The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-01-21

y" don't know what to say, it has
come upon ne so sudden. ! viii think
over it, and we will talk of it again
this evening. / haven't time now. AS
you say, Martha has become useless, and
I have SO much to do to get ready for
dinner to morrow. You know you in
vited the Domino and his wife to come
home with us after church"
" Yes, yes, and I've got considerable
amount of choring around to do my
SELF #sf
All that day there was great stewing
baking, and baking in the home of Job
Grey, but his wife went around with
a lighter step, pleasanter face, and
brighter eyes than usual, and ever and
pnon her old lips bubbled over with
song, while Martha sat moping in the
chimney-corner, working her hands
nervously, or wandering up and down
stairs.
"PoOr Martha" said Mrs. Grey to
the woman she had summoned to assist
her in the lavish preparation, Z" she
takes the death Of her son hard. I fear
it has upset her reason.
g He never was a good son to her;
always caused her trouble and disgrace.
Dear knows she ought to be thankful
he has gone, " was the almost unfeeling
remark.
"But still he was her child"
said the good dame, thinking of her
own wandering, home-denied one
and tears trickled down her face. l
wonder where he died and what was the
matter. I forgot to ask Job. But we
L 4 En Goodness
it is almost noon, and Pve got so much
to do and so much 20 think about"
"What is all this fuss aboutP'
questioned Martha, suddenly raising her
head from between her hands and ap-
parently noticing for the first time the
unusual disturbance in the domestic ar
rangements
"Have you forgotten that tomorrow
is Thanksgiving and the Domino and
his wife are to be here "' asked her mis-
tress. But don't fret about it,
Martha. You are not well and we'lI
manage 10 get along without you"
E'I Shall never be well until am in
my grave, )" replied the old woman, sol
EMMY.
q know, I know Nartha-you are
IuluhILlS VI JOtAA k'OOA IVY 49,
must remember that he is
"In the pit of fire and birthstone
where I" she glared around defantly
for a moment and then continued
where I soon shall be Oh heaven,
that I should have" The rest Of the
sentence was inaudible, and she flung
herself back in the chair, bent down
her head, and sObbed aloud, as she
rocked uneasily backward and forward.
The mistress sOOthed her and hastened
on the work. And early in the after
noon the pantry-shelVes were loaded
with the most misunderstanding pump
kin pies, a great fat turkey, prepared
for the spit, a massive bow! OF ruby
cranberry jelly, huge chlcken-ple2,
waiting the oven: a cake crowned with
the most delicate frOsting-in fact,
everything in as much tOrWardness as
could be, and a hungry soul would have
reioiced even in expectation of the
feast. Then the house was made tidy,
swept and busted, fresh asparagus
sprays hung in the corners, vases filled
with bright-colored chrysanthemums,
and the mistress, giving over the rest
Of her "help," announced her deter
mination to runip and see the DOmlne,s
wife bit.
But she saw the Domino as well, and
they had g long and earnest consQltas
ton. The trouble which old Martins
was in was discussed at length, ana then
they drifted into other matters, until at
last, warned by the lateness of the hour
Mrs. Grey thrust her needles into the
ball of yarn, rolled up the half finished
stocking, put it in her spacious pocket,
and said she must 90 home and get tea.
" You won't forget what | said, and
be sure to come," she said at parting,
with q strange combination of smiles
upon lips and tears glistening in eyes.
.'' Never fear" answered the Domino
warmly, and J will pray for a bless
ing"
cob! it would make the day one Of
such fervent and holy Thanksgiving,
Domino"
Yes, a soul saved; lost sheep
gathered again within the fold would be
as a benediction. no, I shall not iail
to remember, and will add works 70
faith. Strange what could be the mat
ter with Martha"
An hour later Job Grey came in from
his work and found loaded table wait
ing, lamps lighted, and a hickory fire
blazing and cracking cheerily upon the
sitting room hearth. .....-...
"BIes9 me, Susan, you are beginning
Thanksgiving early," he said.
"I thought you'd be tired and
hungry, Job, and we might as well be
comfortable"
$50 l am What, waf1esP' he ex.
claimed, as his wife placed upon the
table huge dish of the delicious prep
aration, crisp, golden-brown, rich and
covered with the freshest of butter.
whitest of sugar and daintily sprinkled
with nutmeg. Yes, I knew you liked
them, job" replied his wife quietly,
though her old eyes sparkIed with pleas
ure and the red flush on her cheeks
could scarcely have been accounted for
by the heat of the fire.
"Like them, you dear old soul?
There is nothing I like better. And
such nice onesl don't believe you ever
made better in all your life, and l know
no women can beat you, Susan"
Pleased with the praise, Mrs. Grey
told of her visit to the parsonage; that
the minister said he would try and find
out what was the matter with Martha,
and comfort her; and that she also
talked about their proposal to adopt a
girl.
/" And what did the Domino say?''
questioned her husband.
"Ohl he approved the plan, and
wondered why we had not thought of it
before"
Thinking was easy enough; the right
kind of girl is the trouble"
"The Domino believes he knows one
that will suit us-the child of widow
and he would drive over and see
about it."
"That accounts for his being on the
road so late. saw him going alone as
Icame in, and feared some one must be
diving. When will he let US knowP'
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