The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-03


ting, with tear-glazed cheeks, beside
the almost extinguisbed fire. The
room felt alarmingly chill, and when
Jenny spoke there was no reply, and
the figure on the bed looked 50 white
and moiioniess that her heart gsve a
loud thump of fear.
Hastily mending tho fire, she ran
up stairs, filled q saucepan with hot
water from her own kettle, and hurry
ing back, began to bathe the head Of
the sick woman. To her great relief,
Mrs. Denis presently opened her ewes,
and feebly mutiered, ooh, that feels
"I'm glad it does. Here, I'll dip
you"
"Is it you, Miss Fordes It's nigh
ty kind you are"
"Oh, it's nothing" in d business-like
way. "Don't talk. Keep quite still,
and your head II be better soon."
ut begins to be better already"
whispered Mrs. Denis, after few min
utes' stiffness. "My headaches always
so off quick at tie end. But you are
standing all this while. Nanny, bring
o chair, Nanny"
at don't hurt me bit to stand"
declared Jenny. "I'm used to it.
Sometimes, when I'm cutting out work,
l keep on my feet for half q day at o
time, and never mind it."
"Ah. it must be good to have plenty
of work" " sighed Mrs. Denis. "I've
seen the people going up stairs With
their bundles, and I'd have envicd
you, perhaps, only it was something to
be glad for that there was some one
had all she could do, even if 1 hadn't"
The patient sweetness of this speech
touched ,Jen;.v. She could not speak
quite steadily as she asked, "Have
you no work at all ?"
"Next to none. I did O petticoat
for Mrs. Mallory-that's in the base
ment, you kncw--and I tried some of
those slop overalls from Riggs. But
it's hard man he is, aud only four
teen cents pair; and what's that for
g days work 4? I'd take any thing,
though, almost, that I could get, Cor
want it sore for the children's sake"
"Now you must not talk-you real
ly mustn't" said Jenny, alarmed at
the flush which had risen in the pale
cheeks. do try and go to sleep. I'll
look to the children's supper. Don't
worry yourself about anything, and
tomorrow, when you're better, we'll
talk about work, and see what can be
done.''
All her warm little heart was alive
now.
"What selfish thing I am /" she
medita.ed, when, after making the
children comfortable for Che night, she
went back to her own fire and work.
Il almost refused that poor baby the
coal. Jenny Forde, I'm afraid your.
no better than a Pharisee. You've
got into habit of passing by on the
other side-looking out for number
one, and letting other people take care
of Themselves. You may call it mind
ing your oCn business 10 loud as you
like; ss5 EHu'Te : pig" And her
philanth, or,y broadening under this
self-rebr ke, q bright thought just then
came to her.
"Why not7" she said. "Mrs. Mere
dith's turkey is big enough, I'm sure.
It's a burning shame that / should
have so much, and they nothing. I'll
ask 'em all UP TO dinner, an:i siss
them one nice Thanksgiving, as sure
as my name is Jenny Forde."
1t was like fairy dream to the
Denis children when next day Jenny
came down stairs with her invitation
And what dinner it turned out to be
What q traditionally delicious turkey
what lovely cranberry what pie
Ah! no one can thoroughly enjoy such
c meal, save those to whom dinners dc
not come every day. It is impossible
! During the long evening Jenny
learned the history of her new friends
1t was the common story Of widow.
hood and poverty, with one brighter
feature-a sailor brother, who had
been $50 kind"
"Poer Jim if I only could know
where he is to-day!" sighed Mrs. Den
is. "It's fifteen months since he sailed
and never word all that time, Mis-:
Forde. He left all his back wages fol
| us-the blessed boy that he is. It'll
his hearts blood he'd give me and ths
children if he could. And it's well
off we'd be at this moment if it wasn'1
for Tint sorrow c.c @ savings-bank
which went and broke with ali In it
He doesn't suspect the straits we're in
and it's | am glad, for he'd fret sorely
Jim would. His ship is o China ira
| der, Miss Forde. Second mate ht
sailed this time, and he's half prom
| ised the first mates place if he goei
again. His employers think the worlt
of him. And why not? for there's nt
one like Jim."
| "How good turkey is r. said Nanny
who was drying the time-honored wish
bone before the fire. "lt's quite done
:. Miss F'orde, / think. May i wish i
now"
4 "Yes. Take hold of one end, ant
Pil take the other. Now we must eacl
wish. wish your Uncle Jim woult
come home quick. and safe and sound
"Why, that's my wish toov' scream
ed little Nanny, as the bone cracked
f and few asundef.
But neither wish was granted. Weel
followed week, month succeeded month
u but no Uncle Jim appeared, neithe
!, was bis ahip heard from. And still