The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-11-19
POOR RELATIONS.
A Thanksgiving story.

N shahhsSNihS StOTys
"Oh, Keziah, how do wish we could
have themr'
80 do l, Debby; but as wishing
won do any good, we might as we'll not
think about it at ALL" and Miss Keziah
bent closer over her sewing, that her
sister might not see the tears gathering
in her eyes.
"They enjoyed it so much last year"
said Miss Debby, plaintively. at did
my heart good to see those dear chill
dren eat, and l thought then that if we
were spared they should come again
this Thanksgiving. l know they won't
have so much as a cranberry at home,"
and Miss Debby sighed; for she had
kind, warm heart, and was very fond
of those poor relations of hers in
LynchHeld.
"If another bad debt should be paid
up just in time for Thanksgiving how
we should rejoicen' said Miss Keziah,
in bright, energetic tone. 1t
wouldn take us long to get up big
dinner. Do you remember, Debby,
how surprised we were last year when
that letter came, and the ten-dollar bill
fell out in my lap? never had thought
johnson. would pay me. | remember
how | reproached myself for the inius-
tice I'd done him the five years he had
been owing me-"
Il remember cried Miss Debby,
land how we flew round to get ready
We had to do everything in day. And
wrote right off for Lavina and the
children before you'd fairly finished
reading what johnson had to say to ex-
cuse himself! Oh, Keziah, if only
Cousin Kane would think to help us to
a'dinner this year; he's so rich,
and"
but he won't think" interrupted
Miss Keziah. mo, Debby, don't base
any hopes on Cousin Kane. We can't
have Lavina this year, and we might as
well make our minds up to it. >
Poor old ladies! they had so few
JOYS! There lives were so narrow, so
dull, so filled with the monotonv of I'M
renting labor. 1t was hard that on
Thanksgiving day they could not af-
ford to have with them the niece they
loved so well; and the children whose
young voices were as music to their
ears
Miss Debby and Miss Keziah Allen
lived together in a small cottage,
which, with the few acres of land sur
rounding it, constituted their worldly
possessions. Their father had left
them an estate OF considerable value;
but neither sister had any idea of bust
ness, and both were impulsive, warm
hearted, and generous. So the pro-
pcrty had dwinded away almost with
out their knowledge. They had sold acre
after acre of land at ridiculousy small
prices, and had been cheated to con-
siderable extent by their agent, and
therefore it surprised no one but them
selves that they were reduced at last to
the small cottage in the suburbs of the
town which had been rented to a man
who had formerly been Mr.. Aliens
coachmau.
The sisters did not complain, and
they blamed no one but themselves for
the sad pass to which things had come.
They left the small hotel where they
had been boarding, and went to keep
ing house in the cottage, where they
could exercise the most pinching
economy without people being much
the wiser. Miss Debby knit stockings.
and made crocheted edging for the
fancy stores, while Miss Keziah, who
was five years younger, took in plain
sewing. They had stout, smart Girl
come every Monday to do the washing,
but the rest of the work they did them
selves, and they kept the cottage as
neat as wax.
They were happy, contented old la
dies, in spite of their poverty and hard
work, their only great regret being
that they could do nothing to help their
niece, that beloved Lavina, who lived