Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-01-19
Mr Boilers Thanksgiving.

to be thankful for" said Mr. Bolter.
"Gou can all 60 home and chay
away at your g0bLlers, and sin!
hymns if you want to; there'il b
nothing TO do in the store anyway
Everybody'll have to stuff themsclve
to-day, and Of course business mus
stop | wish the man that invente,
Thanksgiving Day had a turkey COB
bier tied round his neck anG had tc
sleep and eat with it."
And then Mr. Benjamin Boiler
merchant, kicked over a stool, anC
yelled at Peter, to look to the fires
and close up for The day.
The six men employed about the
establishment silently left, except Pc.
ter, and while the latter silently car.
ried out his employers instructions,
Bolter sat down and thought it over.
Such an idiotic CUSTOM" said lie 10
himself. at don't matter a cents
worth what the times have been,
we've got to have thanksgiving
reg'lar, aud go on pretending we've
been blessed, no matter how we have
been prosecuted. The whole country
might 6e on the verge Of starvation,
and d-n it. they'd appoint one day
in which the provisions should be all
eaten up"
This year has been the hardest
one l've known. Everything 5
shrunk. I've worked day and night,
and if | get through and make both
ends meet at the end of the year /
will be lucky. Yet they talk about
thanksgiving!"
And then Mr.. Bolter got up and
paced about for q moment, aud saw
Peter standing by the stove.
What are you standing there for"
said Bolter.
"l've closed up" responded Pc
ter.
"WellW exclaimed Bolter.
"lf you baint got no more for me
to do" said Peter, I'D like to get
off"
"Oh, you wouldw replied Boller.
Il 'spose you've got turkey to eat,
too, and thanks to givei"
"Not turkey, 'zactly," said Peter,
scratching his head, "but we has
pigeon or two, SIR"
"Humph!" grOwled Bolter. "Well,
go on; but mind you, you be back
bright and early in the morning, and
ready for hard work"
"Yes, sir" said Peter, and be
slipped lightly out the back door, and
went on his way chrerily.
Then BOlter sat down awhile and
reflected, and grew more bitter at the
hard times, and grumbIed at the slow
pace which he was compelled to keep !
in bis march toward riches. BY and /
by he grew sleepy, and he thought be |
would SO home. and went for his
overcoat and shoes. Somehow he |
didn't seem to recollect anything after
that. until he stepped off the street
rars up town and walked away toward
his residence.
AS be drew near his home, Bol;er
was surprised to see carriage at his
ioor and crowd collected around it.
Two men were carrying a burden
Of some kind up the steps, and glanc-
ng at the doorway he saw bis wife
md daughter Florence wringing their
hands, and gazing at the moving
igures.
Boiler darted forward. and ia a
nonent was met by some Of his
leig ghbors, who broke the painful news
o him.
His only son, Paul. his pride, his
lope, on whose life centered his an
'iiion, had been thrown from a NOV
Dg train, and fearfully manglcd. Life
vas not extinct, but the breath came
low aud painful, and the end was
Ugh.
They laid the bruised form on the
nowy bed, and Bolter threw himself
N his knees beside it in helpless ag- ,
my.
The physicians came and locked 1
nd turned away. There We're whis- ,
ers in the parlor, in the corridor, sad !
ess everywhere, for there was no
Ope.
Save hin!' cried Bolter, "save {
~ son, and take all | have-eyery- {
hing, everything!" But the doctors
My told him to bear it manfully, and
hook their heads. 6
dead ~ 1
BOltnr never realized how much i
hat word signified until he stood {
here and gazed into the face of his G
artbly Y idol.
All night he sat half dazed nor i
Duld he be induced to leave the {
pom.
Morning came, and he walked be- S
-ildered about the house, noticing
ere and there the preparations for J
,e funeral. c
He opened closet and saw before !