Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-11-07

o'''' "''o " N'' 49, N'N"i 'S'SNb ''-'
his contagiousIy sanguine tempera
mcnt.
"When I've made my fortune, Ur-
sn!a," he had said, gaily, "pll come
back and marry YOU"
"Don't talk non sense, Stephen she
had said, with laugh.
But it had not seemed like nonsense
in the secret depths of her heart.
She had pondcred many and many
time over lis emphatic words, but they
had failed to come true.
Probably stephen Gregson hadn't
mado the expected fortune. Certain
it was that he had not come home to
marry her. And Ursula was begin
ming to coincide with Grandfather
Halls misantbropic theory that all
the world was askcw.
Grandmother Hall was silent. She
aS glad now tina she had never told
her husband and Ursula about the
twenty-five dollars that she had lent
cousin Abby Miller - the boarded store
of silver in the stocking-leg, which she
had parted with to help the friendlcss
old maid to open a little millinery in
the city
"Im afraid it'smoney thrown away"
thought Grandmother Hall. Il did
s'pose Abby would at least have writ
ten word about it. But there what is
the use of crying about spilled milk?
dare say Abby feels as bad about it
as do, poor, solitary cr2etur! Anyway,
UrSuly," she said, breaking the oppres-
| sive silence, "thcre's one thing we have
| to be thankful for the pumpkins
ripened splcndidly in the corn-stnb'le'
and guess you'd better slice up one
tonight for the pies; and father must
cut the hen-turkey's head off bright
and early. 1t may be our last Thanks
giving in the Old place, and We'll keep
it as it ought to be kept. Come the
tea is drawn-wc'll all feel better for
good, hot cup"
"Tain't no use said old Mr., Hall,
shaking his head. Nothing amt no
usc.'
Crsula, too, was discouraged. Grand
mother Hall saw it in her face, oven
though she spoke no word
They had scarcely seated themselves
at the little round cherry-table, when
a knock came to the d0or.
"lt'S the sheriff to serve the mort
gage paper said old MIR. Hall. whose
ideas of the law were rather vague.
"lt's Lewis Crawford after the eggs"
said Mrs. Hall, more hopefully.
But it was neither onrnor the other
1t was a little old woman in a black
silk hat, respectable cloth cloak and
a brown-stutf dress-lIiss Abby Miller
herself.
Good evening. Cousin Hail." said
she. "I've come to spend Thanksgiy-
ing with you"
"And you're kindly welcome, "chirped
the old lady. "Ursuly, set Il chair for
Abby, and take her things,'
"But first" said Miss Abby, al
must paymy debts Here's the twenty
five dollars | borrowed of you, with
ten dollars for interest; and | know,
Cousin Hall, you'll be pleased to know
that I've prospered aud made money
in the millinery business, that | never
could have got into if it hadn't been
for your good nature and generosity
And here" producing a willow basket
nearly as large as herself, sis the
finest turkey in Fulton Market, and
three quarts of cranberries, and doz-
en- Of oranges, and pot of gnava jelly
my contribution 20 to-morrow's house
keeping. And if it was forty times a,
, much, it wouldn't he half what | owe
YOU. Cousin IIallw
And Miss Abby Miller failing in ar
attempt to laugh, began to cry, an,
ended up by hugging Old Mrs Hall witt
all her might
Tea was hardly over before new
visitor arrived on the scene--DoctoI
: Purdy, the chairman of the local boar,
of trustees.
"What's this about Squire Dean
daughter ousting you from your place
Miss EIall?" he asked.
. al have been told" began Uusula
"No matter what you have beer
told" said the doctor. "Ive seen Mr.
| McAllister, and he and ] both agreed
e that you are not to be disturbed Yol
suit us exactly, and we intend that yor
:. shall retain the position. if there wer
r q dozen Miss Deans to be provided foi
/. You'll remain, eh?"
"Gladly, if you wish it, said Ursula
visibly Frightening up.
And if Dean don't like it, he cal
n lump it," added Doctor Purdy, inde
e pendently.
r He had not been gone half an hou
g when the knocker--they never had al
n rived at the dignity of door-,bell a
J. Grandfather Halls - sounded agal
l. "Why," cried the old lady, who 81
v where she could see the door, "its--it
it stephen Grcgson"
1t "Of comse its Stephen Gregson,
r said u deep, masculine voice. "An
l he's travelled night and day to be i
II time to spend his Thanksgiving da