News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-11-30
THAT BLESSED BARREL.
A Suggestion for Thanksgiving.
BY MARY TTFCoAIB.


BY MARY TTFCoAIB.
"Bessiel Bessie % called Mrs. Ian,
from the foot of the rough, unpaintet
stairway.
Yes, mother, am just coming" re
piled cheerful voice from the room
above
Now Bessie was usually up betimes t.
help get breakfast, and to dress the baby
But when a girl of thirteen walks five
miles carrying pretty big basket of eggs
in one day, she naturally feels like sleep
ing an extra half-hour the next morning.
What Is it, mother, dear?" asked
Bessie, as she fastened into the kitchen
on coming down stairs. Anything the
matter ?" For her mother was standing
by the pantry door with pan full of
-four in her hands, and perplexed ex-
preston ON her face.
"When did Aunt Susan say she should
be here % asked Mrs. Lane, looking at
Bessie, but still making no movement to-
ward the kitchen table, where the bread
tray and neading-b 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 Satur-
day night ?" she asked. 81 think aunty
said she hoped to see us about the Doth
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-flled 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
beyond her years. She was but baby
when her parents settled on the rough
land in Western Kansas, and now there
were five children younger; wild,
mischief 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 summer
had cut off most of his crops. There was
title harvesting to be done. The grass,
which shrivelled up in midsummer, left
little winter food for cattle. Provisions
were exorbitantly high, and money
scarce.
Mr.. Lane lost all courage, and gloomily
brooded over impending struggles. In
vain his wife thrusting back her own
tears, 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
together.
8 want everything pleasant for
Suran, " said Mrs. Lane, when at length
she told Bessie they must both go to bed. |
She hasn't been here for eight years.
and don't want her to find us unhappy"
No, indeed p said Bessie. "Isn't it
good that we have got into our new
house? I am so glad father began to
build it last year. To be sure it is not all
but it is clean and comfortable. y
And if we can only make your father
feel more hopeful, we shall all be hap
Ter, said Mrs. Lane.
We will try, mother" said Bessie.
F." What was it about the flour this morn
mg?" she added, after little pause.
We have only little -four. You
know father has but few bushels of |
wheat, and don't know when he will |
get that ground We must have -four
when Susan is here, so we must be spar
ing 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 afterward. as he
came into dinner. Farmer Ray brought
t when he came to see about Brindle."
But he isn't going to take her now"
shouted Bert; she's going to send load
Of hay, and pa and are going to work
for him Saturday -
There was general shout of delight
for 1t had come to be known among the
children that the COW must be sold for
ack of hay.
"That is good news indeed, said Mrs
Lane, as she dropped into chair as if to
,ealize it more fully. els it really so,
John ?" turning to her husband.
Yes, really so. Mr. Ray is very
lind"
"But, mother, the letter the letter ?
Amy.
Now letters were rare visitors in that
Western home, and the children, quite
orgetful of dinner, crowded around their
mother eagerly, as she opened the letter
nd read aloud:
"NEw YORK, Octo 1, 1881"
"Why, how long it has been coming
aid Mrs. Lane, interTupting her read
ng; then continued:
DEAR MARY:-I shall probably see
-ou sooner than expected. L can make
art of the journey with friends by leav-
ng here week earlier than my original
Ian. Ii not detained, shall arrive on ,
be 18th -"
This very day !" murmured a chorus
voices.
"Don't try to meet me. The stage !
Ill take me from the depot to Wayne,
nd there / can easily get a conveyance
your house. With love to each one,
our affectionate sister, SUSAN"
go, mother, we must fly around and {
at things In order, and bake, and every {
ling, said Bessie, excitedly.
And at the table it was decided that Mr.. /
ane should go to Wayne that afternoon,