Stevens County tribune., 1879-11-27
AROuGH DIAMOND.
Or, Farmer Jones' Thanksgiving.


The cold northern blasts had settled
themselves down into legitimate winter
business, bridging streams and locking
up nature in fetters of ice. Everywhere
through the bread ana fertile land huge
granaries were stored with the golden
harvest, cellars actually grOaned with
their rich stores OF fruit and vegetables,
and the thrifty and industrious inhabi,
tants were about to:celebrate their annual
Thanksgiving to their great and bounti-
tul Giver OF such plenty, prosperity and
peace.
But nowhere did greater bounty pre-
vail than in the homestead effarmer Joel
Jones. His broad acres lay but mile
from the thrifty village of CentervilIe,
where he found an easy market for all
his produce, and where every Sabbath
his round and rudy face might be seen
alongside ofthe thln and sallow one of his
spinster sister Betsy, in the old
family carry-all on their way tn the vii
lag church, which ever found willing
heart and ready hand in the unsentimen-
tai Joel Jones, rs its thrifty aspect fully
attested.
~ 1C" NdSS " LLC ChC oPPOAiAt
ed as Thanksgiving he came into his am
pie kitchen with huge golden pump
kin in his strong arms.
sHerc, Betsy" he said, ''is one of the
real Yankee pumpkins, and want yc to
spread yerself maxim batch of pies.
Aud jest say when ye want that air tur-
key killed"
'.What fur, I'd like to know Joel? You
talk as eff yer war goin' ter feed legl.
nent, when thar is only you and me and
the hired man to eat the best Thanksgiv-
ing dinner ever invented"
Il know as well as ye, Betsy, we hain't
got no folks to speak of, but that hain't
no sign we hain't ter eat like other Chris
tians on Thanksgiving day, 'spercerly
when we worked the hull year like ev,
erything, and been prospered beyond my
desarts."
An hour later be looked upon Betsy
and her sullen preparatiOn for the coming
feast.
"I'm goin' ter town with er load oi
oats, and III bring you some cranberrics
to go erlong with yer turkey, Betsy,
said he, San flyer want anythin' elst
speak quick, fer I'm off"
The answer Of the spinster was grun
of dissatisfaction as she continued knead
ing her snowy bread, while the pumpkin
stewed and sputtered on the stove in thu
most savage manner.
betsy grows groutier every day o
her life, poor thing. She's gittin' old
and the work is tew heavy for her Blu
it hain't no use ofspeakin' of gettin help
She'd fight me down on that forever,
soliloquized the old man as he drov
along. "Hey, bub, want ter rlde2' b
called ont to small specimen of hum an
ity, who was trudging along under
heavy load, and who most gladly accept
ed the kind offer.
''Yer Widow Burton's boy, hain't ye?
he asked in continuation, after the 20
had scrambled up behind, and perche
himself upon bag Of grain.
s'Yes, sir"
ssWhat ye got in yer sack, bub2"
"Coal, sir, that / have been picking u
alcng the track"
dangerous piece O. busin .ss, and it
strange yer ma should sena yer out G
sich er errand. Their cars will come e
long some day and chop yer into minc
meat"
"The poor. little, pale faced lad mao
no reply. He was too happy in the e.
joyment ofthe unexpected ride to care 4
any anticipated danger. At the door
his humble home the farmer stoppe,
and, to the surprise of the lad, got dow
from the wagon and hi chcd his horse
81 want ter see yer ma. So III je
run in fer mint, If yell mind the team
One OF the children answered the sur
mons, and conducted him into the lit
kitchen, where the widow sat sewing wi
her brood of little ones about the scan
fire.
"Don'tget up, Miss Burton. caI
stop but mint. give yer boy lift
come along, and he told me he go