The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-11-25
THAT BLESSED BARREL
A Suggestion for Thanksgiving.

"Bessie Bessie !" called Mrs. Ian
from the foot of the rough, unpaintet
stairway. -
'Yes, mother, l am just coming" re
piled cheerful voice from room above
Now Bessie was usually up betimes t.
help get breakfast and to dress the baby
But when girl of 13 walks five miles
carrying pretty big basket Of eggs, il
one day, she naturally feels like sleeping
an extra half hour next morning.
/" What is 1t, mother, dear ?" Bessi,
asked, as she FASTENED into the kitchei
on coming down stairs. Anything tn,
matterP" For her mother was standing
by the pantry door with a painful o.
flour in her hands, and perplexed ex
preston on her face.
"When did Aunt Susan say che should
be here?' asked Mrs Lane, looking a
Bessie, but still making no movement To-
ward the kitchen table, where the bread
tray and kneading-b stood ready fol
use.
Bessie wondered what in the world hsl
mother couldsbe thinking about. "Dt
you mean III the tleiter that came Satur
day nisht?' she asked. I."I think aunt,
said she hoped to see. US about the 20tl
of October"
"And now itsis Bessie, what day Of
the month is it?"
THE 5th, mother, anu sure. becaus,
Farmer Ray -"
Then we must have Germ bread foI
breakfast, not biscuit" And Mrs. Lan,
turned quickly into the pantry, 'emptieC
the -four back into the half-filled bucket
aud presently brought out some yellow
corn meal.
Bessie flame was more mature thar
most girls of thirteen. Her home sur
roundings had made her thoughtful be
yond her years. She was but bab,
when her parents settled on the rougl
land in Western Kansas, and now ther
were five children younger; wild, mis-
chiei-loving Bert, gentle Amy, Edwin,
sober little man of seven, Willie onl,
four and Baby Sue, the pet of tn
family.
Many Kansas farmers were in sor
trouble, Bessie's father among the mum
Der. The terrible drought of the summe
had cut of most of his crops. There wa
little harvesting to be done. 3, The grass
which shriv,lled up in midsummer, LEI
little winter food for cattle Provision
were exhorbitantly high, and none
scarce.
MIR. Lane lost all courage, and gloomil
brooded over impending struggles. l
vain his wife thrusting back her ow
fears, strove to cheer him. He could sc
no hope in the future.
Bessie and her mother sat late by th
kitchen FIRE that night, after the rest
the family were in bed. consulting t.
gether.
II want everything pleasant for SRI
an, said Mrs. Lane, when at length 81
told Bessie they must both go to be-
"She hasn't been here for eight YEAR
and don't want her to find us unhaI
py."
"No, indeed! said Bessie. "Isn't
good that we have got into our ne
house? | am so glad father began
build it last year, To be sure it is NJ
all finished, but it is clean and comfor
able"
"And if we can only make your faith,
feel more hopeful, we shall all be hal
pier, said Mrs. Lane.
"We will try, mother" said Bsssi
"Whst was it about the -four this morl
ing?" she added, after pause.
1--WE have only a little -four. 70
know father has only a few bushels
wheat, and don't know When he wi
get that ground. We must have AoU
when Susan is here, so We must be sp,
i IG of it now"
Had anybody peeped into Bessie
room long after midnight, they woul
have seen by the moonlight ', ry Wild
awake girl. Bessie was thiuking no
she could make money!
"Herr'a a l-tler for you, Mary" sal
Mr. Lane, several DAYS afterward, us l
came in to diLrer "Farm,r Ray brougI
it when be came 10 see about Briudle"
But be isn't going to take her now
shouted Bert; hes going to send loa
of hay. and pa and are going to woi
for him Saturday.
There was a general shout of deligh
for it had como to be known among Il
children that the COW must he sold f,
lack Of hay.
THAT is good news indeed, said Mr.
Lane, as she dropped into chair as if
realize it more fully. lis it really 8,
joint" turning to her husband.
Yes, really 80. Mr.. Ray is Vel
kind