Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-11-28
HARD TIMES.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.
By MISS ROSE PORTER.

"No Thanksgiving keeping this
year, leastways not q bit OF it in my
family" said Farmer Newton, as,
with a frown on his usually good
humored face, he snapped his whip
ruthlessly among the late asters and
tall grasses that, spite the first frosts
OF autumn, still fingered by the road
side. 1t was Sabbath, early in NJ
vember. The minister had read the
Thanksgiving proclamation at both
morning and afternoon service.
"Quite unnecessary to repeat it;
once was enough for year like this"
the farmer muttered. who is to ob.
serve thu day, would like to know
hone OF my folks, for certain"
A chorus OF youthful voices echoed
the words in shill accents that broke
discordantIy natures sweet Sunday
quiet, and woke up into sudden trills
OF song the few birds that had not
flown southwark, away from New
England's bleak winds.
"No," Farmer Newton repeated,
and then, with darker frown and
harder note in his voice, he added, Il
would like to know what we have got
to give thanks for?" and the farmer,
wont to be so circumspect on the
Sabbath day, laughed loudly, laugh
empty OF the music OF a glad heart,
for it was bitter and derisive, and
ended in murmured words that only
his wife. who sat beside him heard.
She made no reply, unless there
was an answer hidden in the gentle
touch of her hand on his knee,-a
caressing, soothing little touch. that
only a woman who loved could have
given; and somehow, tenderness so
wins tenderness, Farmer Newton
straightway stretched out his own
hand and laid it on his wife's, and
then, with a quick glance exchanged
between them.-a glance Of SYM athy
from the wife, OF love from the hus-
band.-Mrs. Newton turned to reas-
sure the children in the back seat,
saying, wait, little ones, till the day
comes, and then perhaps father will
find. after all, We can keep Thanks
giving. even though the times are so
hard;" and something like sigh
crept into Mrs. Newton's voice as she
added, "Wait."
"Wait! it was such common word
with her. "If you only wait" she
was wont to say; "things are often
not half so bad as they look in antici-
patton. Wait, and often you will find
q cloudy morning ends In sunshiny
noon."
"True enough the farmer had Of.
ten replied to her, and only few
hours later he met her gentle remon.
STRANGE to wait and perhaps things
would brighten, with the same words
but he added, Il wish you would tel
me how, Moily?"
They were sitting together in the
cheerful sitting room, that opened of
from tho great kitchen. The children
had gone to bed. The chores" hat
been done for the night. The shin
ing pans in the cool dairy were fuI
to the brim with snowy milk, OF
, which the cream was already begin
l ming to rise.
An air OF comfort and plenty hov
cred over everything, and seemed u
, contradict the farmers words. Th
wood-pile stretched straight and higl
down by the stone wall eastward O
$ the house. The great barn to it
|. highest loft was full OF the sweet an
new-mown hay OF the summers har
vest. In the cellar, barrel after bar
|. rel stood loaded with rosy-cheeke
~ oppiCos AuotJ Sohto ohu "tusOi pAp
j., pins; huge piles OF yellow pumpkins
c out in the fields. lay in the moon
light. shining like golden heaps; full
= grained ears OF corn were peepin
g through the chinks and crevices {
?, the corn-crib. What could Farme
Newton mean by calling the time
= "hard." by saying. when all SCENE
80 prosperous. that there would be o
Thanksgiving keeping for him or b
, that year? In the quaint side-boar
that stood in the corner OF the rool
there was a drawer where was kept
\ little book that held the answer
- much worn book, that contained Lin
after line of figures,-a book he r,
ferred to as he said, Il will look
over and add up the figures on,
ds again, Molly, though am as sure
CO. sure can be there is no mistake; sur
/ say. that the line which tells no