Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-06-12

BY ANNIE A. GIBBS.


BY ANNIE A. GIBBS.
1t was a stormy evening in November.
The North wind ratified the rickety case.
ments. and the rain dashed fiercely
against the panes.
Within the roOm-a poor, bare room in
q tenement house, sad-faced waBaan
and two fragile looking children. boy
and girl, sat crouching over the small
cooking stove trying to warm their shiy-
ering frames by the feeble fire that
burned therein.
Mother" said the boy, blue eyed.
fair-haired child Of seven, Il don't sup
pose We shall keep Thanksgiving to-
morrow, shall we?"
Mrs. Gale made norsply to this cues
ton Of her boy.
A eAssting sensation prevented her.
Thanksgiving!
What q m0ckery was that word when
she and her children were staryingi
! Certainly not, Walter" said Minnie,
who. though only nine years old, yet by
reason of the thoughtful look in her
hazel eyes, and her quiet. Old-fashiOned
WAYS, seemed almost woman. Ger
tainly not, why need you ask? Only see,
you have almost made mamma ery.'
Don't fret, mamma" said Waiter. IL
don't care for turkey and pumpkin pies,
and plum pudding-that is, not very
much" added the little fellow, whose
supper of bare bread and a single baked
potato had scarcely satisfied the crav-
ings of his healthy young appetite.
.A"Ahr' he said, "but they are going to
have a great spread over to Charlie At
wells tomorrow. Four turkeys besides
chickens. was there when the grocer
brought them. Lots of other things be-
side. barrel of apples, two big pump
kins, and packages, ever so many OF
them! Mother did we use to keep Thanks
giving before Pa went awayw
Yes my child" answered his mother.
Andthen as memory reverted to the
days Of her happy wifeheOd, when her
husbands love had sheltered her from
every care; when she had never dreamed
of the possibility of being brought face
ito face with want, her self-cOntrOl gave
way.
She clasped her hands over her face
and burst into passion OF tears.
"Oh! don't, pray don't mamma" said
Minnie. rising from her chair and kneel-
ing down before her mother and clasp
ing her knees. Don't cry. We have
enough In the house for tomorrow, have
we not? We have bread, and potatoes,
and little meal. Oh! do love mush,
and so does Walter. Don't you dear%
"Yes," said Walter. with milk; but we
say don't cry, mother, am going to try
and earn little something tomorrow
going errands. Itried to get job to-day,
bat couldn't. But you know last Mon
day earned twenty-five ceatS. All! when
l get to be a little older, mother, you
shall have everything you want, you and
Minnie. / will work and earn money
for YOU"
And the little fellow shook back his
curls and expanded his chest, as if he
was man.
His mother looked at him fondly
through her tears. How like his father
he was! With the same brave, sanguine
spirit, too. How proud his father would
have been of him. And Minnie. teo-the
r1sod, wise, little woman. Surety Heaven
Tbas blessed her In her children. For
rthsik sakes she must be brave and bear
up.
fed her. and calling Walter to her side,
kissed him, too. and streked his fair
.enrls.
envy dsrliags," she said, Il think you
had better &c to bed now. The fire is low"
---indeed it had nearly died away-"and
We mrst keep our coal for tomorrow.
Sfes, mother" said Minnie, cheerfully,
land yen?"
"I shall come directly" said Mrs. Gale.
but, mamma, you will take cold; it
is so cold here. Let me get you your
warm shawl"
And going to the closet, Minnie took
faded plaid WOODEN shawl from q nail,
and wrapped it around her mothers
thin form.
THANK you, dear; and now you had
better go directly to bed"
IF l only had just little piece of
bread first" said Walter, with sigh, it
seems as il something was gnawiag in
side my stomach"
Mrs. Gale rose, without word, and
going to the cupboard, took fEem a
plate q small, thin slice of bread, and
gave it to her son.
"And you. Minnie?" she said.
''Oh, 1 am not at all hungry, mother,
dear" said Minnie, mot at all"
The children undressed, and kneei-
ing down by the poor but spotiessly
clean bed, said i'm concert their Now 1
lay me-" etc. Then they added as their
nightly custom was: -.
sOhl God bless our dear papa, and
bring him back to us once more"
s'iiOd never answers our prayer" wkis-
pered Walter, after they were beneath
the bed-clothes.
sT think" answered his sister, also in
a whisper, z"that our dear papa must be
S..J ~, no would come to MS,
Long after the children were asleep,
long after the last remnent OF .nre nad
died away in the stove, when Ellen Gale
sat thinking, thinking.
The room grew colder ana coiasf: Ine
the wind whistled and shrieKed as II IN
anger, and the rain continued 70 beat
fiercely against the window paneS' "
. was 4 Wild, bitter night, but the fich
and happy, in homes full OF festai cheer'
laughed at its fury.
Five years before Ellen Gale had
been . happy wife. Her husband, young,
handsome, and prosperous, was very
proud Of his beautiful wife and their two
lovely children. s'',.' ~.
{ Walter Gale was the trusted, conf
Dental clerk of q large commercial
house. He was on the high road to for
tune, for his employers had promised to
make him q partner in the firm, when.
{ one day. it was discovered that two
thousand dollars belonging to the firm
were missing. Circumstances pointed
toWaltef Gale, the trusted clerk. as the
criminal, and though there was not
sufticient evidence to convict him, he was
dismissed from the establishment with
STAN upon his name.