The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-12-19
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s&ea1kfAFfs G4MN @Dt0 HAtAAAAtN NtHthl
business, bridging streams aud locking
up ukinfc 10 fetisrs u lee. Everywhef,
through Tie broad sud fertile lAnd hug'
grtn,ries were stored wiih the goldcE
harvest Cellars actually grosned with
their rich stores Of ffail sBd vegetables
and the thrifty and industrious ihhsbit
ants were about 70 celebrate their annua
thanksgiving 10 the gresi aud bountifu
Givcr of such plesly, prosperity and
peaee
Bnl nowhere did greA,er plenty prevail
than GA The homestead Of Farmer Joel
Jones. His brosd acre. lay bat mile
from the thrifty village OF Cenueyillei
where he found an easy market Tor All hi.
produce, and where every Sabbath bis
ronnd aud ruddy iace might DC .tsn
alosgsiJe Of tho thin aud sallow Que Of
/ bis spint,cr sister Betsey, Ia the Old fsmi.
~ carryall, on their way 10 the village
church, which ever found willing heart
aud ready hand 10 the uuseutimental
Joel Jones, as lis thrifty aspect tally al
tested
I A few days previous to the one appoint
ed IS Thanksgiving he came into bis
ample kitchen with huge aud golden
pumpkin In bis strong arms.
4 Here. Betsey, said be, is one Of them
real Ysukec pumpkins, and | want yer
10 spread yerself maxim batch o. pies.
Aud jest say when yer want that air
turkey Killed.
1 What Tor, I'd like ter know, JoelS Yer
talk as il yer war going to feed regi-
ment, when thar is only you aud me and
the hired man to eat the best Thanksgiv-
/ Ing dinner ever invented.
know, as well as you, Boisey, we
hain't got no folks ter speak OF, but that
haln'l no signs we han't ter eat like other
Christians on Thanksgiving day, specerly
when I've worked the hail year like
everything, and been prospercd beyond
my deserts.
| An hour later he lSoeed IN upoa Bet
scy aud her sallen preparations for the
coming least.
/ I'm goin' ter town with s load OF oats,
and III bring yer some cranberries ter go
along with yer turkey, Betsey, said he
aud II yer want anytbin' else, speak
quick, for Pm OF.
The answer OF the spinster was grunt
OF dissatisfaction, ,as she continued knead
ing the snowy bread, while the pumpkin
stewed and sputtered on the stove in the
most savage manner.
Betsey grows groutier every day of her
life, poor tbing She's gettin' old, and
the works too heavy for her But II
haiD't no use of speakn' of gettin' help.
She'd fight nae down on that forever, So
lioquized the old man, as he drove along.
Hey, bub, want ter rider he yelled out
TO a small speeimou % Humanity who
was trudgiug along under heavy load,
aud who most gladly accepted the kind
offer. Yer Widow Burton's boy. haint
yer? he asked, 10 continuation, after the
boy had scrambled up behind, and perch
ed Himself upon bag of grain.
Yes, sir,
What yer got in yer sack, bub?
Coal, sir, that I've been picking up
along the track.
Dangerous piece OF business, and it's
strange yer ma should send yer out on
such an errand. The cars will come
along some day and chop yer into mince-
meat.
The poor little paie.faced lad made no
reply. He was too happy in the enjoy
ment OF the unexpected ride TO care for
any anticipated danger. At the door OF
his humble home the farmer stopped,
and, TO the surprise Of the lad, got down
I from the wagon and hilched his horses.
] want ter see yer ma, 30 III jesl run
1 Ia for mint, if you'll mind the team.
One OF the children answered the sum
nous, aud conducted him into the little
! kitchen, where the widow sat sewing,
with her brood Of little ones about a
scauty fire.
4 Don't git up, Miss Burton; can't stop
but mint. ! gave yer boy a lift as /
canc along, aud be told me he goes over
on the railroad ter pick up coai, aud
thought, maybe, yer didnt know il was
dangerous. The lad Is too small for sich
work, and some day he'll get killed. SO
\ hope yer Won't take il amiss that spoke
OF II ter yer.
Tears we're ia the good womans eyes
long before he bad ceased speaking, and
she answered:
You are very kind, sir, but what can |
dol II is bard for me to keep my little
family together simply with my needle,
and tho coal the children gather from the
track keeps one comfortable, aud leaves
my scanly earnings for other needs.
Yer girls hain't any on 'em old enough
| TO work, be they, Miss Burton? II SO,
I'd take one OF them to help sister Betsey.
That would be one Jess mouth 10 feed; at
any rate, she'd fare well.
Janey 10 twelve years ol and has been
broueht up to be useful, aud can wash
dishes, sweep, and DO great deal OF the
ordinary work Of a household.
All right, Mia Burton. Have The girl
ready when come back from town, and
IN take her hoae with me.
Again Ia his wagon, Farmer Jones
commnned with himself
J Don't seem 10 be much OF a show Tor q
ThsnksgIvin' dinner 81 Miss Burton's.
Poor thing lie sgin nAiure that such a
pretty girl - she used to be sbuuld have
,ss,ried tbst shiftiess drunken rAka lin