Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-11-12


had got the wish-bono." 1t was
Thanksgiving day at grandIatheTS
old place in New Hampshire, twenty
three years ago last November, and !
a little lad six years cd, What
grand day that was. Why, a vision
of the double table, with the great,
well Drowned turkey and the plum
pudding so big it had to he brought on
in a milk-pan, comes back as freshly
more freshly than the doings OF last
week. What eyes W. had for good
things when six years old! And what
appetites, too, for that matter.
No doubt grandfather had slyly
slipped the wi,h-bone into my plate:
but l thought my lnding it a piece
Of the purest good luck, and l was as
proul Of it as caliph of his con-
quests
My faith in those days was strong
in wish-bones picked that one
clean, and as soon as dinner was
over | wanted to wish. First one.
then another of my cOusins--lliran,
Frank, Emma-were challenged to
take one side Of the bone, and wish
with me. But they, older, all declined.
cts too green" they said Hang
it up over the fireplace till next
week"
But l had my "wish"-the thing |
most wanted--.in my mind ard L Wai
not willing to be put off. So l still
went round the table, teasing one and
another to wish with me-, till l was
ready to cry with yeXation, while the
others laughed at me.
But my Aunt Theodora-how well
remember my fair-faced, blue-eyed
Aunt Dora.- .-.beckoned me to come to
her. 81 will wish with you, my
Eddy" she said.
We wished-then tugged and twist
ed at the tough bone, she laughing, |
verv much in earnest l was the for
tunate one, and l got the wish, that is.
the larrer piece of the wish-bone. l
had wished for a sled, and l got it two
days after.
Aunt Thcodora did not then tell me
her wish; but | still recollect seeing
her wlite something with her pencil
on a slip Of paper, and then she wrap
ped the two bits Of bone up in it.
Nineteen years passed. | was in
Brownville, Texas. 1t was the year
1871 OF myself, may say that l had
not prospc,ei thus far in life, though I
had been engaged in various schemes
for money getting My associate;
there were bad, and | am sorry to say
l was much like them. Step by step
had gradually fallen into de6asing
habits, and had become companion
of sharpcrs and adventures.
One day, toward the last of Novem
Der that year. letter came to my ad
dress. had forgotten the handwrit
ing. The letter seemed to have
something hard and clumsy in it.
| felt it curiously with my fingers
then broke it open. Inside was piec
of white paper, ycllowed with age
wrapped round two withered bits o
bone. Pencilled on the paper wer
the long-ago written words:
Il wish that Eddy may grow up al
honest man and true Christian gen
tleman.'
Beneath was written more recently
"This was my wish, Eddy,-the one
didn't tell you,-when we wished to
, gether years and years ago DAY
still hope that it will come true?"
, A curious sensation Of strange, long
, forgotten things struggled within m
: at the sight of this lie of my younger
purer years. Yes, there was the oil
wish-bone. Again | saw the Thanks
giving table and the circle of dear ol
home folks, among them the thought
full face and kind blue eyes of Aun
, TheodOra.
=, will not say that | was stricke
I with strange or violent remorse. Blu
somehow | was able. at that moment
to see clearly what was and what
. ought to be; and before | got up fror
q my chair l had made resolve.
Three days later l left Brownvill
and came home home to New England
My first step then was to choose a uS'
full, honest business; one in which
felt it possible to live honorably befOl
5 all men. And that | have done.
n am now trying to live an Ndustriou
upright, honorable life. That Of
+ wish-bone and my aunt's gentl
d prayerful interest and love were Ii
means, under God, Of saving me frol
+. life of vice and shame.