Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-26


a China trader, Miss Forde. Second mate
he sailed this time, and he's half promised
the first mates place II he goes again. His
employers think the world Of him. And
why not for there is no one like jim"
"How good turkey is |" said Nanny, who
was drying the time-honored wish-bone be-
fore the fire. ats quite done, Miss Forde,
think. May wish IL now ?"
Eyes. Take hold Of one end, and I'll
take the other. Now we must each wish.
wish your Uncle Jim would come home
quick and safe and sound"
"Why, that's my wish tool" screamed
little Nanny, as the bone cracked and flew
asunder
But neither wish was granted. Week
followed week, month succeeded month, but
no Uncle Jim appeared, neither was his
ship heard from. And still the friendship
begun that Thanksgiving.day between the
fourth floor front and the "third pair
back throve and aourished. Il was not in
Jennys nature to do anything by halves.
BY her aid Mrs. Denis procured work
enough to keep the wolf from the door, and
innumerable were the kind offices which her
helpfulness enabled her to do for the widow
and her little ones. The children took her
into their heart of hearts. "Aunt Jenny"
was their name for her, and they loved her
next TO their mother. And strange to say,
with all this added work and new interest,
Jenny's own life seemed brighter and easier
than usual. Everything turned out well
for her that year. Little bits of good for
tune came her way, new lightness Of
heart and satisfaction possessed her. He
that watereth shall be watered." Jenny did
not know it, but that immortal truth is as
real now as when in days of old angels came
down in visible shape and ministered to the
necessities of men.
So passed the winter, the spring and
summer spread her mantle early over the
land, and all went happily with the little
hive of workers. But one afternoon in Au-
gust sad thing happened. Jenny slipped
on bit Of banana skin-one of the many
bits which dot summer pavements-fell,
wrencbed and sprained her shoulder and
broke her right arm. Luckily she was near
home, and was carried there at once. The
accident was disposed of in three lines in
next days paper, but not so easily by the
party most concerned. A long illness was
followed by weary convalescence. Sewing
was out of the question Jenny's friendly
patrons were out of town there was no one
to offer help; and what with weakness and
encouragement, rent falling behind, and a
doctors bill looming portentously ahead,
our brave little woman felt her courage sink
as never before in her life.
What could she have done without the
Denises now +? This was a question she
asked herself dozen times day. Morn
ing after morning Mrs. Denis brought her
bright kind face to Jenny's bedside, made
her tea, brushed her hair, Strengthened the
room, and cheered her with the hopeful
words which mean so much to the despond-
ing invalid. Hour after hour Nanny sat,
patient as an old woman, beside "Aunt
Jenny" watching her eye, and ready to fly
at moment for whatever was needed.
Even little Alice would climb the stairs with
glass of "real cold =" water, flower, a
kiss to make her well, or new rhyme culed
from her picture-book, which she was sure
would "amoose the dear neighbor. These
visits were the sole cheer of those dark days.
The little seed sown in kindness had indeed
brought forth fruit hundredfold.
"Sure and it's a pleasure you wouldn't
deny me-" Mrs. Denis would protest in
answer to Jenny's fearful thanks. "Its
always been you and you before, and I never
thought I'd have the chance to so much as
turn my hand over for you. It's clear
pleasure, it IS"
The clear pleasure" lasted into Octo-
Der; then matters began to mend. Jenny
could help herself little at last. Her en-
ployers came back, and various little kind
nesses followed their return. But the once
nimble fingers were stiff and weak, and
Thanksgiving found her still unable to sew
for more than few minutes at time. Mrs.
Meredith was in Europe no one happened to
think of the little seamstress, and altogether
things were in sorry contrast to the bright
holiday of last year.
Again Jenny sat in her rockingham on
Thanksgiving-eve, idle now from necessity,
not of choice. She looked sad, but bright
ened when Mrs. Denis step sounded on the
stair. 1t was quick glad step, and Mrs
Denis burst in with the joyful face of a
bearer of good tidings.
"Oh, Jennyl" she painted, "never was
anything like it It's turkey has come
to myself this time Mrs. Read sent it,
for the darling she is IAN elegant turkey
and an elegant heap of potatoes as well
Well have our Thanksgiving after all and
if you're agreed, we'll eat it up here, for my
rooms but a cold one, and daren't risk you
to come down.
"How nice how pleasant But how
very kind of you p said Jenny, half crying
"Kind Why, yourself did it, you know
It's you last year, and me this, that's ALL"
1t was impossible to resist such open
hearted gladness, and the feast proved ever
merrier than that memorable one of yea
ago Jennie contributed some red-cheeket
apples to take the place of the missing pie
the room was warm and bright, the children
alive with fun and frolic. Jenny, pale but
cheerful, lay back In her chair, enjoying the
Jokes and contributing soft treble 10 tn,
laughter. Altogether it was pleasan
scene.
"Now the wiss-bone !" cried little Alice
Nanny pulled it last time, so it's my turf
now. Willyou wiss with me, Aunt Jenny 2
"Of course; and shall wish just exactl,
what did them" declared Jenny, holding
her end o, the bone with the fingers of he
left hand" Uncle Jim, and may he ge
back safe and sound 7"
"Uncle Jim," echoed Alice.
A deep sigh followed. Jim's ship wa
overdue, and Mrs. Denis had fears in he
words.
Crack went the wish-bone, and, as though
the sound were signal, rap rap fell upoI
the door.
"Come in" cried the whole party, startled
they hardly knew why.
ais there They told me below Mrs
| d snis was here" began the new conner, bu
his voice was drowned in joyful shrek.
"Jiml |" "Uncle Jim" "Oh, Jim
here at last !" And Mrs. Denis and tn
children flung themselves upon the stranger
"Avast there can't breathe for you
ALL" cried he at last. Whatever will tn
lady think of such doings? I'd beg he
| nardon onlv there's no speakinp Won throt