Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-11-30
URSULA'S THANKSGIVING.

URSULA'S THANKSGIVING.
Thanksgiving Eve, and Ursula Hall was
coming home from her daily task of toll al
the district school.
The little mountain stream was al
choked with dead leaves; the gourdshel
lay broken in pieces among the following
ferns; and as Ursula stopped to gather uI
scarlet vine-leaf which still retained its
vivid glow, the setting sun burst from a
bank of sullen clouds and seemed to encir
Gle the whole world with belt of am bel
light, while sudden gust of frost-scented
autumnal wind swept the leaf from her
hand and sent it eddylng Enthusiastically
down the dark wood path.
Ursula sighed.
ut is like an omen of evil, !" said she.-
II was thirsty, and the spring is full of
leaves and the shell broken; I wanted the
bright leaf, and the wind has blown it
away. And don't know how 1 am ever
to tell grandfather and grandmother about
the district school,
Then, quickening her footsteps, she hur
ried down the road, never pausiug until
she reached an old, steep.roofed house
painted dull red, and half hidden by the
giant boughs Of huge chestnut trees.
There had been an old toll-gate there
once, but it had long been disused, and
nothing remained of it but sort of pic
turesque arch over the roadway, all twined
with wild vines.
And Grandfather Hall was carrying an
armful of wood into the kitchen door az
Ursula came up. Grandmother Hall was
knitting by the fire, in her cushioned
rocker. r
1t was five years since Grandmother
Hall had put her feet to the floor, yet she
was indomitably cheerful through it all
If there was bright side to anything,
Grandmother Hall always found it out
If not, she set herself to work to imagine
one.
'Ah, here you are, Ursula % said the
old man, mouInfully. "And high time
you come. The old turky-hen is lost, and
the apple sass is scorched, and Lewis Craw.
ford hain't called for them eggs. and ii
they amt sold we shan't have penny to
put in the contribution plate tomorrow,
after the THANKSGIVING services.
''Laws sakes, father.' said Mrs. Hall,
what's the use of rainin' evil news on
Ursula like that Don't you see she looks
pale and tired :? The turkey hen is safe
in the branches of the seckel pear-tree. 1
saw her just now. And as for the apple
sass, don't dislike little scorch myself,
it gives flavor. And I'm sartin sure Lewis
Crawford'll come along yet. 1t amt late,
you know"
And, leaning over until you would have
been sure she must lose her balance, Grand
mother Hall opened the oven-door to see
how the johnny-cakes were getting on
For corn-meal was cheap, and the old lady
had fashion of reproducing it in every
possible style.
"Granny," said Ursula, with culver
ing lip, SID better tell you at once, Squire
Deans daughter is to have the district
school next quarter. They don't need my
services any logger, they say. Oh. granny,
granny! what is to become of US p
Old Mr.. Hall sat down with a groan.
81 knowed there was some i'll luck COM
ing" said he. "There was rabbit ran
across the orchard path when went to
pick up apples-right square across the
path -
FEATHER, don w. said the old lady, swal-
lowing some sort of lump in her throat.
''That's clear superstition. Don't fret,
Ursula. We shall get along somehow,
never fear"
"Oh, yes" sighed Grandfather Hall sat-
irically, 1--WE shall get along, even if we
have to burn up the side of the house TO
keep US warm, and gnaw our fnger-ends
for food. Things is coming to crisis
now, mother. Squire Dean was over to see
me about the place to-day. It's to be sold
at auction-Monday. two week-and I'd
like to know what is to become of us then.
All, it was black day when lent that
money to Stephen Gregson, and burdened
the old house with debt. l might have
known he was scamp, or he wouldn't
have wanted to 60 away and leave the spot
where he was born.''
Ursula WINGED at this. She knew per-
fectly we'll that if it had not been for her
persuasions, Grandfather Hall never would
have mortgaged his house and farm.
Six per cent seemed golden investment,
and besides-besides, Ursula had liked
Stephen Gregson, with his bright. blue
eyes. his clear voice, and his contagiously
sanguine temperament.
"When I've made my fortune, Ursula, u
he had said, gaily, ''I'll come back and
marry you"
''Don't talk nonsense, Stephen" she
had said, with laugh.
But it had not seemed like nonsense In
the secret depths of her heart.
She had pondered many and many a
time over bis emphatic words, but thew
had failed to come true.
Probably Stephen Gregson hadn't made
the expected fortune. Certain it was that
ho hod nnt conoo bnroo m roorru