Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-29
ITRSULA'S THANKSGIVING.

THANKSGIVING Eve, anu Ursula Hall was
coming home from her daily task oftoil at
the district school.
The little mountain stream was all choted
with dead leaves; the gourd shell lay brok-
en- in pieces among the yelloWing ferns; and
as Ursula stopped to gather up scarlet
vine-leaf which still retained its vivid glow,
the setting sun burst from a bank of sulen
clouds and seemed to encircle the whole
world with belt of amber light, while a
sudden gust of frost-scented, autumnal wind
swept the leaf from her hand and SEM it
eddying fantastically 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, quickening her footsteps, she hur-
ried down the road, never pausing 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 a sort of picturesque arch
over the roadway, all twined with wild
vines.
And Grandfather Hall was carrying an
armful of wood into the ki+ len 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, vet she was
indomitably cheerful through it all. If
there was bright side to anything, Grand
mother Hall always found it out; if not,
she set herself to work to imagine one.
"Ah, here you are, Crsuly!" said the old
man, mourntully. "And high time you
come The old turkey-hen is lost, and the
apple sass is scOrched, and Lewis Crawford
hain't called for them eggs, and if they
aint sold we shan't have a penny to put
in the contribution-plate tomorrow, after
the Thanksgiving services.
claws sakes, father" said Mrs. Hall,
"what's the use of rainin' evil news on
Ursula like that? Don't you sec she looks
pale and tired? The turkey-hen is safe in
the branches of the seckel pear-tree; | saw
don't dislike a little scOrch myself; it gives
flavor. And Pm sartin sure Lewis Craw-
ford'll come along yet. 1t amt late, you
know"
And, leaning over until you would have
been sure she must lose her balance,
Grandmother Hall opened oven-door to
see how the johnnycakes 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 a quivering
lip, cpd better tell you at once, Squire
Deans daughter is to have the district
school next quarter. They don't need my
services any longer, they say. Oh, granny,
granny! what is to become of us"'
Old Mr.. Hall sat down with groan.
81 knowed there was some i'll luck COM
ing" said he. ''Thcre was ~ rabbit ran
across the orchard path when went to pick
up apples-right square across the path ~
'"Fathcr, DON'T" said the old lady, swal-
lowing some sort of q lump in her throat.
'That'S clear superstition. Don't fret,
Ursuly. We shall get along somehow, new
cr fear"
"Oh, yes" sighed Grandfather Hall satir-
ically, "wc shall get along, even if we have
to burn up the side of the house to keep us
warm, and gnaw our tinger-ends for food.
Things is coming to Il crisis now, mother.
Squire Dean was over to See me about the
place to-day. It's to be sold at auction
Monday, two weeks-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 burdcned the old
house with debt. | might have known he
was a scamp, or he wouldn't have wanted
to go 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
persuasion, Grandfather Hall never would
have mortgaged his house and farm.
Six per cent. seemed a golden invest
ment; and besides-bcsides, Ursula had
liked Stephen Gregson, with his bright,
blue eyes, his clear voice, and his cOntagi-
ollsly sanguine temperament.