The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-04
THANKSGIVING STORY.

Pers, bessie; know what they are"
said Walter Allison, with sad little
smile, a. he watched the motions of his
wife.
Mrs. Allison had just taken the bills,
for bills they were. from the post car
rier at the door; and as she stood be-
fore the bureau mirror, fastening her
hat, she had endeavored to slip the ug-
~, yellow envelopes out of her sick
husbands sight.
Eyes" sighed Mr.. Allison again, Il
know very we'll what they are-but
how they ore to be paid, or when, 1
don't know, am sure" and he clasped
his thin white hands over his eyes with
a low moan. Hir wife was at his side
in moment.
Don't be disheartencd, DEAR" she
said. cheerily. "You are getting we'll
SO fast now, and after while know
we shall get out of these difficulties.
Why" she added, playfully, II am 60
ing to collect bill of my own this
morning, to the value of $40. You
ought not to have looked about so curl
ously, and then you would not have
known of these unwelcome visitors"
Until You had found some way of
bowling them out, eh?" said Walter,
smoothing the fair head bent over his
chair. "And know full we'll your ex-
pected 500 is all spent, wisely. You
are brave little woman, Bessie, but
can not see how we shall stem this tide
much longer. have notion of writ
ing to sister Catherine. dislike to do
1t, but there seems just now no other
way"
await until after Thanksgiving, )" said
Bessie.
Thanksgiving! It is near at hand,
is it not? What with debts and duns,
fancy that we shall not feel particu-
larly joyous or grateful" said Walter
Allison, bitterly
Il am thankful, Walter, dear, that
you IRE so far recovered, aud, above all,
that you were spared to me-" Aud
here Bcssie's voice faltered, and she
hid her face m her husbands shoulder.
and both were silent as they remen,-
bered the empty crib in the next room,
and a little grave whittier the baby boy
had been laid to rest only few months
ago.
Eyes, DEAR" SAID Mrs. Allison, rous
ing herself, 1--WE will be thankful to
have each other and, precious Eth
cl. And when l am tempted to despond,
l say over and over to myself: L have
never seen the righteous forsaken, nor
his seed begging bread, and then l am
Thankful for the memory Of pious par
en,s and ancestors And now I must
go and see Mrs. Wilton about my work. ="
"That seems like begging bread to
me. or very near it,"
Mrs. Wilton don't think so, I can
tell you" said Bessie, brightly. II get
very good prices for my work, and You
are not to under-rate me, can tell you.
sir"
Walter Allison looked at the bright,
brave face, the trim, energetic but
graceful figure before him. and sighed
again, but Bessie pretended not to hear.
She stirred the fire into blaze, arrang-
cd the books and papers on little
stand within her husbands reach, shook
up the lounge cushions, and made the
rather bare room look as coZy and COM
Portable as possible; and with kiss to
little Ethel, and an injunction to "take
good care OF papa" Bessie went out
into the wintry dir.
She was Il brave woman, rs he hus-
band had said; but, in spite of her cheer
mess, there was heavy weight on her
heart this November morning. BY
some of those sudden turns of business
so often occurring in our cities, Walter
Allison had been thrown out of en-
ployment. Then came the illness and
death Of the baby, quickly followed by
the long tedious fever which had
brought the husband and father al
most to the verge of the grave, and
though now convalescent he was still
weak and helpless. Under the con-
slant drain their slender means had be-
come painfully less, necessaries were
sadly needed, and debts were calling
loudly for payment.
AS soon as her husband needed less
OF her constant care, Bessie Allison had
courageously tried to assume the place
of dread winner" She and her hus-
band had both relatives of wealth and
position, but the poor and struggling
easily fall out of notice; and the Ali
sons had full measure of pride, and
called on none for assistance. Bessie
considered herself fortunate to obtain
sewing and fancy work from severa! la
dies, and, as she said, her work received
good prices. But there was so much
needed, though she trimmed the little
household strictly to the needful; and
so many bills caused by that long ILL.,
ness, that, strive BRAY ely as she woull,
weary look had crept into those. soft
brown eyes, and lines of care were
gathering around that sweet mouth,
that yet had always hopeful words for
the invalid.
II must pay one of those bills" said
Bessie, as she passed along the busy
street. Il think Mr.. Morris will wait
awhile, bat am not sure Of White &
Co. Twelve dollars out Of my twenty
go to the grocers; they have waited so
long on us. shall have to see what ]
can get on my watch"
She pressed her hand upon it as she
thought Of the wedding day when Wal
ter gave it to her. The postoffice had
to be pascal ere the pawnbrokers shop
was reached. Almost mechanically she
stopped in and inquired for letters
One vas handed her. Bessie almost
shrank from the sight of the blue bust
ness-looking envelope. Oh, surely il
was not another dun! It was addressed
to "Waltcr r. Allison"
But I will open it. He must not be
SO troubled again to- day" said the true
wife, as her trembling fingers slowly tore
aside the envelope.
Was she mistaken? Surely it was
check on--bank, and for three hun.
dred dollars. Three hundred dollars
How it would tighten their burdens
how it already Gghtened the poor little
wife's heart! Bessie wondered how
she transacted her business with Mrs
Wilton; how she could listen and an
swer intclligibly as to box-plaiting ant
tailor-fnish, or decided: between til,
merits of plush bands or satin pipings
when she was so eager to rush HON.
and tell Walter of the good news Ant
once or twice she was obliged to lool
again at the check to convince hcrsel