The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-23


clasp, threw his knapsack across hi
| shoulders, the old red gate closed with ,
ringing clang, and Faith turned tearfull,
homeward.
A chill November wind tossed ant
! whirled the dry elm leaves on the common
| in front Of Reuben Browns cottage, ant
blew the thin gray locks about his fore
head, as he stood in the yard harnessinj
up the old-fashioned bonnettopped buggy
Hadn't you better have your yarn-mit
tens, Reubeny" called his wife from tn
doorway, the airs bitin' cold now, an
we'll have snow before night; can tell BY
| the way the wind blows.'
May be l had, wife," he replied, gath
ering up the reins, and mounting the creak
ing seat
run, Faith, for Reuben's yarn-mittens
they're under the lounge in the back room
Faith ran out, her pretty curls blown al
about her face, and climbing up on thu
wheel, held the reins until the old man drew
the mittens on.
"Hurry back, Reuben, called Lsbeth
81 don't want my Thanksgiving dinner e
Spite with waitin'."
"Aye, aye, wife,"
Old Dobbin pricked up his ears ant
started forward; the old-fashioned buggy
went creaking down the lane, and was soor
lost to sight behind the swaying elm
boughs.
snow, Faith" said Lisbeth, tucking ur
her sleeves, and tying on her ample liner
apron, Z" if ever we were spry in our lives
let's be this morning. THEY'LL be home by
two O'Clock, and it's most ten now; and
there's the beef to roast, an the turkey, an
the mince-pies to bake-an' goodness me,
wonder if the breads riz! Yes, indeed, just
as light as feather! It's just the. incest
j, tba 60 70 orpy
home on Thanksgiving Day, amt it,
Fsith?"
Faith said: " Yes, ma am, )" very quietly
and the happy woman went on:
"PoOr Simmie, it's been many a day
since his old mother cooked a dinner for
him-an' he always liked my cookin'.
Mother he used to say, / never saw any
one cook things as nice as you do How
lucky it was, Faith, that you made that
raisin-cake yesterday. He always liked it
l remember, when he was almost baby.
/ can see him now, with his brown curls all
a dancin' round his rosy face. He used to
catch hold of my dress an say: Mother,
won't you have raisin-cake Thanksgivin'
Day" Bless his dear heart! The best
boy that ever lived! Meyer gave his old
mother a cross word, or caused her a mo-
menus trouble in his life! l know he'll en-
joy his dinner. Chop up them apples,
Faith, an we'll have the pies on in no
timeo
Faith did as she was hidden, tripping
round with def and quiet hardness that
made her sweet face all the more at
tractive: and by twelve O'Clock the huge
turkey and the great round of beef were
nicely browning, and the mince pies and
the mammoth loaf of bread were fairly
done.
"Gettin' on finely, Faith" said Lisbeth,
stirring and seasoning bowl of gravy.
ave shall have dinner in good time. You
may set the table now, and then go and
new merino gown, won't your
"Idon't know, ma am, }" said Faith, blush
ing and averting her face.
/ would if l was you. It's the prettiest
dress you've got, an Simeon always liked
to see US dressed well. / shall put on my
brown muslin that Reuben bought when he
went down to sell his wheat la It fall, am
that dove-silk shawl the deacon's wife gave
me, and my new cap that Miss Stebbs made.
AM you wear your blue merino, Faith, and
the gold chain that Simeon gave you;
know it'll please him.
Faith did not reply, but happy light
lay in her soft blue eyes as she tripped out
to set the table.
Two O'Clock found rything ready-the
old walnut table covered with the finest
linen, and the brightest and prettiest of
everything that the cottage afforded spread
out in the center of the best room; the
round of beef smoking at one end, the
huge turkey at the other; and the man.
moth loaf rising, mountain-like, amid a
profusion of berry-brown pies and cakes,
while the side-board groaned beneath
heaps of yellow apples and stone pitchers
of sparkling cider.
In the doorway, nicely robed i'm her
brown muslin and dove-silk shawl, her
dark hair Gust beginning to be streaked
with silver put smoothly back beneath
her best lace cap, stood Lisbeth, her face
all aglOw with anxious expectation. Faith
fitted hither and thither, shaking out the
folds of curtain or re-arranging branch
of evergreen, looking quite pretty in her
blue merino, the neck and sleeves edged
with fringe of misty lace, and her auburn
curls streaming over her shoulders like
waves of sunshine. 1t might have been a
of her own fresh loneliness
that brought the rose-fush to her cheeks,
and made her pause once in a while before
the little oval mirror, to assure herself
that Simeon's gold chain was all right,
with the clasp just in front. 1t might have
been something else; be that as it may,
Faith was not TO blame, for that which we
often term maiden vanity deserves far
holier name.
Two o'clock passed, and at last the old
not come.
"What can detain 'em so long?" said
Lisbeth, giving the fire a vigorous stir, and
Reuben's coat and slippers a lit
tie nearer. "The dinner'l all be spilled,
an they'll have an awful ride. The SHOWS
beginnin' to fall now, and it'll be dread
full storm, l know by the sound o. the wind;
it roared Jest this way-kind o. mournful-
like, jest before the great snow-storm,
when the hen-house roof fell in and
all my poor chickens. Dear me,
how fast it falls! l do wish I'd a. thought
TO send to Simeon that yarn tippet; heal
ways was subject to sore Threats land this'n
be sure to give him one. Where's his slip
pers, Faith-the new ones you worked for
him? Why don't you put 'em down to
warm? He'll want 'em when he gets here"
Faith brought out the slippers-pretty
black velvet ones, Powered with golden
put them beneath the chair in
Simeon's favorite corner.
snow, put down some apples to roast,
20 heat 'em a mug o. cider, am see that the
sravy'S warm. Surely they'll be here
soon"
Faith did this also, and then brought out
her little work-basket, and sat down be-
lore the glowing hickory fire, making a
great effort to appear calm. But it was all
n vain; her fingers would tremble and flut-
er, and her cotton tangle in a most aGaz-
ng manner.
Four O'Clock came, the snow descended
n thick, heavy showers, and a cold easter
V wind whistled round the corners, leav-
ng the frozen ground bare in some places,
md in others piling up the white drifts in
yreat freezing masses. The chickens
ought their nightly roost, the cattle tiocked
% the barn-yard, and the pony came up to |
he bars and whinnied for admittance;
till they did not come.
The Thanksgiving dinner grew cold upon |
he table, and Lisbeth stood in the door |
way, until tine white flakes lay thickly on |
Ter garments.
"Somethin' the matter, Faith" she |
aid, uneasily-"I know there is; they |