Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-11-16
HOW AUNT. CATHERINE BECAME
THANKFUL.

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, l don't
know, am sure, and he clasped his
thin white hands over his eyes with a
low moan. His wife was at his side in
s'Don't be disheartened, dear" she
said. cheerily. "You are getting well
so fast now, and after awhile J. know
we shall get ont of these difficulties.
Why" she added, playfully, II am go.
ing to collect bill of my own this
morning, to the value of twenty dollars
You ought not to have looked about SC
curiously, and then you would moi
have known of these unwelcome visit
ors."
''Until you had found some way o.
bowling them out, eh?' said Walter
smoothing the fair head bent over hi.
chair. "And know full well your ex
pected twenty dollars is all spent, wifey
You are brave little woman, Bessie
but can not see how we shall sten
this tide much longer / have half no
tion of writing to sister Catherine.
dislike to do it, but there seems just nov
no other way"
wait until after Thanksgiving,
said Bessie.
Thanksgiving! 1t is near at hand, i
it notp What with debts and duns,
fancy we shall not feel particularly JOY
Gus or grateful" said Walter Allison
bitterly. rr
81 am thankful, Walter, dear, tha
you are so far recovered, and, above
all, that you were spared to me.n Ant
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 bah,
boy had been laid to rest onlya few
months ago. EA
''Yes, dear" said Mrs. Allison, rous
ing herself, ''wc will be thankful We
haveeach other, and precious Ethel
And when 1 am tempted to despond,
say over and over to myself: Il have
never seen the righteous forsaken, MOI
his seed begging BREAD and then an
thankful for the memory of pious
parents and ancestors. And now
must 60 and see Mrs. Wilton about
my work"
That seems like begging bread tc
me, or very near it,
MRS. Wilton don't think SO, car
tell you," said Bessie, brightly. IL 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 blaze, ar
ranged the books and papers on little
stand within her husband reach, shook
up the lounge cushions, and made the
rather bare room look as cozy and com.
Portable as possible; and with a kiss to
little Ethel, and an injunction TO sstake
good care. of papa Bessie went out
into the wintry air.
She was a brave woman, as her hus.
band. had said; but, in spite of hel
cheeriness, there was 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 fol
payment.
AS soon as her husband needed les.
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 Il full measure of pride, ant
called ON none for assistance. Bessl,
considered herself fortunate 10 obtail
sewing and fancy-work from several la
dies. and, as she said, her work ne
ceivcd good prices. But there was Sc
much needed, though she trimmed he
little household strictly TO the needful
and SO many bills caused by that Ions
illness, that, strive bravely as sh,
would, a weary look had crept into he
soft brown. eyes, and lines of care wer,
gathering round the sweet mouth, tina
yet had always hopeful words for tn,
invalid.
~ must pay one of those bills, . sal,
Bessie, as she passed along the bus,
street. :" i think Mr.. Morris will wal
awhile, but ! am not so sure OF Whit
4 Co. Twelve dollars out Of my TWEEN
~ go 10 the grocers; they have waite,
so long on us. shall have 10 see wha
can get on my watch