Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-30
Cabs ano Skctebts.
THE PRAISE MEETING At PoNCAssEr.
BY ELIOT MCCORMICK.

III was IN the dlnlng room before break
fast. Jennie had been reading a story
book. which she held half open in hei
hand, and Uncle Jim was perusing tn,
morning paper. Well he said calmly
without taking his eyes from the sheet
''you ought to know
Jennie at this was little disappointed
She knew she had said something very
naughty, and quite expected to be set
down and reproved, and TO he only snubbed
was rather humilating.
'Ireally don't. | Uncle Jim, ''she said in an
injured tone Nov, if one OF my brothers
had gone away from home "a good many
years ago, and we all thought he was dead,
and then all of sudden he came back,
like Charles Reginald Ponsonby in this
lovely story of Mrs. Sarah 4. Jones'; or
if mamma had the small pox and got well ;
or if we had been poor and got rich. why
then there'd be something to be thankful
for. But Tom and Dick never took it into
their heads to run away. and we've all
been Just as well as could be, and we've
been rich ever since | can recollcct. No
Uncle JIM" shaking her head until the
curly, fluffy hair shimmered IN the morn
inc sunlight. there's positively nothing
to be thankful for.
Now Uncle Jim, whose other name was
Apologize, and who was Mrs. BradfOrd's
brother, was wise man. lie did not
draw down his mouth in a solemn way
and say reprovingfy, Jane Applegate
Bradford, am shocked And he didn't
tell Jennie that she ought 10 be thankful
for these very things that she had named
for her brothers steady habits and her
mamma health, and for the riches that
brought them so many comforts. Indeed
he didn't say anything at all but gave
the little girl a comical look over the
top of his paper and continued reading,
while Jennie, finding that nothing was to
be made out Of Uncle Jim, opened her
book again, rather yexed, it must be con
fessed. that her condolences had met with
so little return.
About half an hour afterwards, though,
when they were all at the tabIe-Mr and
Mrs. Bradford. Tom and Dick, Jennie and
Uncle Jim, the latter all at once exclaimed,
''Say. sister Louisa, I got letter yester-
day from the Wogloms."
where You were last summer % in
qnircd Mrs Bradford
Mr.. Applegate nodded.
They want me to come up. and spend
Thanksgiving
You won't think of going interrupt
ed his sister.
"Well, l don't know" said Uncle Jim
refectivelv. | was thinking of it. You
see, he wants me to bring one of my little
girls 49,,
Zone of what
Thinks I'm man of family, | suppose
But thought could make it all right by
taking some one else's little girl
Jennie meanwhile, having dropped her
knife and fork was gazing at her uncle with
open eyes and parted lips.
"Well, puss, said Mr.. APPLICABLE. show
would you like to 90 e''
Jennie's eyes sparkled. ..
''Oh, Uncle jim. How perfectly love
ly. Where is it ?"
up at Poncasset: don't you remember
where ! went trout-fshng last summer %
Jennie face fell.
Wasn't it poor sort of place." she
asked doubtfully. -.v ir~
Exactly. said her uncle in cheerful
tone; poor as Jobs turkey. Twenty
seven houses in radius of two miles, a
little bit Of a Methodist church and an
old school house-that's all there is.
People all farmers and the ground all sand
and stones.''
"Well''-hesitatingly.
well, my dear?''
"Do you ppose-they 'd-give us Il
good dinner,''
A derisive laugh from one of the broth
ers.
Perhaps they'll kill Jobs turkey for
YOU" he suggested.
Il hope not" said Jennie plaintivelv
sit must be dreadfully tough by this time.
/ think I'd rather have pork''-which of
all things in the world Jennie hated.
Just what you will have" exclaimed
MIR. Applegate, taking a letter out of his
pocket.
Come up Wednesday, he read, land
we will give you hearty welcome. and
all the pork and potatoes YOU can eat
Bring one of your little girls with YOU"
Singular delusion, isn'tit? Well, Jennie,
will You 90 o''
With Jennie Bradford Thanksgiving
meant, as it does to "a great many other
people, good dinner On the one hand.
then, there was roast turkey and cranberry
sauce, and on the other salt pork and
Uncle Jim-with the doubtful pleasure of
the Wogloms thrown in by the way of des-
sert. II was Uncle Jim that turned the
scale, Jennie WAS always ready to give ND
other things to be with him ''Yes.n she
said, not very heartily, after Il moments
thought, I'm go, Uncle Jim, if mamma
will let me-
SO that was settled, mammals consent
being easily obtained, and on Wednesday
morning before Thanks giving, Jennie and
Mr.. Apologize started off, the latter act
ing more like great overgrown boy,
Mrs. Bradford declared, than 10 man and
an uncle
How they got to Poncasset have NOT
time to tell. Even to Jennie's excited
fancy the journey was "a long one, and
when the stage coach which had brouobt
them the last dozen miles ut length drew
up IN frost of the Wogloms' both the trav.
eliers felt thoroughly tired.
'IIow do We do ?'' Jennie heard hearty
Voice say out Of the darkness of the late
November afternoon. And then as the
owner of the voice discovered her. oval.
n here amt the little gal ,''
''My niece, Jennie Bradford" Uncle
Jim FASTENED to say.
p sIhe big hands had meanwhile taken
Possession of Jennie's little cold ones.
''Niece. Ell? Thought She was your