The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-22
HOW AUNT CATHERINE BECAME
THANKFUL.

You need not try to hide those pa
pers, Bessie: | know what they are, >
said Walter Allison, with sad, little
smile, as he watched the motions of his
wife
Mrs. Allison had just taken the bills,
for bills they were, from the post-car-
rier at the door; and as she stood before
the bureau-mirror, fastening her hat,
she had endeavOred to slip the ugly,
yellow envelopes out of her sick hus-
bands sight.
YES" sighed Mr.. Allison again, 81
know very well what they are-but how
they are to be paid, or when, | don't
know, [ am sure" and he clasped his
thin white hands over his eyes with q
low moan. His wife was at his side in
moment.
Don't be disheartened, dear" she
said, cheerily. "You are getting well
SO fast now, and after awhile ] know
we shall get out of these difficulties.
Why" she added, playfully, Il am 90
ing to collect bill of my own this
morning, to the value of twenty dollars.
You ought not to have looked about so
curiOusly, and then you would not
have known of these unwelcome visit
ors."
''Until you had found some way of
bowling them out, eh?" said Walter,
smoothing the fair head bent over his
chair. ''And | know full well Your eX-
pected twenty dollars is all spent, wiley.
You are brave little woman, Bessie,
but | can not see how we shall stem
this tide much longer. | have a half no.
finT1 of r1rr~i+i,or TO &C ro+ho,.iYo
dislike to do it, but there seems just now
no other way"
''Wait until after Thanksgiving, :"
said Bessie.
Thanksgiving! 1t is near at hand, is
it not? What with debts and duns, l
fancy we shall not feel particularly joy
Gus or grateful said Walter Allison,
bitterly.
81 am thankful, Walter, dear, that
you are so far recovered, and, above
all. that you were spared to me-" And
here Bessie'S voice faltered, and she
hid her face on her husbands shoulder,
and both were silent as they remem-
bered the empty crib in the next room,
and the little. grave whittier the baby
boy had been laid to rest only few
months ago.
''Yes, DEAR" said Mrs. Allison, rous-
ing herself, 1--WE will be thankful we
have each other, and precious Ethel
And when am tempted to despond, 1
say over and over 10 myself: 4 have
never seen the righteous forsaken, nor
his seed begging bread and then am
thankful for the memory of pious
parents and ancestors. And now |
must 90 and see Mrs. Wilton about
my work"
THAT seems like begging bread to
me, or very near it"
Mrs. Wilton don't think so, / can
tell you," sad Bessie, brightly. 81 get
very good prices for my work, and you
are not to underrate me, can tell you,
sir"
Walter Allison looked at the bright,
brave face, the trim, energetic but
graceful figure before him, and sighed
again. but Bessie pretended not to hear.
She stirred the fire into a blaze, ar
ranged the books and papers on little
stand within her husbands reach, shook
up the lounge cushions, and made the
rather bare room look as coy and COM
Portable as possible; and with kiss to
little Ethel, and an injunction to ''take
good care of papa" Bessie went out
into the wintry air.
She was brave woman, as her hus-
band had said; but, in spite of her
cheeriness, there was a heavy weight
on her heart this November morning.
By some of those sudden turns of bust
ness so often occurring in our cities,
Walter Allison had been thrown out of
employment. Then came the illness
and death of the baby, quickly followed
by the long tedious fever which had
brought the husband and father almost
to the verge of the grave, and though
now convaleScent he was still weak and
helpless. Under the constant drain
their slender means had become pain
fully less, neceSsaries were sadly need
ed, and debts were calling loudly for
payment.
As soon as her husband needed less
of her constant care, Bessie Allison had
courageouSly tried to assume the place
of bread-Winner. She and her hus-
band had both relatives of wealth and
position, but the poor and struggling
easily fall out of notice; and the ALI
sons had full measure of pride, and
called on none for assistance. Bessie
considered herself fortunate to obtain
sewing and fancy-work from several la
dies, and, as she said, her work re-
ceived good prices. But there was so
much needed, though she trimmed her
little household strictly to the needful;
and so many bills caused by that long
illness, that, strive bravely as she
would, a weary look had crept into her
soft brown eyes, and lines of care were
gathering round the sweet mouth, that
vet had always hopeful words for the
Invalid
Il must pay one of those bills" said