Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-11-29
GaIts artb Sketftfs.
JOIN SNITH;
Or Two fhasksgfvings.
BIZ ELLA WHEELER.
Continued from yesterday

There's the mouldy cheese | said was
spelling tO-day-put that on" said Aunt
Tabitha, whose economy had grown into
parsimony with adversely. And then, as il
ashamed Of herself. and moved by some
sudden impulse of pity toward the tired
stranger. she arose, and with her own
hands prepared him generous repast.
What might your name be, and where
have you travelled from?'' asked Uncle
Joel, laying aside his interesting testi-
monials, to question the boy.
INV names John Smith. sir, and
came from town this morning"
john Smith. hey? Well, that's good
enough name." laughed Uncle Joel.
Though should hate to advertise ye.
hoping to find We by that name alone, ct
lost ye. A good many men hev had that
name. An orphan '''
My mother is alive; she's sewing in
town. couldn't get work there, and
mother thought the winter was coming
on. and I'd better try and get place on a
iarm to work tor my board. maybe, till
spring. It's awful expensive living in
town.
Father dead. Isuppose?"
I'VE fear 80. sir. It's nine years since
mother saw him. He went to California
to seek his fortune. He sent mother
money, off and on, Till two years ago.
Since then she's never heard from him
We think he must be dead. Mother gets
along with her sewing but she is not very
well now and she's always worryin' about
me. She's afraid she'll die and leave me
alone in the city; SO she told me to 60 out
in the country and learn TO farm."
Better keep him to do chores this win
ter. father" whispered Janet. 1--WE need
help. and we can't afford to hire"
well, Just as you and mother say"
responded Uncle Joel, returning to his
newspaper, glad to avoid this response
bility, as he had all others possible
through life.
Poor shiftl,,ss creeters ! his parents. not
to have anything saved up" muttered
Tabitha. but you'd better keep him.
He'll be handy and it III save paying any
thing out; and a CROWN boy III eat most
anything"
So John stayed. and wonderfully handy
he did prove, outdoor and in, until each
of the trio wondered how they had lived
without him.
And John grew fat and rosy in spite Of
Aunt Tabitha's economy
Janet rejected q sun-browned potato
one day which she had taken on her plate.
eff you can't eat it, save it for John"
said Tabitha. Yet when John came in.
tired and hungry, she again prepared him
generous supper.
Somehow. Johns face reminds me OF
some one" unused Uncle Joel. one even
ing. doesn't it you, Tabby3"
But Tabitha only answered abruptly:
Don't be a fool, JOEL" and knit with
more than usual vigor; while Janet
heaved sigh over her basket of mend
ing, and said:
LOB, yes!''
But Tabitha was more than usually kind,
almost tender, in her manner to John that
night.
The day before Thanksgiving found Aunt
Tabitha in high fever. She grew deli
rious. and wanted John constantly in her
sight, and she talked wildly.
IL am glad you came back" she said.
over and over Il never want YOU to go
away again. II has been long. long
time since you went away, and | have
missed you so. all these year. You must
promise me never to go away again, John
--never!h
And little John would promise, wonder
ing.
The village physician shook his head
and looked puzzled when questioned by
Uncle Joel.
"She seems to be breaking down." he
said. las if under long mental strain
Nerves. | suppose" Uncle Joel said
"women are made of nerves. And this
new discovery, this Electric Eradicator, is
just the thing for nervous complaints
Thousands give their testimonials. Blu,
Tabitha is dreadful sot against patent
medicines"
"She's sensible there" responded the
physician. Poisonous drugs kill more
people every year than-than-"
Than the doctorsp" queried Uncle Joel,
with chuckle.
VERY good. very good, Uncle JOEL"
laughed the doctor. "You are not so
slow after all. But about your good wife.
her case puzzles me. really am alarmed
about her. Medicine doesn't seem to
reach her disease. That boy seems to
remind her OF something or somebody
Let him stay by her. Sometimes the
mind is so centred upon some object OF
the affections that nothing else can fill the
place"
.'Oh. yes" sighed Janet. coming up
from the cellar with pan of potatoes.
and thinking what dreary, dreary
Thanksgiving it was to be.
Somebody raped. The doctor stand
ing near the door opened it. A big man
rushed in. and clasped Janet in his arms,
kissing her most vigorously.
Janet screamed and struggled feebly.
The thought dashed through her mind
that her hour had come. In allowing the
doctor to go to the door caution had been
forfeited and the Sabine maiden. so long
protected by Providence and her own pru-
dence. was captured at last. But she re-
membered how useless it was to resist,
so she only screamed. and after one faint
struggle resigned herself to Ter fate. All
this flashed through Miss Janet's mind in
seconds time. of course. As dying PEG
Pile recall the events of lifetime.
In another instant Janet found herself
free. and gazing into the face of-John
Smith her brotheri
1t was not a Roman soldier, after all.
Here's something better than the
Electric Eradicator. Tabitha." said Uncle
Joel. as he led John to the bedside.