The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-27
CASSY'S THANKSGIVING.
Her Prayer for Patience, and How
It Was Answered.

She was an orphan, brought up in the
family of her uncle, Mr.. Gideon Blake,
of South Peachum. 1t seemed hard
that she, the prettiest of all the children
of the household, should be subjected to
q life of constant toll and mol in the
kitchen and nursery of the Blakes. But
then, according to the oft-repeated as
sertion of the heads of the house, ''she
ought to thank her lucky stars, that she
was adopted into a respectable family
in her childhood instead OF having been
sent to an asylum, as many a helpless
orphan was obliged to be-"
But to-day matters of a trying nature
had reached a painful climax, and
Cassy's pretty face was disfigured with
CRYING, and her heart was in turbulent
state of anger and disappointment.
She was no longer Il child, but Of
years emitting her to the name and po-
sition of young lady, but her claim to
such rights were totally disregarded by
the entire Blake family.
There was perpetual baby in the
nursery, and after the other duties of
the day had been performed it was in
variabiy Classy who must remain home
from the concert, fair, or social party
TO mind the baby"
It WAS Thanksgiving time, and even
in families crowded by the ordinary
routine OF household duties, there was
q strong suggestion of more than usual
preparation going on. The ''long pam
try" of the Blakes showed a goodIy
array of pies of different kinds, pud-
dings and cake; and neither pie. pud-
ding or cake in all the array but Cas-
sy's busy, faithful hands had helped in
in the mixing, or superintendent the
baking thereof.
Aunt Abby Thayer, a maiden lady of
rather advanced age, was in the habit
of spending all the holidays at the house
of her nephew, Mr.. Gideon Blake, who
lived in a township about five miles dis
tant from her own. Her visits were
somewhat dreaded by the young ladies,
Kate and Louise, as she was critical
and observing, and occasionally severe
on 1.-The habits of young folks now-a-
days" But Aunt Abby was supposed
to be worth a comfortable little income,
of which she was very careful, and Mr.
Blake being her only living relative
to whom else would this boarded treas
ure, with its accumulating interest, be
likely to fall due, at the decease of the
old lady, but her nephew? So it became
the highest policy aud good Judgment
always to accord Aunt Abby proper
degree of respect. Yet she owed Mr..
Blake nothing for her repeated visits,
Tor 1t was one of her eccentricitieS al
ways to pay a certain amount of ..board
money" upon leaving the house.
But to return to CasSy's tears and dis
conteht. Thanksgiving was but three
days distant, and that morning there
had come an invitation for all the Blake
family except the baby, ''also Miss
Mayne. to attend a grand ''candy
scrape" on Thanksgiving evening, at
the beautiful house of Squire Whitcomb
CT Grco awo0d Hill.
''But 1t won't be convenient for Won
70 90, Classy dear" remarked Mrs.
Lake, ''aS of course father will want
lHe to De present, and there is the baby,
you know"
Mrs. Blake rarely supplemented the
name Classy with dear except. as in
the present instance, when it was to be
followed by some formidable but so
the epithet which should have been
pleasant and endearing was absolutely
deteStable to poor, motherless Classy.
80 dear! / never can so anywhere, ="
broke out Classy. Il should so like to
so to Greenwood Hill. Can't some
one else take care of the baby for once?''
She seldom replied when the custom
ary prohibition came, but to-day she
couldn't seem to help it.
''Some one elser" repeated Mrs.
Blake, in astonishment, s.why. Classy, l
am astonished at you, really aston
ishcd!' and she withdrew in displeasure.