Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-07
Ursula's Thanksgiving,

(
Thanksgiving Eve, and Ursula Hall
was coming home from her daily task
of toll at the district school,
The little mountain stream was all
choked with dead leaves; tho gourd-
shell lay broken in pieces among the
yelloWing ferns; and as Ursula stopped
to gather up a scarlet vine-leaf which
still retained its vivid glow, the setting
sun burst from bank Of sullen clouds
and seemed to encrcle the whole world
with a belt of amber light, while a sud-
den gust Of frost-scented, autumnal
wind swept the leaf from her hand
and sent it eddying Enthusiastically down
the dark wood-path.
Ursula sighed.
"It is like an omen Of evil said
she. 81 was thirsty, and the spring is
full of leaves and the shell broken; |
wanted the bright leaf, and the wind
has blown it away. And don't know
how l am ever to tell grandfather and
grandmother about the district school. "
Then, quickcning her footsteps, she
b,rrioJ dawn tho road nnyar DollSin N ,r
until she reached an old, steep-roofed
house. painted dull red, and half hid
den by the giant boughs Of huge chest
nut trees.
There had been an old toll-gato there
once, but it had long been disused, and
nothing remained of it but sort of
picturesque arch over the roadway, all
twined with wild vines.
And Grandfather Hall was carrying
an armful of wood into the kitchen
door as Ursula came up. Grandmother
Hall was knitting by the fire, in her
cushioned rocker.
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 Il bright side tc
anything, Grandmother Hall Away
found it out; if not, she set herself tC
work to imagine one.
"Ah, here you are, Ursuly" sale
the old man, mournfully "And higl
time you come. The old turkcy-hen il
lost, and the apple sass is scorched, anc
Lewis Crawford hain't called for then
eggs, and if they amt sold we shan
have penny put in the contribution
plate tomorrow, after the ThankSgiy
ing services.
Claws sales, father" said Mrs
Hall, "what's the use Of rainin' evi
news on Ursula like that? Don't yol
see she looks pale and tired? Tn
turkey-hcn is safe in the branches o
the seckel pcar-tree; | saw her jus
now. And as for the apple-sass, | don
dislike little scOrch myself; it give
flavor. And Pm saltin sure Levi
Crawford'll come along yet. 1t ain
late, you know
And, leaning over until you woult
have been sure she must lose her bal
ance, Grandmother Hall opened tn
oven-door to see how the johnny-caEe
were getting on. For corn-meal wa
cheap, and the old lady had fashio
of reproducing ii in every possibl
style.
Granny" said Ursula, with quiN
ering lip, I'D better tell you at onct
Squire Deans daughter is to have til
district school next quarter, The
don't need my services any longer, the
say. Oh, granny, granny ! what is
become Of uS?"
Old Mr.. Hall sat down with groar
al knowed there was some i'll luc
coming" said he. There was raj
bit ran across the orchard path when
went to pick up apples - right squal
across the path"
"Father, dent" said the old lad
swallowing some sort of a lump in he
throat. That's clear superstition
Don't fret, Ursuly. We shall get al0n
somehow, never fear"
"Oh, yes" sighed Grandfather Ha
satirically, eve shall get along, eve
if we have to burn up the side of tl
house to keep us warm, and gnaw OF
linger-ends for food. Things is comm
to crisis now, mother. Squire De;
was over to see me about the place t
day. It's to be sold at auction Me
day, two weeks - and I'd like to kno
what is to become of us then. All,
was a black day when l lent til
money to Stephen Gregson, and bu
dened the old house with debt.
might have known he was scamp,
he wouldn't have wanted to 60 awt
and leave the spot where he W
born"
Ursula WINGED at this. She knC
perfectly well that if it had not be
for her persuasions, Grandfather II;
never would have mQrtgaged his hot,
and farm. --
Six per cent seemed n golHon inrt