The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-11-16
AT NORRIS FARM.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

III was the Gay before thanksgiving,
but there were no preparations for feast
or revel at Norris farm
The old red house stood grim and
silent in the midst of gaunt trees that
had dropped their leaves like tears since
the trouble had fallen upon Norris Place.
For during the last few months matters
had grown from bad to worse and the
poor harvest had proven beyond doubt
or a hope that the old farm must 90.
1t had been under a mortgage these
five years, and old Squire Winters had
been obliged to sell the mortgage to raise
money to pay the bills his long and lin
gering illness during the last year had
accumulated.
Il was sorry to hev to do it, Neighbor
Norris" he said, when he came over, the
week before Thanksgiving, to tell the I'M
welcome fact. ''The mortgage would
never hev been forecosed by me, as you
know. I'd hev given YOU time to pay it
up If it had been twenty years. But my
sickness just snapped me-took all my
ready money; beside, hired help let the
place run down and ruined all my ma
chinery. Then that man came from the
city buying up mortgages, and the money
he offered for the one | held on your
place would save my home for me and
my old woman. | told the man to 90
easy with you, but | can't swear that he
will
And Neighbor Norris and his wife and
their help" Janet Dyer, listening knew
just what this meant
1t meant the foreclosure of the mort
gage the day after Thanksgiving
"Shall make any pies today"
1t was Janet Dyer who asked the Oucs-
ton this morning before Thanksgiving,
after the scant breakfast had been put
away, almost untouched.
Mrs Norris shook her gray head. that
had seemed to whiten strangely during
the last week.
mo, Janet" she said; ''lct us have no
semblance of Thanksgiving this ycar-it
would be a mockcry and lie There is
no Thanksgiving in any of our hearts
how can there be? LIT the house be as
dark and cherries as oar hearts -
d" While there is life there is hope, "
answered Janet Dyer, softly. and the soft
voice in which size spoke &c med strangely
at variance with her Muscular form and
large, handsome but almost masculine,
features.
" Hopc.' repeated Mrs. Norris, with an
accent Of scorn. Hope, did You say,
Janet Dyer! No, there is no hope for us
Haven't | prayed night and day for five
years that my boy might come back t us.
reformed and rcpentant, to bless our old
age2 Haven't weariel heaven with my
opportunities? Have not | worked like
slave to save our home: And yet Il curse
has seemed to follow us at every step.
Everything has gone from bad to worse,
and now the house and farm is to 60 and
we are to be paupers in our old age.
Don't talk to me of hope, Janet Dyer |
have lost faith in God and man.
"Iou'll never be paupers while Janet
Dyer has these two arms to work with
answered the girl, barring her strong arms
with cords of muscles that would have
slammed many youth.
The old lady smiled grimly.
"That will do to talk she said
"But / know the world, Janet Dyer
You are young, and handsome in your
way. You have a womans heart, which
is a soft thing always IT," it grows bitter
and hard with the iron of fate as mine
has. You are human, and that means
selfish. You think you will cling to us,
but byand-by some man will say few
sweet words in your ear, and you will for
get all your promised ALLEGIANCE TO us
You will want home and a husband and
children by yourself, and you will say,
Why should | sacrifice my youth and my
happiness to these old people! They are
nothing to me- All, | know the world,
Janet Dyer"
A curious look came over Janet Overs
face.
''Have | shown any weakness toward
lovers during the three years | have
been with your she asked, in her soft
voice "Did not give Herman Helm a
slap across the mouth, when he came
with his love-words, that he will never
forget to his dying day! And did not
send Sandy Green away with piece of
my mnd2 | want no lovcrsw
''Ah, no. not till the right one comes,
Then | know how it viii be- answered
the old lady, ro3ding her head.
But Janet did not reply to her. She
went toward the cornfcld, basket slung
over her shoulder and as she went she
smiled softly, and said, under her breath
when the right one com IS. Al, yes, |
know now it will be then But how much
longer-oh, Lord, how much longer, ~
and the darl, eyes she lifted to the gray
November skies were wet with tears, yet
brave with hope.
All, Janet already was your woman
heart crying out for its own; in spite OF
your bold words you were longing fol
freedom. So Mrs. Norris would have