Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-31
Gales .,ino Skettbes.
HE PRAISE MEETING At PoyCAsSEr.
A Thanksgiving story.
BY ELIOT MCCORMICK.
Continued from yesterday. }

AND all your sisters
They havn't been either
And your brothers. You've got broth
ers, haven't you?'
"0h, yes They Went last year to coun-
~ Fair at Middlebrook, hut we all had to
60 without new shoes to pay for it,"
Jennie took quick glance at Carrie ;
dress. 1t was a very neat dark-brown
merino. very likely her best but without
speck of trimming and made in the
plainest possible way. The child's hair
was drawn smoothly back from her fore
head and braided thickly down her back:
A scarlet sixpenny ribbon on the braid and
one at the throat were her only adorn-
ment. With little pang of self reproach
Jennie looked down at her own camel's-
hair. plentifully trimmed with bows and
plaitings, over which Miss Stitch, the
dressmaker, had spent week.
WHO makes your dresses?' she asked.
all at once.
Carrie blushed II made this myself,
she said. Mamma cut it out after pat
tern in an old "liarper's Bazaar
You must be awfully smart" admir-
ingly.
The bushes were hotter than before.
"Oh, no, I'm not, only we have to do things
for ourselves, you know"
And don't you have dreadfully stupid
time staying here always?''
Stupid ? Why no; there's always lots
to do. sF1fwa4lr. .esf.s.1....s .. ...
Tell me what YOU do, won't you, while
] brush my hair .aG
Of came the little hat and out tumbled
the curly, golden hair. Carrie looked ON
in silent admiration until Jennie, brush
ing vigorously at the refractory curls,
said, $50. do go on, won't you, Carrie
dear? 80
Carrie blushed with pleasure and sur
prise at the affectionate address.
Well she said, turning up her own
pretty face in reflective way, "frst of all
there's the breakfast to be got. We have
to get up at half-past five to do that
Carrie Woglomr'
Eyes, we do. ''nodding her head posi-
lively, ''all the year round. We have
breakfast at halt-past six. Then we rio up,
and after that learn our lessons
What do You study ?''
''Oh, just reading, writing, arithmetic,
geography and grammar. Our new
teacher. though, is going to begin Latin
class and I'm going In it,
Jennie remembered remorsefully how
she had begged her mother only two weeks
ago not TO let her study Latin.
'Yes, and Mr.. Hamilton-hc's the min
ister-lends me books to read I'm read
ing Rollins Ancient History now"
''Oh N.Y. said Jennie. How she had
despised '.Rollin'' when Uncle Jim wanted
her to read II only last summer.
We'll, then, we come home to dinner
at noon and help mother wash dishes
afterwards, and then we 60 back to school
at one O'Clock and stay till four. Then
when we come home there almost always
some sewing or some chores to do, or per-
haps in summer we have to 90 blackberry
ing until its time for tea Evenings. if it
isn't prayer-neeting. or elass-meeting, or
singing school, we study and read
But don't you get any time to play
Carrie looked little puzzled.
"Why, we don't want to play" she said
"we've got too much to do Once in
while father lets us take the old horse and
we go for ride. Maybe in summer we
have a picnic in Pine Grove and some
times winter nights we coast down Rattle
snake Hill, but not very often. We can't
spare the time
"And," hesitatingly, ''do you like it ?"
Like ?" with wondering expression
in the soft blue eyes, as if to ask what
Jennie meant.
Jennie blushed and faltered.
IL meant don't you get tired and dis
gusted? Isn't it sort of 'horrid grind
just doing the same thing day after day P"
The blue eyes opened wide.
why no." slowly and thoughtfullv:
II don't think we do. 1t isn't Just the
same every day, either There's always
something different, even though it's only
in the number Of dishes to be washed.
No, | don't believe l ever thought that
way" ,.
''And are You really thankful ?" asked
Jennie impulsively, coming back to her
old puzzle. Because I'm not. bit"
Carrie looked just little shocked.
''Oh. yes" she said, II think IN thank
full la
well, said Jennie, drawing long
breath, If you are suppose / ought to
be. And wish you'd tell me what you're
thankful for
Carrie looked up with a half panied ex-
preston.
There's going to be praise meeting to-
morrow in the Westinghouse, she said
slowly, land if you'd like to 90
Perhaps I'd learn something inter
rupted Jennie, leaning over and kissing
her new friend. "Well dear, perhaps /
will. Isn't that your papa calling us p''
1t did prove to be Mr.. Woglom's hearty
voice saying that supper was ready; and
for supper, which was eaten in the kitch
en-, they did have pork. 1t was salt and
fried. Besides this there were doughnuts.
baked beans, corn bread, fried potatoes.
green tea and apple sauce. 1t was ali
quite different from the dishes which De-
stree, the French cook, prepared at home.
but Jennie was very hungry, and even the
pork tasted good. The talk, too, was
lively. Jennie sat between Carrie and
Uncle Jim, and SO felt herself entirely at
home while Uncle Jim fairly devoted
himself to entertaining the whole family
until the other girls We're drawn entirely
out of their shyness, and the two bows.
George Washington and Abraham Lin
coin. who had been hiding behind the
kitchen door, couldn't resist the tempta
ton to come slyly in and see what all the
fun was about.
"S'pose you'll go to praise meeting, to-
morrow asked Mr. Woglom, during a
lull in the conversation.
And Uncle Jim, with cheerful readiness