The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-11-20

small honor and he hustled in aud out OF
the great roomy kitchen, warning his wife
mot ter to be sparin' o. the plums In ner
puddin' for once" joking his daughter
about her curl papers, and even condescend-
ing TO notice the vase of late blooming but
tercups and ferns on the parlor mantei
enough to ask where they came from so late
in the season. To be sure he did growl mt
tie at the wreaths OF ground pine ana oitter-
sweet berries that Cordie, with Jotes heip,
had trained about the francs OF the looking
glass and the two family portraits on eacn
side. intimating that 1t hid the frames ana
Uttered the carpet, or would when III was
dry.
But he didn't order them taken down
night off. which was great piece OF forbear-
ance on bis part, Jote tnougnt, as, unoer m rt
Young mistress direction, he picked up every
stray leaf and twig, frightened the wood nre
in the old fashioned fireplace into ruddy |
blaze, and rehung the big conch shell tnat
served as hanging basket for long training |
vines of the graceful "gill-run'oVer-the-
ground" that, with its fresh green leaves |
and pretty blue blossoms, made quite show
In one OF the white curtained WINDOWS oil the
neat parlor.
The very atmosphere, so different from
that that usually pervaded the dull old iarm
house, was nspiriting TO the mentally as weii
as physically starved lad. The savory steam
from the roasting turkey, whenever the oven
door was opened, was enough In ltseit 10
make him forget present hunger In Joyous
anticipation of the coming feast, whiie the
approving smile In Cordie's kindly eyes
made him feel that for once he was some
| home landscape.
wondering and awe struck, he watched
| the carriage with its span of handsome bays
| that brought the expected guests ana MS
| pinched little face was puckered into a score
| of astonished wrinkles as he saw his master,
Il int
| come, extend his hand In clumsy courtesy 10
| the gayly dressed ladies as they allghted,
| while he addressed some facetious remark to
| the Young man in the drivers seat that
made him laugh, although his eyes were
fixed upon the blooming face and trim ngure
| in the doorway, about which his mother anu
sisters were clustering like a oevy oil bees
| about the heart of q sweet wild rose.
1t was all like a dream to Jote as he slyly
watched them from the kitchen window
dream In which individualities seemed sud-
denly to have become lost in something en-
tirely foreign from themselves.
The farmers unwonted affability was not
whit more inexplicable, in his eyes,
| than the sudden shypess of the usually
unem barrssed girl who waited so prlmly
In the doorway for her young gentle
man visitors approach, never taking step
| to meet him. and presenting the tips OF ner
rosey fingers to his eager grasp, with a
coyness that simple Jote concluded must
| mean dislike, and set him to wondering
, | what could be amiss in such pleasant look-
[ ing young gentleman.
, Mistress Bagden, too, seemed all at once
, to have dropped her homely, subdued
demeanor with her old calico dress and
apron, and to have come out in her new
. | gray alpaca, like a lively, silver winged
! moth, futtering Hospitality about her guests,
eager TO SINCE her unwontoned plumes IN
/ the light of their superior gentillty.
4 lot last Int IN
g himself useful as a waiter, although his mis-
!: | tress, in her overweening zeal for the com
: fort of her guests and the safety of her china
could by no means sit quietly in her CHAIR
: iurn ping up to reach this or that, ana pass
4 ing ii with her own hands, accompanied py
$ such yoluble shower of compliments tina
4 her assistant, unused to such hospitality, act
ually held his breath in fears for her sanity
, The visitors, too like the well bred peopi'
that they were, entered into the CHEEKY spiri
n of the day, showing that they both apprecl
IS ated and enjoyed the homely, hearty hospi
n | talities of which they were the recipients.
II Poor little Jote He was less than nothln
l. to these bright faced, gay hearted people
1 | and vet his shy, wan face grew brighter an
n his desolate heart warmer beneath the sum
e. magnetism of their presence. IL was somt
"a thing to see people well dressed well lee
and so we'll pleased with themselves an
id each other even If he could have nelthe
e, part nor lot in their happiness. And tn
ID dinnerl How appetiZing the still smokiD
slices of turkey looked upon the plates 8
n. he carried them into the kitchen, and whs
at delicious pieces of pie, scarcely tasted by th
nd already sata;ed guests, yet remained whe
ty they were replaced by the rich, plumm
.rs pudding over whose baking he had wstche
with such intense interest Or course toel
yh | was a feast for him from the remains OF tn
feast and a pleased smile frightened d
ic- worn little face as, in passing from the dl
4 uhn oh
Sc, unseen, to drop plump ralsin into n
o. mouth. with a significant nod at the ST
ad | plentifully covered table, never dreamiI
ay that the playful kindness was noticed by
ke pair OF jealous, resentful eyes that as SOC
as the guests were fairly beyond earshc
iz- fixed themselves with cruel leer OF gratiti'
malice upon little Jote's expectant fac
,ur while their owner remarked harshly:
IN "You remember s'pose, what told u
l." bout that possum playin' trick o your
il yesterday"
ted Bswildered and frightened, the boy sho'
,nl his head; be could not speak.
M, sob. we'll. I'll Jest jog yer memory lit
J as then. / said yer shouldn't have mouth
of any Thanksgivin' dinner, ter pay ye
his that trick. You make out what l me
at now, reckonp'
,or. The poor little fellow burst into passi
WIS. of tears-silent tears, for he well knew tn
led Ii was useless 10 demonstrate.
OF "Yer can walk yerself of to yer keni
,ne now: an here" thrusting piece of bre
hit into his hand, lis all the dinner you'll 6
an that's more'n yer deserve"
as An hour later Cordie stole away from
,ry, guests into the kitchen, longing to see "
lille her own eyes the unwonted signt OF III
,iti- Jote well and sufficiently fed. He was !
there, and. guided by some hidden instin
his she crept silently up the rough stairway {
un- led to the miserable little chamber over
N I shed, through the lily fitting door OF VIII
too; she peeped cautiously in. There, upon
vim old chest that served him for cnair ano
ca Bile, sat the object of her search, his face I
den In his hands, pitcher Of water and
pre- piece of bread lying untouched beside d
fter while now and then the sobs that shook
had feeble little body found vent in the pite
are, moan, There amt no Thanksgivin LOT
he'd, In this world!" In an instant the rem
,ers, brance OF her fathers threat no less
hey the door locked on the OUTSIDE, gave
med quick witted girl an unmistakaoie clev