Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-27
Joel Jones' Thanksgiving.


The cold northern blasts had settled them
selves down into legitimate winter business,
bridging streams and locking up nature in
fetters of ice. Everywhere through the
broad and fertile land huge granaries were
stored with the golden harvest. Cellars ac
tually groaned with their rich stores of fruit
and vegetables, and the thrifty and industri-
Gus inhabitants were about to celebrate their
annual thanksgiving to the great and boun-
tiful Giver of such plenty, prosperity and
peace.
But nowhere did greater bounty prevail
than on the homestead of Farmer Joel
Jones. His broad acres lay but mile from
the thrifty village of Centreville, where he
found an easy market for all his produce,
and where every Sabbath his round and
ruddy face might be seen alongside of the
thin and sallow one of his spinster sister
Betsey, in the old family carryall, on their
way to the village church, which ever found
willing heart and a ready hand in the un-
sentimental Joel Jones, as its thrifty aspect
fully attested.
A few days previous to the one appointed
as Thanksgiving he came into his ample
kitchen with huge and golden pumpkin in
his strong arms.
"Here, Betsey," said he, ais one of them
real Yankee pumpkins, and | want yer to
spread yerself a maxim a batch O. pies.
And Jest say when yer want that air turkey
killed"
"What for, I'd like ter know, Joel Yer
talk as if yer war going to feed regiment,
when thar is only you and me and the hired
man to eat the best Thanksgiving dinner
ever invented"
al know as well as you, Betsey, we hain't
got no folks ter speak of, but that hain't no
sign we hain't ter eat like other Christians
on Thanksgiving day, specerlv when I've
worked the hull year like everything, and
been prospered beyond my deserts"
An hour later he looked in upon Betsey and
her sullen preparations for the coming feast
"I'm goin' ter town with load of oats
and I'll bring yer some cranberries ter &c
along with yer turkey, Betsey," said he
"and if yer want anythin' else, speak quick
for I'm of"
The answer of the spinster was a grunt
of dissatisfaction, as she continued knead
ing the snowy bread, while the pumpkin
stewed and sputtered on the stove in the
most savage manner
Betsey grows groutier every day of hel
life, poor thing She's gettin' old, and tht
work is too heavy for her. But it haint M
use of speakin' of gettn' help. She'd fgh
me down on that forever" soliloquized tn,
old man, as he drove along. "Hey, Bub
want ter ride ?" he called out to a small
specimen of humanity who was trudginl
along under heavy load, and who mos
gladly accepted the kind offer. Yer Widow
Burton's boy, hain't yer 2" he asked in con
tinuation, after the boy had scrambled VI
behind, and perched himself upon bag o
grain.
Yes, SIR"
"What you got in yer sack, Bub ?"
Coal, sir, that l have been picking VI
along the track"
/" Dangerous piece of business, and it.
strange yer ma should send you out on sucl
an errand The cars will come along som
day and chop yer into mince-meat."
The poor little pale-faced lad made no re
ply. lie was too happy in the enjoyment o
the unexpected ride to care for any antici
pated danger. AT the door of his humbl
home the farmer stopped, aud, to the SUI
prise of the lad, got down from the wagol
and hitched his horses.
." want to see yer ma, so III jest run il
for mint, if you'll mind the the team"
One of the children answered the sun
mons, and conducted him into the littl
kitchen, where the widow sat sewing, wit
her brood of little ones about scanty fire.
"Don't git up, Miss Burton; | can't sto
but a mint. gave yer boy lift as | cam
along, and he told me that he goes over O.
the railroad ter pick up coal, and thought
maybe, yer didn't know it was dangerou:
The lad is too small for sich work, and som
day he'll get killed. So hope yer won
take it alniss that spoke of it ter YER"
Tears were in the good woman's eyes lon
before he had ceased speaking, and she al
swered.
"You are very kind, sir, but what can
do? 1t is hard for me to keep my littl
family together simply with my needle, an
the coal the children gather from the trac
keeps one comfortable, and leaves my scant
earnings for other needs.
"Yer girls hain't any on 'em old enoug
to work, be they Miss Burton If so, r
take one of them to help sister Betsey. Tha
would be one mouth less to feed; at an
rate, she'd fare well.'
"Janey is twelve years old, and has bee
brought up to be useful, and can was
Dishes sweep, and do great deal of the ol
dinary work of household"
"All right, Miss Burton. Have the gil
ready when | come back from town, an
III take her home with me-"
Again in his wagon, Farmer Jones con
muned with himself.
Don't seem to be much of a show TOR
Thanksgivin dinner at Miss Burtons. Poe
thing It's agin nature that such prett
girl as she used to be should have marie
that shiftless, drunken rake, Jim BurtoI
only to be left with lot OF young ones
slave for"
All the day Farmer Jones seemed in a
uncommon grave mood. The town peopl
missed a certain heartiness in his manne
to notify Centreyille that Joel Jones was i
town.
1t was almost dark when he reached tn
! widows cottage aud furious snow storl
had commenced. But securing his restler
team, he stamped into the little kitchen.
J "lts stormin' terribly, Miss Burton, and
: guess your little Janey better not think {
goin' tonight"
"No, thank you. | fear it would be to
tedious for the child. But will yol not |
seated, Mr.. Jones, and get warm before 70
: go on ?"
! Slim chance for that" thought he. Bl
! after an awkward pause, he answered, 6
, would like TO have word with you in pr
vate, Miss Burton"
With an expression of surprise she le
the way into the cold and cheerless lit
, sitting room.
. "Jane Burton" he began, after clearin
4 his throat, "you and have known eac
9 other since we were children. We WI
Y young folks together, and though you WI
3 a pile above me, always loved ye. Bl
KNOWN warn't fit for ye to wipe yer ol
=, shoes on, never said a word, and let J
4 marry jim Burton, while took Name
D Prince. Since then the good Lord has take
= beth on 'em, leavin you with an empt
$ purse, and me with an empty house. Wei
1 ter make a long story short, han't had \
out of my mind since was here this mornii
and my heart is chock full of ye. Aud, nov
Jane, II l am good enough for yer, say $
aud III try and do my duty by ye and IL
little ones"
During his earnest, stammering speec
the poor woman had blushed and glove