The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-11-28


thaniel' my Oldest boyT
Yes
THAT is his picture in my room, you know.
/ loved Nathaniel you can not think how
much loved Nathaniel. IL was on my &C
count that he went away
''The farm did not produce enough Tor us
all. One year-that was ten years ago we
were sued lor our taxes"
Nathaniel said |, Il will take board
ems
Then be looked up to me and said lOh.
how noble and handsome he appeared to
mel:
Mother will go to sea-
"'Where" asked |, in surprise.
lin coaster.
"'You and John can manage the place, he
continued. One of the vessels sails next
week-Uncle Aaron's; he offers to take me.
1t seemed best, and he made preparations
to 90.
THE spring before, Skipper Ben-you have
met Skipper Ben had give me some goose
eggs; he had brought them from Canada, and
said that they were wild goose eggs.
81 set them under hens In four weeks
had three goslings, and one OF those goslings
is that gander.
Skipper Ben came over to see me, the day
before Nathaniel was to sail. Aaron came
with him.
Il said to Aaron:
''What can give 10 Nathaniel to carry to
sea with him TO make him think of home?
Cake, preserves, apples? | haven't got much;
have done all / can for him, poor boy"
Brother looked at Inc curiOusly, and said:
Give him one of those wild geese and we
will fatten il on shipboard and will have it
for our Thanksgiving dinner"
What brother Aaron said pleased ME. The
young gander was a noble bird the hand
soonest OF the lot: and resolved to keep the
geese to kill for my own use and to
give m to Nathaniel.
THE next morning-it was late in Sep
tember-I took leave of Nathaniel | tried
TO be calm and cheerful and hopeful.
watched him as he went down the walk with
the gander struggling under his arms. A
stranger would have laughed, but / did not
feel like laughing; although the boys who
went coasting were usually gone but few
months and came home hardy and happy.
81 saw him go over the hill. On the top
he stopped and held up the gander. He dis
appeared; yes, nay own Nathaniel disappear
ed. think OF him now as one who disaD-
peared-
November came it was terrible month
on the co i that year. Storm followed storm;
the sea-far lg people talked constantly OF
wrecks am losses. 1 could not sleep on the
nights OF those high winds. ] used to lie
awake thinking over all the happy hours
had lived with Nathaniel.
Thanksgiving week came
at was full Of an lndan.Summer bright.
ness after the long storms. The nights were
frosty, bright and calm
Il could sleep on those calm nights.
zone morning, | thought heard strange
sound in the woodland pasture 1t was like
was lying in bed. started up-l thought |
''On the night before Thanksgiving L went
TO bed early, being very tired. The moon was
full the air was calm and still was think.
ing OF Nathaniel, and wondered if he would
indeed have the gander for his Thanksgiving
dinner; ii it would be cooked as well as
would have cooked it, and if he would think
of me that day.
81 was Just going TO sleep, when suddenly
| heard a sound that made me start up and
hold my breath.
Z" Honki
81 thought ii was a dream followed bya
nervous shock.
." 'IIonk honk"
There il was again in the yard. Twas
surely awake and in my senses.
II heard the geese cackle.
"'Honk! honk honk.'
81 got out OF bed and lifted the curtain. 1t
was almost as light as day. Instead of two
geese there were three. Had one OF the
neighbOrs geese stoleu away?
81 should have thought So and should not
have felt disturbed, but for the reason that
none OF the neighbours geese had that pecul-
lar call-that hOrn-like tone that | had no.
ticed in mine.
81 went out OF the door.
"The third goose looked like the very gan
der had given Nathaniel. Could it be?
Il did not sleep. l rose early and went to
the crib for some corn.
ut was a gander "A wild gander that
had come in the night. He seemed to know
me-
Il trembled all over as though had seen
ghost was so faint that | sat down on
the meal-Chest.
As was in that place, bill pecked
against the door. The door opened. The
strange gander came obbling over the crib
stone and went TO the cOrn-bin. He stopped
there, looked at me- and gave a sort OF glad
"honk. as though ne knew me and was glad
to see me.
Il was certain that he was the gander l
bad raised, and that Nathaniel had lifted
INTO the air wheE he gave me his last recog-
milton from the top of the hill.
1T overcame me. 1t was THANKSGIVING.
The Church bell would soon be ringing as on
Sunday. And here was Nathaniers Thanks
giving dinner; and brother Aaron's-had it
flown away? Where was the vessel?
~ ears have paSsed-ten. You know /
waited and waited for my boy to come back.
Decemb Der grew dark with its rainy seas; the
SHOWS fell; May lighted up the hills, but the
vessel never came back. Nathanel-my
Nathaniel-never returned.
That gander knows something he could
tell me II he could talk. Birds have memo
ries. lie remembered the corncrib he re-
menbered something else. ! wish no could
talk, poor bird. wish he could talk. / will
never sell him. nor kill him. nor have him
abused. He knows