The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-11-24


which she refused to enter into the So
cial circle; then Mrs. Seymour felt that
there was a weight off her 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 isolates 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.
The children entered jOyfully 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 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 a locket
in a pinchbeck setting; and Aunt Han
nah Bromfeld, as "genteer' as she could
make herself in a clean muslin neck
erchief and a hair-painted breestpin.
''Widder johnson" lived round the cor
ner only and walked, coming in with a
brandished car-trumpet in her hand and
her tace beaming. The dinner was a
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.
"rhem is sweet children of your n,
Mis- Seymour sighed Mrs. Broome.
My if I'd had chick or child, 'twould
have been sech blessin'; but when he
died l was the lonesomestl Seemed as
though there want nothin'.n
That's sor' chmed in Mrs. Perkins
Il had two on EN-. 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.
Tother one held BY quite a spell, but
she was the miserableSt YOU ever see. l
couldn't feel to keep her here a mite
longer, l wanted for her to get rest and
easement so"
Eleanor ; arm stole round little Jacky
and Mrs. Hutchins said, gently:
Il expect folks each has their special
troubles. can't but remember't when
Josiah died and left me nigh about help
less with hip trouble; and a young babe.
too. 1t did seem As though nobody ever
hnI h1r ayT0
the world over: but somehow | cot
along, and found that there was others
quite as bad off as | was. and the Lord
helps the lame and the lazy folks say.
do know about the law, but | do
about the lame, and smile and tear
together set their bright seal 60 this con-
feSsion of faith.
''WeIi' said Mrs Peck. Syith an
audible sniff and hard, shrill voice. 4
din't think | was the worst Off that ever
was when Mr.. Peck died. now l say for [.
His folks was real respectable, so to
speak; but he was 4 drinkin' character.
didn't know nothin' of it when we
was married. Ny folks didn't really
him. They said he was low
lived and opposed my havin' of him CON
slider Bile; but | was sot in my way to
have him. and. come to find out, he
wa MT steady. He had the tremens in
five years and died ont; and | went out
n SEWN, to keep body and soul together.
There was them that counseled me to
marry again, and there was them that
asked me to; but l alters said once was
enough. | hadn't no pleasant recollec-
tons of the state o. matrimony and 1
wa MT a-goin' TO try it no more. |
could take care of myself, an so could
IF my eyes hadn't ha' give out a spell
ago"
Mrs. Seymour looked at her with
infinite pity. Not even a blessed past,
4 taste of earthly felicity to look back
on, but a life all bitter disappointment
and grinding work; while she had the
dear memory of years underlying herloss
. You don't none of We hev Jest my
trial, said Aunt Hannah Bromtield.
. Jeems Bromfeld was fust mate to
V.halin' ship when we was married. Ny
sakes! what Teller he was To joke an
to carry on He had means, too. We
was real well off Twas kinder harrow
IN to hev him up an olffor a three-years'
voyage right away, and then he didn't
stay to home no time when he did come;
but / had twins for TO show him when he
come back fust. and you never see a man
80 pleased. Well, them boys was COM
pany for me, YOU d better believe. They
was always a-talkin' about Pa, an where
he went to an what ne DID, and a-tellin'
about whales and harpooners, and he'd
their little ships a-sailiu' in the tide-pools,
rugged as material as life; and | declare
fort, they trapped young rat one day.
The trap killed it, and | smelt the awful
est smell afore long out n the yard. an
they was a-strippin' an fleusin' an try
in up that rat, a-pretendin' twas a
whale. Makes me laugh now"
And Aunt Hannah drew her yellow
silk handkerchief across her eyes, not as
if she were laughing
"Wen, twas part my fault. let 'em.
1t fetched Jeems to mind, somehow. and
didn't banker after him half so bad
when them little fellers was a-chirrupin'
and a-carryin' on all the time. But, fust
| knowed, they was eighteen year old,
and they hadn't seen their Pa more'n
five times; but he came back then, and
there they was as likely men as you'd
see; and he he'd money in the bank, and
he and Jehiel Styles they dubbed and
built whaler o their own, and Jeems
was cape en- and 'Hiel fust mate. and
go along fust voysge. Well, it's thirty
year ago. I'm goin' on sixty-eight now;
but don like to talk ont. The upshot
is, sea and waves roarin' day an night,
and night and day; winds a-biowin' an
tempests howlin' and no more boys, Tor
husband, nor nothin', and here | be. l
do know so much as where their bones
do lie. nor l haven't this thirty year,
There was dead silence. Nobody
felt like breaking it; but little Rachel.
who had listened, with her sweet brown
eyes wide opened and her lips apart, put
both her arms about Aunt Hannah's
neck and, with child's quick wisdom,
gave her a resembling kiss.
The old lady laughed.
THAT done me real good, pussy" she
said
81 KEEP school for children twenty
odd year to Gloucester. l do know
but what should ha' died but for them.
Waitin is work, now, l tell We; but l
,ainft UOf nofhini IN wait for now