The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-11-23

bLOuSA oohOh "SoAo III 10 Won ShooSA
to go, so that Aunt Hannah would not
have to "demean herself by the en-
counter; and, last of all, .'Widder john
SON. received the ear-trumpet, without
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 a 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 a 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 a 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
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 In old miniature of one of her
aforesaid ancestors done up as a locket
in a pinchbeck setting; and Aunt Han
nah Bromfield, as '.genteer' as she could
make herself in a clean muslin neck
erchief and a hair-painted breastpin.
'tWidder Johnson lived round the cor
ner only and walked, coming in with a
brandished ~ear-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.
"Them is sweet children of your'n,
Mis- Seymour" sighed Mrs. Broome.
''My! if I'd had chick or child, 'twould
have been sech a blessin'; but when he
died 1 was the lonesomest! Seemed as
though there want nothin'."
THAT'S so!'' chimed in Mrs. Perkins.
81 had two on 'em, to be sure, when
Perkins was took; but they want pS
comfort to speak of, for they went and
had diptheery inside of six months, and
one of 'em died right off, just as sudden.
Tother one held by quite a spell, but
she was the miserablest you ever see. ]
couldn't feel to keep her here a mite
longer, l wanted for her to get rest and
easement so.'
Eleanor's arm stole round little Jacky,
and Mrs. Hutchins said, gently:
81 expect folks each has their special
troubles. l 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 evel
had or could have no trouble like mine
the world over; but somehow 1 go
along, and found hat there was Others
quite as bad off as 1 was, and the Lore
helps the lame and the lazy folks say
1 do know about the lazy, but l d.
| about the lame,'' and a smile and tea
together set their bright seal 60 this con
fession of faith.
"Well!' said Mrs. Peck. with al
audible sniff and a hard, shrill voice. 60.
din't think I was the worst off that eve,
was when MI. Peck died, now say fort
His folks was real respectable, so Il
| speak; but he was a drinkin' character
l didn't know nothin' of it when w,
was married. My folks didn't reall,
fellowship him. They said he was low
lived and opposed my havin' of him con
slider BILE; but l was sot in my way t.
have him, and, come to find out, h,
want steady. He had the tremens il
five years and died ont; and l went GU
a sewin', to keep body and soul together
There was them that counseled me tc
marry again, and there was them tina
asked me to; but I alters said once wa
enough. I hadn't no pleasant recollec
tons of the state o. matrimony and
WANT a-goin' to try it no more.
could take care of myself, an so Icoul,
eff my eyes hadn't ha' give out a spell
ago.
Mrs. Seymour looked at her wit
infinite pity. Not even a blessed past
a taste of earthly felicity to look bac'
on, but a life all bitter disappointment
and grinding work; while she had tn
dearmemory of years underlying herloss
"You don't none of We hev jest m
trial." said Aunt Hannah Bromfield
" Jeems Bromfield was fust mate to
whalin' ship when we was married. M,
sakes! what 4 Teller he was to joke an
to carry on! He had means, too. w
was real well off. Twas kinder harrow
in to hev him up an offfor a three-years
voyage right away, and then he didn'
stay to home no time when he did come
but l had twins for to show him when h
come back fust, and you never see a ma
so pleased. Well, them boys was com
pany for me, you'd better believe. The
was always a-talkin' about Pa, an wher
he went to an what he did, and a-tellin
about whales and harpooners, and he
their little ships a-sailin' in the tide-pools
rugged as material as life; and 1 declar
fort, they trapped a young rat one day
The trap killed it, and Ismelt 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
whale. Makes me laugh now"
And Aunt Hannah drew her yelloy
silk handkerchief across her V not a
if she were laughing.
"Well, twas part my fault. Ilet 'em
1t fetched Jeems to mind, somehow, an
[ didn't banker after him half so ba
when them little fellers was a-chirrupin
and a-carryin' on all the time. But, fus
Iknowed, they was eighteen year ole
and they hadn't seen their Pa more
five times; but he came back then, an
there they was as likely men as you
see; and he he'd money in the bank, an
he and Jehiel Styles they dubbed an
built a whaler O. their own, and Jeem
was cap'en and 'Hiel fust mate, an
nothin' would serve but them boys mu.
go along fust voyage. Well, it's thirt
year ago. I'm goin' on sixty-eight now
but 1 don'tlike to talk ont. The upshc
is, sea and waves roarin' day an nigh
and night and day; winds a-blowin' al
tempests howlin' and no more boys, Tic
husband, nor nothin', and here l be.
do know so much as where their bone
do lie, nor I haven't this thirty year.
There was a dead silence. Nobod
felt like breaking it; but little Rache
who had listened, with her sweet brow
eyes wide opened and her lips apart, pr
both her arms about Aunt Hannah
neck and, with a child's quick wisdom
gave her a resounding kiss.
The old lady laughed.
"That done me real good, pussy" 81