Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1880-01-23
THANKSGIVING ANN.

In the kitchen doorway, under.
meath its arch of swaying vines and
independent purple clusters, the old
woman sat, tired and warm, Vigor-
ously tanning herself with her calico
apron. 1t. was a dark face, sur
mounted by a turban, and wearing,
Just now, look of troubled thought
fulness not quite in accordance with
her name-a name oddly acquired
from an old church anthem that she
used to sing somewhat on this wise;
'Thanksgivin' an"
''Jobnny, don't play dar in the water,
chile!"
"Thanksgivin' an"
"Run away now, Susie, dearie."
'Thanksgivin, am. @ -
s'Take care dat Dressed baby! Here's
some. gingerbread for him. ~
0Thanksgivin' an the voice of mel
ody."
You laugh? But boxing after
all these little things was her ap-
pointed work, her duty; and spent
the intervals in singing praise. Do
many of US make better use of our
spare moments?
So the children called her Thanks
giving Ann; her other name. was
forgotten, and Thanksgiving Ann
she would be-, now, to the end of
her days. How many these days
had already been, no one knew.
She had lived with Mr.. and Mrs.
Allyn fer years, whether as mistress
or servant of the establishment,
they could scarcely tell; they only
knew she was invaluable. She had
taken grandmother!y guardianship
of all the children, and had a voice
in most matters that concerned the
father and mother, while in the Gull
nary department she reigned su-
preme.
The early breakfast was over.
She had bestowed unusual care upon
it, because an agent of the Bible So
ciety, visiting some of the country
places for contributions, was to. par
take of it with them. But while
she was busy with a final batch of
delicate wafies, the gentleman had
pleaded an appointment, and, taking
hasty leave of his host and hostess,
had departed unobseryed from the
kitchen windows; and Thanksgiving
AIMS '.Bible money was still in her
pocket.
"Didn't ask me nor give me no
chance. Just's if, cause a pusson's
old an colored, dey didn't owe de
lord nuffibs an wouldn't pay if dey
did," she murmured, when the state
of the case became known.
However, Silas, the long-limbed,
untiring and shrewdS who regarded
the old woman with a curious mix
ture of patronage and veneration,
had volunteered torun-after the van
ished guest, and catch him if he was
! anywhere this side of Chainy.'
And even while Thanksgiving sat al
the doorway, the messenger return.
ed, apparently unweari6d by his
chase.
wall, 1 come up with him-tOld
ye l woodland gave him the thret
,bdollars. He seemed kind ofH1stet
ed to have missed such nugget
and he said. twas a ginerous jona
tion-equal to your masters
Which proves" said Silas, shutting
one eye, and appearing to survey
the subject meditatively with. the
other, "that some folks can do a.
much good just off-hand as some
other folks can with 10 end of pinch
in an screwin' beforehand"
''Think it proves dat, folks dat
don't have no great mount can do a,
much in a good cause by thiukin
bout it a little aforehand, as othel
folks will do dat has more, and puts
tder hand in der. pockets when d,
time comes. ] believe in sgstemat
les bout such things, I does; anC
with an energetic bob of her head
by way of emphasizing her words
! old Thanksgiving walked into tn,