The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-11-24
THAT BLESSED BARREL.
A SUGGESTION FOR THANKSGIVING.

bessie! Bessier' called Mrs. Lane
from the foot of the rough, implanted
stairway.
'Yes, mother, I am just coming" re-
piled a cheerful voice from the room
above.
Now Bessie was usually up betimes
to help get breakfast, and to dress the
baby. But when girl of thirteen walks
five miles carrying pretty big basket
of eggs in one day, she naturally feels
like sleeping an extra half-hour the next
morning.
what is it, mother, dearT' asked
Bessie, rs she fastened into the kitchen
on coming down stairs. Anything the
matterp" For her mother was standing
by the pantry door with q pan full of
flour in her hands, and perplexed ex-
preston on her face.
..When did Aunt Susan say she should
be herep" asked Mrs. Lane looking at
Bessie, but still making no movement
towards the kitchen table, where the
bread-tray and kneading-board stood
ready for use.
Bessie wondered what in the world
her mother could be thinking about.
'.Do you mean in the letter that came
Saturday night?' she asked. II think
aunty said she hoped to see US about the
Goth of October"
"And now it is-Bessie, what day of
the month is it?'
"The 9Th, mother, / am sure, because
Farmer Ray
"Then we must have corn bread for
breakfast, not biscuit" And Mrs. Lane
turned quickly into the pantry, emptied
the -four back into the half-filled bucket.
and presently brought out some yellow
corn meal.
Bessie Lane was more mature than
most girls of thirteen. Her home sur
roundings had made her thoughtful be-
yond her years. She was but a baby
when her parents settled on the rough
land in Western Kansas, and now there
were five children younger; wild, mis-
chief-loving Bert. gentle Amy. Edwin, a
sober little man Of seven, Willie only
four. and Baby Sue, the pet OF the
family.
Many Kansas farmers were in sore
trouble, Bessie's father among the num-
Der. The terrible drought of the sum-
mer had cut off most of his crops. There
was little harvesting to be done. The
grass, which shrivelIed up in midsum-
mer, left little winter food for cattle.
Provisions were exorbitantly high, and
money scarce.
Mr.. Lane lost all courage, and
gloomily brooded over impending strug-
/ giles. In vain his wife, thrusting back
her own fears, strove to cheer him. He
could see no hope in the future.
Bessie and her mother sat late by the
kitchen fire that night, after the rest Of
the family were in bed, consulting to-
| gether.
II want everything pleasant for Su-
san," said Mrs. Lane, when at length
| she had told Bessie they must both 60
| to bed. s.She hasn't been here for eight
years, and don't want her to find us
unhappy" :,
..No, indeedr' said Bessie. "Isn't it
| good that we have got into our new
housed am so glad father began to
build it last year. To be sure it is not
all finished, but it is clean and comfort
able"
"And If we can only make your faith
er feel more hopeful, we shall all be
happier" said Mrs. Lane.
1--WE will try, mother" said Bessie.
"What was it about the -four this morn
ingP" she added, after little pause.
I'VE have only little flour. You
know father has but q few bushels OF
wheat, and don't know when he will
get that ground. We must have flour
when Susan is here, so we must be
sparing of it now"
Had anybody peeped into Bessie's
room long after midnight. they would
have seen by the moonlight very wide
awake girl Bessie was thinking how
she could earn money!
Here's letter for you. Mary" said
MIR. Lane several days afterwards, as
he came in to dinner. 'Farmer Ray
brought it when he came to see about
Brindle."
"But he isn't going to take her now"
shouted Bert; .'he's going to shed a
load Of hay, and pa and l are going to
work for him Saturday.
There was general shout of delight,
for it had come to be known among the
. children that the COW must be SOLD fol
lack of hay.
: THAT is good news indeed" said
Mrs. Lane, as she dropped into chair
as If to realize 1t more fully. ''ls it real
ly SO, Johnr' turning to her husband.
, eyes, really so. Mr.. Ray is very
kind"
: "But, mother, the letter! the letter.
exclaimed Amy.
| Now letters were rare visitors in thai