The Mineral argus., 1884-12-11
mo FOLKS.
A Thanksgiving Story.

By Mrs. A H. Bronson.
1t was a raw cold day, with sug-
gestion of snow in the air, the chilliness
of which penetrated even to the warm,
cozy room where sat a pale woman,
looking listlessly out of the windows.
Presently her face frightened, as a man
with kindly face and CHEEKY smile passed
it and entered the house.
"Well, father!" and the thin hand
was outstretched for the letter she saw
in his pocket.
"Let me read it, Mary" he said.
"Pm afraid it will be disappoint
ment."
'DEAR FATHER AND MoTHER-We are very
sorry, but we cannot be with you Thanksgiv-
ing Day. Harry's father has been taken very
ILL., and has sent for us. We leave for B. in
the morning; will write you from there
Your loving child, HATTIE"
The tears gathered in the woman's
eyes. ooh dear, she said, "what shall
we de2 how can we hear the loneh-
ness ?"
ooh we'll, mother, we must make the
best of it. 'Perhaps'-let me see-here
is some more on the other side-'per-
paps, mother dear
Father, come here quick" inter
rupted the woman; "do you see those
two girls coming down the street?
They are the ones 1 told you about,
that put me in mind so much of Matte
and Alice-look The old man hast
ened to the window, just as the two
figures passed it, and looked eagerly
after them.
"Yes, they do kinder seem something
like them," and a heavy sigh escaped
from the brave heart, well trained to
keep its own sorrows out of sight, that
it might the better help the weaker one
to bear hers.
Father" she said, "what if our little
girls had been left alone like that 1
have watched them now going on three
weeks, and they go that way always. /
think the smallest one is q little lame
or something, she always clings close
to her sister, just so. ] have wanted
and wanted to speak to them, they look
so tired and poor and hungry. 1 won
der"-and then she stopped and hesi-
tated, looking eagerly into her husbands
face.
"Well, Mary"
"I WONDER" she went on, whether
they would not like to come and spend
the day with us!'
"Oh," said her husband, "why Mary,
dear, perhaps they would want to stay
with their folks"
"I don't believe they've got any folks,
husband. They go into Mrs. Arden's
boarding house, you know, and don't
ever look glad, either, as if they had
folks to go to" The old man pondered
a little He was glad she seemed in
terested in anybody, for since the death
of two young daughters year before,
the springs of life had seemed dried up.
"Pll tell you what, Mary" he said at
last, "Tll just go round to Miss Arden's
and inquire a bit about them," and
suiting the action to the word, he put
on his coat and hat, and left the house.
In the boarding house alluded to, a
respectable, though not first-class es-
tablishment, the two young girls had
assembled three flights to their room.
1t was very cold and they were shiver-
ing as they entered and shut the door.
Keep your things on, Flossie dear,
said the older of the two; "no, just lie
down and let me cover you up, till the
fire is started. There is that better
Now l will hurry up"
Then she kindled a little fire, not
much, for her stock of fuel was low,
and then she put on the kettle and
made some tea. No, not quite that
She took the teapot, which belonged
to a maiden lady in the next room tC
theirs, who made vests for a living
who, after she had drunk her own cup