Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-26
NO. 22s.
WHITE CHRYSANrHENUNS.

IanuS OF southwest missouri, where the
spring comes early, and the summer loves
TO linger, and the autumn dreams and
dal!ies, 10th to leave the lovely scene, Il
is not an unfrequent occurrence that the
day of the great National Feast comes
while yet the golden glory of the Indian
Summer lights all the wide expanse of
fertile valley. teeming hillside, and wood.
land rife with manifold forms Of animal
life.
Sparselv settled as are wide tracts of
this most lovely region, there are yet
neighborhoOds where are homes whose
comforts and luxuries are but slightly in
ferior TO those of older and more densely
populated states. The ground. tickled
with the hoe. laughs with a harvest. The
wooded valleys abound in game. No
where may the comforts and delicacies of
the table be mere easily or abundantly
secured than in this section of the
"state whose bosom treasures for the world ex-
haustless stores"
In one of the most beautiful spots of
the fairest county Of the Southwest, In q
home that. for substantial elegance and
evidences of thrift, plenty and refinement,
would well compare with many an East
ern farm resident, lived Colonel--all men
are titled in that locality-Lars Eversrd.
OF his large and handsome family, the
Colonel. in his jocose speech. was wont
the daughters paying. Certainly they
were both very popular, and for miles
around the talent and gallantry Of the
young Everards, and the beauty and grace
of their sisters. were alike recognized and
commended As in all the Southwest the
social element prepondsrates, and neigh.
bors widely separated by distances meet
often about each others firesides as in one
family. it was not strange If, with 50 many
attractions. the Everard home became .
social centre that gathered to itself the
choicest company.
Thanksgiving Day in the Southwest IL
not the grand, glad day Of the North and
East. Many families pay no heed to the
proclamation Of either Governor or Presi-
dent and look upon the observance Of the
dav rather as Yankee notion.
or such, however, were not tie Ever
ards. Mrs. Everard was OF New England
birth. Her sons had been graduated from
Mount Holyoke. and strict As the strictest
Puritan was she in the celebration of the
feast OF Thanksgiving.
1t is upon this day that at the homestead
of the Everard farm, known throughout
the region as The Oaks, that our story
opens. The spacious rooms were filing
with guests. Friends far and near were
gathering to share in the hospitality that
was famed for miles arounp. Aunt ZeTil-
dy. Mrs. Everard's cook, was unequalled
in her department, and the Everard ser
wants were the best trained Of any in the
country. To dine and sup at The Oaks
meant to enjoy good living aud good
serving. which is something that they on
ly who have lived well and have been
well served. can rightly appreciate. and
Such most surely can.
II since her graduation, two years pre-
vious to the opening of our story, Lima
Everard had worn an air Of pensiveness
deepening at times to melancholy. it had
not detracted from her beauty. nor tend
ed TO diminish her charms, which dazzled
while they attracted. Lima, by sweet
and tender womanliness and gentle digni-
ty and manner, won the hearts of Young
and old. lofty and lowly.
For the past year a chastened air, some
times pathetic in its silent eloquence had
distinguished the Younger sister from her
liveler seniors. But il she had secret
sorrow or desire she guarded it well, and
even tender mother-love had not dis
covered its hiding. place.
''You seem so absent and distrait my
dear" said Mrs. Everard to her when.
for the few moments after the guests had
retired from the dining room, the mother
and daughter fingered to give some d.
rections to the servants. lone might
fancy your heart were not here"
do l, mamma ?" she replied. "Iwas
thinking OF two years ago at aunt Annie's,
in Northbrldge. 1t was such a happy
time. The party was so genial; and after
the feast uncle hitched up the old gray
horse and the queer little wagon, and
auntie sent baskets of good dinner to SO
many poor people. You know the mills
were stopped, and there were many oper-
was very great. One or two of US young
folks rode with uncle, and assisted in the
distribution; and il was such pleasure
to see the delight OF the children when
auntie's nice baskets were handed out.
1t is always auntie's custom to send din
ners to the poor on Thanksgiving Day.
think it is beautiful. too"
Yes" said Mrs. Everard, ut was
always the CUSTOM III my early nome.
Things are different here. Our hangers
ON take their gratuities as matter Of
course. but most Of them would resent
any offer OF bounty. They prefer to bor-
row with no idea of ever paying.
should quite enjoy packing basket rs 10
the good old times. if could think who
there is in this region that would oe likely
to receive it in good part
"Why mother" said the youngest son,
who chanced TO re-enter the room in time
to hear part OF the conversation. "there
are those campers over yonder in the edge
of our timber. They are on that unfre-
quented wood road. and they have been
there tor more than week. l thought
last night as saw their camp fire, that il
would be no more than civil Tor some one
to ride over and see it they were in any
trouble. 'Tisn't usual Tor movers to tarry
so long In one spot. particularly so late in
the season as this. A lot Of us-six or
seven of the boys and young ladies-ars
gong out for drivr; perhaps Bert or
Wally would ride around thai way aud
leave a basket. I've promised to escort
Kitty May ON horseback or I'd do It my.
self. Here comes father; see what ks
thinks, and the young man passsd On.