bis corn, al bis
provisions nearly gone, and his horses
and oxen, too just The one dun COW that
gave them milk, tied In shed that Ben
bad knocked together, that was all.
suppose my lantern broke in the bay,
sara, be said, when be could speak |
found The door open, aud went 10, aud
there was man there. ] grappled him,
and be struck me-ihats all | know.
Either my lantern did It, or the man was
there to fire the barn. However II was,
It's all oyerpow 1t will take Sara, you
took care Of my pooket.book2
Darling, she said have patience. Your
pocket book has not been found. I've
drawn all my little savings 10 live on. |
thought you might remember where
always wore Il ia my vest, be said.
You know that kept all had about me.
There were five hundred dollars in money
too, and receipts dare not lose, for they
are signed by raseals. Sara, every
chance | had of retrieving my losses is
gone, sure, forever. suppose | was
robbed as ! lay senseless, and | thought
my own person better aud safer than any
bank. Look at me now, miserable, Grip.
pied, shaking shadow, that any child
could master.
But you'll get strong again, said Sara,
aud we've The house and the land. But
Hiram was too weak to feel any hope or
courage. He took to his bed again, and
lay there still when II was time for a
farmer TO be busy.
However, he did not die, and there was
another conyaescence. Sara had not bad
time to be i'll. She dared not. What
she could do she had done. But farm
needs its master. II they raised enough
for food that year, despite neigbborly
Kindness aud Ben's vow to work forever
without wages if need be, that was all
they could do. And it was poor year,
No fruit TO speak OF, vegetables small and
mean, and corn disappointment.
Moreover one of Fielding's creditors
did prove himself rascal aud although
the farmer swore TO having paid this debt
there was no receipt TO be found, and a
mortgage of the land was the conse-
quence Often the discouraged man de-
clared that he wished the thief had also
murdered him, and he meant it.
But Sara Fielding kept her courage up,
and now that her husband was fairly on
his feet, and bad even flung away cane
and crulch, would have been perfectly
happy could she have made him so.
And thus Thanksgiving came about
again, and friends shook their heads once
more, and said, poor Mrs. Fielding
would have a different Thanksgiving
from what she'd been used to. And
many invitations were sent by those who
had entertained SO freely while they
could; but Hiram would have none of
them, and, 10 tell the truth, little toes
were out, and little dresses were not
fresh and holiday-like.
Wen keep Thanksgiving at home, said
Sara Fielding.
Thanksgiving said Hiram, sadly.
Well, my girl, it won't be much OF one,
and can't say that feel thankful much,
either.
And then there amt any punking, said
little Lizzie, and no turkey.
There is a pumpkin, said the mother,
triumphsntly "a good one-Pve kept
watch over It, It's all right.
Hiram groaned, thinking of the wsg.
ons-full that rolled TO market the year
before.
And, said the comfortable woman,
think roast pork with apple sauce as good
as turkey. We have got two barrels of
apple. shall keep Thanksgiving.
wouldn't miss it for any consideration,
and Hiram, you go TO church and take
Jack, aud III get dinner, for you, ~ 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 be-
fore, aud 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 mysterious
ly; bat there were a few left. But her
search was not as successful as usual.
Speckled Gray hal taken 10 hiding her
eggs, and according TO calculations, there
must be three or four somewhere.
AT last she heard eackle, and looking
carefully, espied Spcckled Gray's head
protruding from the ruins Of the barn.
Certain beams and bohrds had so fallen
as TO make a hiding.place for Speckle.
and thitber she was vending her way.
Sara Fielding followed her. An arms
length in, she could see BY crouching low
the great white pearls that were to make
her pumpkin richer. She put In her
band and drew them forth--four--ly
and tben what was that lying there iha,
stained, bleckened thing, with glimpses
OF red leather At the edgesf Was II q
bookf Was III yes, it was great son,
/ fiat poekei.book 10 which Hiram Fielding