The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-29
Maybe had, wife, he replied, gather
ing up the reins and mounting the creaking

NcNaO hCA ldCGy anu GiluipluS up Ou INT
wheel, held the reins until the old man drew
the mittens on.
Hurry back, Reuben" called Lisbeth
Il don't want my Thanksgiving dinner Il
| spite with waitin'."
"Aye, aye, wife,
| Old Dobbn pricked up his ears and start
ed forward; the old-fashioned buggy went
creaking down the lane, and was soon LOST
to sight behind the swaying elm boughs.
| Now, Faith" said Lisbeth, tucklng up
her sleeves, and tying on her ample linen
apron, 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; an
there's beef to roast, an the mince pies to
bake--an' goodness me, l wonder if the
breads rizl Yes, indeed, just as light as a
feather! It's just the incest thing in the
| world for Simeon to get home on Thanks
| giving day. amt it, Faith?"
Faith said, Eyes, ma am,' very quietly
and the happy woman weHt on:
Poor Simn.ie, it's been many day since
his old mother cooked dinner for him
| an he used to say, 4 never saw any one
| cook things as nice as you do How lucky
was, Faith, that you made that raisin
cake yesterday. He always liked it, | re-
member, when he was almost a 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 Thanksgiving day?'
Bless his dear heartl The best boy that
ever lived! Never gave his old mother a
cross word, or caused her moments
trouble in his iifei l know he'll enjoy his
dinner. Chop up them apples, Faith, an
We'll have the pies in no time"
Faith did as she was hidden, tripping
| round with def and quiet hardness that
made her sweet face all she more attractive.
and by II o'clock the huge turkey and the
great sirloin 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. s'We
shall have dinner in good time. You may set
the able now, and then go and dress your
self. Whatll you wear? Your new merino
gown, won't you?"
81 don't know, ma am" said Faith, blush
ing and averting her face.
Il would if vas yoa. It's the prettiest
dress you've got, an Simeon always liked TO
see US dressed well. | shall put on nv
brown dress Reuben bought when he went
down TO sell his wheat last fall, an that
dove sill shawl the deacon's wife gave me,
and my new cap that Miss Stebbs made
An you wear your blue merino, Faith, and
the gold chain that Simeon gave you; L
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.
" Y ~
Two O'Clock found everything ready-the
ola walnut table covered with the finest lin-
en-, and the brightest and prettiest of every
thing that the cottage afforded spread out in
he centre of the best room; the sirloin of
beef smoking at one end, the huge turkey
q the 0fbar. nd tho r;e;,
mountain-like, amid profuson of berry
brown pies and cakes; while the sideboard
groaned beneath heaps of yellow apples, and
stone pitchers of sparkling cider.
In the doorway, nicely robed in her brown
dress and dove silk shawl, her dark hair
(just beginning to be streaked with silver)
put smoothly back beneath her best laco cap
stood Lisoeth, her face all sglos with anx-
ious expectation. Faith fitted hither and
thither, shaking out the folds of curtain
or re-arranging branch of evergreen, look
ing quite pretty in her blue merino, the neck
and sleeves edged with fringe of misty
lace, d her auburn curls st canning over
her shoulders like waves of sunshine. It
might have been consciousness of her own
fresh loneliness that brought the rose flush
to her checks, and made her pause once in
a while before the little oval mirror, to as
sure 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
a far holier name.
Two O'clock passed, and at last the old
corner clock struck three; still they had not
come.
''What can detain 'em so long?" said Lis
beth giving the fire vigorous stir, and
moving Reuben's coat and slippers little
nearer "The dinner II all be spilled, and
they II have an. awful ride. The SHOWS be-
ginning to fall now, an it'll be dreadful
storm, 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 smashed all my
poor chickens. Dear me! how fast it fallsi
do wish Pd a. thought to send Simeon that
yarn tippet, he always was subject to sore
threats, and this'll be sure to give him one
Where's his slippers, Faith-the new ones
you worked for him? Why don't you put
'em to warm? He'll want 'em when he
gets here"
black velvet ones, lowered with gold braid
and put them beneath the chair in Sine
on's favorite corner.
snow, put down some apples to roast, to
heat 'em a mug o. cider an see that the
gravy's warm. Surely they'll be here soon.''
Faith did this also, and then brought out
her little work basket, and sat down before
the glowing hickory fire, making great eff
fort to appear calm. But it was in vain;
her fingers would trembe aud futter, and
her cottons tangle in most amazing manner
Four O'Clock came. The snow descended
in thick, heavy showers, and cold easterly
wind whistled round the corners, leaving
the frozen ground bare in some places, AID
in others pihng up the white drifts in great
freezing masses. The chickens sought their
nightly roost, the cattle fiocked to the barn
yard, and the pony came to the bars and
whinned for admittance. Still they did
not come.
The Thanksgiving dinner grew cold upon
the table, and Lisbeth stood in the doorway
until the white fakes lay thickly on her gar
ments.
''Somethn's the matter, Faith," she said
uneasiy; 81 know there is; they wouldn't
stay this long if there wasn't"
"The boat may have been delayed" sug-
gested Faith.
''Yes, or the buggy broke down. Reuben
said one of the linch-pins was loose. Dear
mel it's too bad The Thaksgivin' dinner'il
be spilled after all our fixin'."
Another half hour went by. The wind
rose to a shrill blast, and the snow came
=
gloom of twilight began to settle down when
dimly visible to the eyes of the weary watch
ers appeared the sombre, bonnet-shaped top
of the o.d-fashioned buggy
Here they come, Fathi here they comep'
cried Lisbeth, springing down the steps.
''Stir the fire, aid let's ran down to meet
'em. Poor Simeon, l know he's nearly
frozer
Faith sprang up, and in her excited haste
overturned her work basket, sending its con-
tents in promiscnous flight over the smooth
ly-waxed floor, burned her fingers with the
poker, came well-nigh scorching her new
merno dress, and at last, flushed and trem-
ulous, ran out to join Lisbeth.
The old buggy came ON with slow I'M
certain motion, and after several tedious
moments paused at the little gate.
Lisbeth pressed forward, closely followed
by Faith; but no eager face looked out to
welcome Them.
'sWhere's Simeon where's my boy?"
cried the fond mother. 20. Faith, he has
mol come! Reuben, where's Simeon?''
But Reuben did not answer, or even make
the slightest movement. With his face
white and stony, his hands dangling help
lessly beside him, he sat in The remotest cor
ner, staring out upon them with vacant,
unmeaning stare.
Reuben, what's the matter?" almost
screamed the frantic woman. "AIe you
sick-dead-frozen? Oh, for heavens sake