River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-01-06
1.-THE SLY OLD FOOL"


I The cold northern blasts had setted
I themselves down into legitimate winter
business, bridging streams and locking
up nature in fetters of ice. Every
where through tie broad and fertile
land huge granariGs were stored with
4 the golden harvest, cellars actually
groaned with their rich stores of fruit
and vegetables, ard the thrifty and IN
/ dustrious inhabitants were about to
celebrate their annual thanksgiving
10 the Great and I}ountiful Giycr- of
such plenty, prosperity.
But nowhere did the greater bounty
/ prevail than in the homestead of
/ Farmer Joel Jonc4. His broad acres
/ lay but mile frolp the thrifty village
/ Of Ccnterville, where he found an easy
/ market for all his produce, and where
! every Sabbath bis round and rudy
/ face might be scdn alongside of the
+ thin and sallow One of his spinster
sister Betsey, in the old familiar carry
all on their way to5the village church,
which ever found j willing heart and
ready hand in the mscntimental Joel
Jones. a. il, Thrifty aspect fully at
tested,
\ few days previous to the one APP
pointed as Thanksgiving, he came into
his ample kitchen with huge golden
pumpkin in his strpng arms.
Here, Betsey," he said is one Of
the real Yankee .punkins, and want
We to spread yersct maxim a batch
of pies. And Jest gay when We want
that air turkey killed
What fur, I'd axe to know, Joel7
Iou talk as eyer war goin' ter feed a
regiment, when thar is only YOU and
me and the hired man to eat the best
Thanksgiving dinner ever invented. y
Il know rs we'll rs We, Betsey, we
hain't got no folks 10 speak of, but that
amt no sign we aih't to eat like other
christians on Thanksgiving day,
'spercerly whom Ife worked the hull
year like everything, and been pros
pered beyond my aesarts."
An hour latter he looked i'll upon
Betscy and her sullen preparation for
the coming feast.
I'm goin tcv town with er load of
oats, and I'll bring you some cramber
ries to 90 erlong with yer turkey, Bet
sey.' said he, AN if yer want anythin'
else speak quick, fer I'm off.
The answer of the spinster was
grunt of dissatisfaction as she contin-
ued kneading the snowy bread, while
pumpkin stewed and sputtered on the
stove in the most savage manner.
"Betsey grows coulter every day OF
her life, poor thing. She's gittin' old
and the work is tcw heavy for her. But
it hain't no use Of speakin' of gettin'
help. She'd fight me down on that
forever, soliloqujzcd the old man, ~
he drove along Hey, bub, want ter
rider he called cut to small speci-
men of humanity who was trudging
along under a heavy load, and who
most gladly accepted the kind offer.
Yer Widow BurtGn's boy, hain't YEP
he asked, in continuation, after the
boy had scrambled up behind and
perched himself upon a bag of grain.
"Yes sir.
What We got inlyer sack, bub?"
Coal sir, that have been pickingup
along the track
dangerous pieqe O business, and its
strange yer ma should send yer out on
such err errand. The cars will come
erIong some day and chop yer inter
mince meat.
The poor little Hale-faced lad made
y reply He was too happy in the
enjoyment of his unexpected ride to
care for any anticipated danger. At
the door of his hun4ble home the farm
| or stopped, and, 10. the surprise of the
lad, got down from his wagon and
hitchcd his horses.
Il want ter see ger ma. so I'll jest
run in fer Il mint, if yell mind the
team
One Of the cbildren answered his
summons and conducted him into the
little kitchen, where the widow sat
sewing with her brood of little ones
about the Scanty FIRE.
Don't git up, Miss Burton, | can't
stop but mint. give yer boy a lift
rs come along, and he told me that
ne goes over on the railroad ter pick
| up coal. and thought may be We didn't
know il WAS dangerous Their lad is tn
small for sich work, and some day
( he'll git killed. - hope you won't
/ take it amiss that / named it ter you.
Tears were in thp good woman's eyes
/ long before he ind ceased speaking
| and She answered.
You are very kind, sir but what
| cen | %? Iti hard for me to keep my
/ little family together simply with my
needle and thn coal the children
gather II, thc track keeps one comfort
able. a" leaves my Scanty earnings for
other nvou-.
Yer girls hahn tanF Oh EN- old enutf
ter work out. b6 they Miss Burton If
So, | take ON EN- ter help Sister Betsey.
That would be on4 less mouth to feed,
lit any rate, and Sled fare well.
fancy is twelve years ola, and has
been brought up to be useful; can
wash dishes, swctp. and do a great
deal of the ordinarily work of a house
hold.
AN right Miss Burton. Have the
girl ready when come along back from
town, and I'll tak4 her home with me. "
Again in his wagon. Farmer Jones
communcd with himself.
Don't seem to &c much Of Il show
for i Thanksgiyu, dinner at Miss Bur
tons. Poor thing It's aginnatu that
such pretty girl as she used to be
should have married that shiftless
drunken Jim Burton, only TO be Fl
with lot ofyouug ones ter slave for. >
All that day Farmer Jones seemed
| in an uncommon grave mood. The
town people missed q certain heartinesS
| i'm his manner, and not once did his old
Gov-like laugh ring out TO notify Center
vile that FarmerlJ0nes was IN town.
1t was almost dark when he reached
the widows cottage, and a furious snow
storm had commenced. But securing
his restless teamlhe stamped into the
little kitchen
It's stcrmin' ttrribly, Miss Rurton
and 1 guess your little Janey better not
think Of going to hight
NO. thank YOU. / fear it would be
too tedious for the child. But will you
not be seated, Mr. Jones, and get warm
before you go ons'
Slim chance for that" thought he
But after an awkward pause he answer
cd: Il would like to have word with
you in private, MISS Burton"
With an expression Of surprise she
led the way into the cold and cherries
little sitting rOom'
/ Is., s,sl,4,,, H.. n e. ,1,,,-