The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-11-22
A WONDERFUL STORY.
Told on Thanksgiving Day.

-
Thanksgiving day was over, and the
@ild, wet night was closing in.
Grandma Fontaine sat in her great
armchair in the old-fashioned sitting
room at Hickory Hall. A dainty, hand
some, high-bred old lady was grandma
rs one will meet in lifetime. Her
gown of glossiest black satin, the kerr
chief on her bosom the finest of India
muslin, a diamond star in me folds of
the crown-like turban above her silken
white hair, diamond buckles on her tiny
slippers, diamonds and opals and emer-
aids on her soft, white old fingers.
Thanksgiving day was over at Hick-
DRY Hall. The sumptuous dinner had
been eaten by dozens of nephews and
uieces and cousins in general eaten with
thanksgiving and grateful rejoicing;
4he remains of the feast had been gath
cred up and dispensed to those who
lacked lifes comforts and now, as the
rainy twilight fell, grandma sat before
the glowing wood fire in her great chair.
Now for our story, grandma" cried
Florice, her pet granddaughter, drawing
cushion to the stately old lady's feet.
You know you promised us one for
Thanksgiving night"
"And q wonderful one let it be,
grandma" chimed in Rosa, drawing up
her chair.
Grandma took off her gold specta-
cles and put them carefully aside.
GA story Well, so 1 did promise
you story" she said; but, my dear
girls, cannot think what it will be-"
ooh, you must, grandma; and let it
be Thanksgiving story, too"
Grandpa Fontaine, sitting opposite,
looked over his paper and laughed.
There's one Thanksgiving story you
might tell them if you like, grandma"
he said.
The old lady nodded, till the diamond
in her turban flashed like star.
so I WILL" she assented. They've
never had that story-they shall hear it
now.
"Once upon time, my dear girls
abe began, there was very handsome
young lady, whom we shall call Bere
nice. She was very handsome, to be
sure-a perfect blonde, with a COM
plexion ike lilies and roses, wonderful
blue-gray eyes, and great profusion of
shining red-gold hair
why, she must have been like you,
grandma cried Florice and Rosa in a
breath.
Like me- Pooh, pooh, you silly
things! Don't interrupt me, or I'll
stop. This Berenice was very beauti-
ful, and, withal, very vain and ambitious
She was not contented with the bless
ings bestowed upon her, but continually
desired wealth and position, and costly
jewels and fine raiment.
All these things her mother, who was
a widow in moderate circumstances,
could not afford; but Berenice, vain and
conscious of her rare beauty and accom-
plishments, made up her mind that she
would secure them by marriage.
Accordingly, having entered society,"
she was very choice in regard to her &C.
quaintances if man was poor, he stood
no chance of getting into the charmed
circle of which she reigned queen. She
had great many fine offers, notwith-
standing, and was excessively admired !;
but she would hear to mono of them.
Genius and manly nobility stood no
chance with this vain and silly maiden.
AT last, however, her Midas came, in
the shape of an East India merchant,
the owner of fabulous fortune. Her
pretty face charmed him, as it charmed
all others, and he made love to her; he,
full three-score, wrinkled and yellow as
his gold, and she in the primrose fresh
ness of her girlhood.
~She accepted him, nevertheless-ac-
cepted and promised to become his
welded wife, though she loathed the
very sight of him. He put costly dia-
mond on her finger, made her all man
Rer of wonderful presents, and the we'd
ding-day was appointed.
Meanwhile Berenice made sum-
mer visit to an aunt, who lived far out in
the rural regions, and on her way she
met with a terrible accident. The
horses took fright, and her carriage was
thrown down frightful precipice, and
Berenice was tossed into a ravine, and
lay there like one dead.
A young surgeon, living thereabouts,
took her up in his arms and carried her
TO his mothers cottage, and dressed her
wounds, and set her broken limbs.
When she recovered her senses, he was
sitting by her pillow holding her hand
IN his, and then and there, the moment
her eyes fell upon his face, Berenice fell
In love with him.
Wasn't Berenice a foolish lass,
girls?" laughed grandpa, looking over
his paper again.
Grandma echoed his laughter, but her
eyes filed with tears.
Nay, she was sensible them" she con-
tinued, =" for his face was the noblest
face she had ever seen. She fell in
love with him, and, after while,
through pity, perhaps, he got to like her I;
and it so turned out that, when she re-
covered from her injuries and returned
20 her mothers house, the young sur