The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-25

her hope of Heaven, her living work.
With shame and contrition, she saw her
place before God, and recognized her
own deserving, and His hand of love
and power. 1t was the work of a mo.
ment and had but moments sway, fol-
the old anguish came crowding back
and surged over her once more, like an
angry wave across a wreck. She made
her first effort to master it, however, in
returning to the thought of Thanksgiving
Dav. The matter of her guests was
settled for her now, and she felt that if
would be easier far for her to feel and
express sympathy with these sufferers
than with persons who must observe the
usaoes and reticences of higher social
spheres. So she drew out the old visit
ing list of poor, so long neglected, and in
the afternoon set out on her Grand
Charity of any sort is not always easy
or pleasant to administer. The poor. at
least in this country, are hedged about
with their own self-respect, and GER
tain barrier of jealous pride, feeling
that they are just as good as anybody
else, and will not be condescended to.
All this Mrs. Seymour had to contend
with, besides the individual traits of
character. The shyness, the real humil-
ity, the want of fit clothing, the dread of
being uncouth, and the natural instinct
of refusal to anything proposed by an
other-that is marked and almost uni
versal trait of New England character.
1t was the work of several days, much
WEAKNESS, more patience and many
promises to insure the attendance of six
poor widows at her table, who would not
have feasted, but probably tasted, at their
own homes; but the effort done her good
Her sense of humor awoke, her interest
in something beside her own grief was
strongly aroused, and the patience that
was only retained by a constant inward
reference to the Masters brought him
more nearly, more dearly to mind every
hour, and with him the word of the
angel at the sepulcher-a word meant
for every mourner at the grave of the
body: why seek ye the living among
the dead? He is not here. He is risenn'
1t was an invaluable teaching, that
long week experience; and when, ut
last, Mrs. Broome was certain of new
cap, Mrs. Perkins understood that Mrs.
Seymour knew as we'll as she did that
her uncle's widow always sent her a
turkey and squash rom Deerfield
(when she had them to Sc ldl for
Thanksgiving; when Mrs. Peck had
made her feel that her own ancestors
had been much better of in their day
than the Seymours. and Mrs. HutchinS
really took to heart the Act that Mrs.
Seymour could and did want poor old
cretur " like her to sit at her table and
share her feast; when Aunt Hannah
Broomiield saw that mis- Skuttles, she
that was old Jake Browns darter,' al
though asked would not b. well enough
to 90, so that Aunt Hannah would not
have to ''demean herself by the en-
counter; and, last of all, ''Widdcr John
son" received the ear-trunpet, without
which she refused to enter into the So
cial circle; then Mrs. Seymour felt that
there was q weight off hel mind. and
felt also that she had been happier and
better woman for the last week than for
long before. She had. indeed, gone out
OF that cell of self which isoates us all
in new grief, and tasted once more the
light and sweetness of that heavenly
day which shines on the evil and the
good, but is reflected only from the I'M
selfish and sincere spirit. g.. q,
The children entered ioyfully into the
idea of Thanksgiving so novel, and all
the more that their mother told them,
with trembling lips, Papa would like
it." Eleanor Seymour had begun TO
find that her children had not forgotten
their father, and that in their tender
talk about him, which now she encour-
aged, after so long a silence, she had
heretofore lost a consolation and a
pleasure. Faster and faster she was
learning.
At last Thanksgiving Day came. Mrs.
Broome, smiling in her new cap, and
Mrs. Perkins, trying to look blandly in
different, were the first corners. Then
the carriage came again, with lame Mrs.
Hutchins, meek and deprecatory, in her
alpaca gown; Mrs. Peck, proudly
dangling an old miniature Of one of her
aforesaid ancestors done up as locket
in pinchbeck setting; and Aunt Han
nah Bromtield, as ''genteer' as she could
make herself in clean muslin neck
erchief and a hair-painted breastpin.
'Widder Johnson lived round the cor
ner only and walked, coming in with
brandished ear-trumpet in her hand and
her face bcaming. The dinner was
great success. The "baby' of the house
sat in his high chair, by mamma; but the
elder boy and girl waited On the guests
and enjoyed their office.
Them is sweet children of your'n,
Mis- Seymour" sighed Mrs. Broome.
My! if Td had chick or child, 'twould
have been sech blessin'; but when he
died was the lonesomest! Seemed as
though there wan t nothin'."
That 5 sou chimed in Mrs. Perkins.
81 had two on 'em, to be sure, when
Perkins was took; but they want no
comfort to speak of, for they went and
had diptheery inside of six months. and
one of EN- died right of, just as sudden.
II other one held by quite spell, but
she was the miScrablest you ever see. ]
couldn't feel to keep her here a mite
longer, l wanted for her to get rest and
easement so -