Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-12-05
EDS THANKSGIVING.

grandson. She was placing the scanty
breakfast on the table as she spoke, and
her face was very sad. 'Grandpas ieel-
ing worse than ever this morning, anu
You'll have to tend switch for him again
To-day. Itwon't make quite so much diff
fcrence as it would if 'twasn't the day be-
fore Thanksgiving. There's going to be
little vacation anyway, and day more
or less doesn't make much difference"
"No," replied the boy-a large, strong
limbed fellow Of fourtccn-"twon't make
much difference. I've been thinking any
way that wouldn't go to school much
longer. oughtn't to. Grandpa's get
tiny feeber ali the while. Let me Sec
how many days have l been out oflschool
tending switch for him this fall!"
"Well. there was one-or was it two?-'
that Sam Pentecost did it. That was be-
fore they thought you was big enough.
1t didn't take long, after the manager saw
you, to decide that you could tend switch
Just as well IFS your grandpa, did it?" The
old lady looked at her grandson with tond
pride.
No" lie rcjoined modestly. "'l'll keep
an eve OH you said the manager, but l
reckon you'll DO. Every day your grand
father isn't able to work you may take his
place till you hear from me TO the con-
trary.' That was pretty good, wasn't 1t,
grandma" 2"
1t had, indeed, been very great JOY to
the st. Johns that the boy had been DEEM
ed capable of filling his grandfather's
place sometimes. 1t was one of the rules
of the railroad that when any swltchman
was i'll hc should provide and pay for
substitute to do his work. This had borne
very hard upon the St. Johns, WHO had
nothing to live upon excepting the OLD
mans wages. Edward was 4 very bright
and ambitious lad, and his dead father and
mother had begged, almost with their last
breuths, that rs good an education should
be given him as possible; but they had
left no property behind them, and misfor-
tunes had fallen thiclly upon old Mr.. st.
John and his little family. Edward had
been impatient for long time to go to
work, but the old man had answered: 81
know Mr.. Bedding would give you a good
place in his store, Teddy; 5ut guess |
can stick it out year longer. l want TO
give you just as much schooling as can
for your fathers sake. We can get enough
to eat and wear for another year, I'm
sure, and send you to school too"
But the old man had not counted on the
"chills and fever which had been
troubling him for several months, and, as
his wife said, he was now feeling worse
than ever. She and Edward, upon max
inc the calculations which the boy had
proposed, found that he had lost ten whole
days from school during the short fall
term Just ending, and had spent every
holiday in helping his grandfather.
"YoIscc, grandma" Edward went on
between rapid mOuthfuls, for it was near
ly time for him 10 be at his post, and he
couldn & waste tile minutes over his break
fast-"you see, if | went into Mr. Beld-
inc's store there would be something COM
ing in every week, and pretty soon more
pay if | did well. If I'd been there all
the fall, we shouldn't be having such 4
dreary Thanksgiving-day as tomorrow is
going to be. Thanksgiving" groaned tie
boy, bitterly; grandpa sick, and no tur-
key nor anything, but bread and ham and
mush; I'm not thankful a Bit"
edward, now can you" cried his
pious grandmother, astonished mt this out
burst from her usually quiet, gentle boy.
"Don't speak So loud, or grandpa'll hear
YOU, aud it'll make him feel bad. We're
all alive, and we are not nearly so needy
as some. and the Lord will provide. 'Tisn't
going to be such Thanksgiving as we
used to have, nor such a one as hope
we'll have another year, but we've enough
to be thankful for. dear knows. Cheer up,
Edward you're grandma's light aud joy,
YOU know; you mustn't get blue" But
in spite OF her struggle to be brave the
old lady had to brush tear away as she
babe the boy goodbye, and watched him
make his way across the stubble fields, OH
which is yet no SHOWS had fallen, toward
the LinviIle station, where he was to
work, and which lay nearly mile away.
The switch was just set right for the
first train, aud he walked past it up to the
telegraph operators room to see If there
was any news or il there were any special
instructions to receive. No; everything
was all right, and through the morning
the freight trains, expresses, and accom-
modatiOns" dashed by in their usual sue
cession.
Abou; two o'clock, however, things be-
gan to get mixed up. An express was
late, so that another one had TO be tele-
graphed to wait for it at Shsrburne, the
next town to Linville on tile east; while
at Saltwater, the next town to the west,
two freight train. were blocked up, wait
ing for clear roadway. At last freight
engine ran off the track just beyond Sher-
burne, and after that everything went
helter-skclter. Edward felt excited, and
turned his switch with greater care than
ever.