Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-01-06
THE SLY OLD FOOL"

Inc GUul IlO1 GllE11l DldSNS iICNl StlICO
themselves down into legitimate winter
business, bridging streams and locking
up nature in letters Of ice. Every
where through the broad and fertile
land huge granaries were stored with
the golden harvest, cellars actually
groaned with their rich stores Of fruit
and vegetables, and the thrifty and in
dustrious inhabitants were about to
celebrate their annual Thanksgiving
to the Great and Bountiful Giyer of
such plenty, prosperity.
! But nowhere did the greater bounty
prevail than in the homestead of
| Farmer Joel Jones. His broad acres
| law but 4 mile from the thrifty village
Of Centerville, where he found an easy
market for all his produce, and where
every Sabbath his round and ruddy
face might be seen alongside of the
thin and sallow one of his spinster
sister Betsey, in the old familiar carry
all on their way to the village church,
which ever found willing heart and
ready hand in the unsentimental Joel
Jones. rs its thrifty aspect fully at
tested,
\ few days previous to the one APP
pointed as Thanksgiving, he came into
his ample kitchen with a huge golden
pumpkin in his strong arms.
Here, Betsey," he said, lis one Of
the real Yankee punkins, and | want
We to spread yerself maxim a batch
Of pies. And jest say when ye want
that air turkey killed
What fur, I'd like to know, Joel2
You 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. =
Il know rs well Us We, Betsey, we
hain't got no folks to speak of, but that
amt no sign we amt to eat like other
christians on Thanksgiving day,
'spercerly when I've worked the hull
year like everything, and been pros
pered beyond my desarts."
An hour latter he looked in upon
Betsey and her sullen preparation for
the coming feast.
I'm goin' tex town with er load of
oats, and I'll bring you some crambe1-
ries to go 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 Il
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 tew heavy for her. But
it hain't no use of speakin' of gettin'
help. She'd fight me down on that
| forever" soliloquized the old man, as
he drove along. "Hey, bub, want ter
rider" he called out to small speci-
men of humanity, who was trudging
along under q heavy load, and who
most gladly accepted the kind offer.
Yer Widow Burton's boy, hain't YEP
he asked, in continuation, after the
| boy had scrambled up behind and
perched himself upon a bag Of grain.
''Ye s sir"
''What We got in yer sack, bub?'
Coal sir, that have been picking up
along the track
Dangerous piece o business, and its
strange yer ma should send yer out on
such er errand. The cars will come
erlong some day and chop yer inter
mince meat"
The poor little palc-faced lad made
reply. He was too happy in the
enjoyment Of his unexpected ride to
care for any anticipated danger. At
the door of his humble home the farm
er stopped, and, to the surprise Of the
lad, got down from his wagon and
hitched his horses.
Il want ter see yer ma, SO I'll jest
run in fer mint, if ven mind the
team"
One of the children answered his
summons and conducted him into the
little kitchen, where the widow sat
sewing with her brood of little ones
about the seanty fire.
Don't git up, Miss Burton, L can't
stop but a mint l give yer boy a lift
as L come along, and he told me that
| he goes over on the railroad ter pick
up coal, and thought may beye didn't
know it was dangerous Their lad is tn
small for SIGH work, and some day
he'll sit killed. So l hope you won't
| take it amiss that [ named it ter you"
Tears were in the good woman's eyes
long before he had ceased speaking,
and she answered:
You are very kind, sir but what
can [ do? Its hard for me to keep my
little family together simply with my
needle, and the coal the children
gather on the track keeps one comfort
able. and leaves my scanty earnings for
other needs"
Yer girls hain't any on EN- old enuff
ter work out, be they Miss Burton? If
so, l take on EN- ter help Sister Betsey.
That would be one less mouth to feed,
at any rate, and she'd fare WELL
"Janey is twelve years ola, and has
been brought up to be useful; can
wash dishes, sweep, and do a great
deal Of the ordinary work Of a house
hold"
''Al right, Miss Burton. Have the
girl ready whenI come along back from
town, and I'll take her home with me"
Again III his wagon, Farmer Jones
communed with himself.
Don't seem to be much of q show
for Thanksgivin' dinner at Miss Bur
tons. Poor thing! It's aginnatur that
such a pretty girl as she used to be
should have married that shiftless,
drunken Jim Burton, only to be left
with a lot ofyoung ones ter slave for"
All that day Farmer Jones seemed
in an uncommon grave mood. The
town people missed a certain heartiness
in his manner, and not once did his old
boy-like laugh ring out to notify Center
x-,lio %ho{ Jo,,.a.-