Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-12-11

heavy cloaks, for all had taken a long
ride. Worse and worse! that ooor
chicken peacefully roasting in the oven
wouldn't furnish a mouthful apiece.
How could they be so thoughtess.
thought poor Grandma.
otis a surprise" shouted little Mabel
Ayres, a rogue of ten summers, ..and
surprisers always bring baskets, aud
we've got four packed full Of"
"There child" calculated Grandma.
dropping into her chair with a sigh of
relief, chats the most comfortin' thing
I've heard to-day. I was afraid you'd
most starve. Do. father, see if the
other room amt gittin' warm; we shall
swarm here in a minnit."
Mrs. Ayres, an energetic, stirring.
handsome matron of forty, took the
helm of affairs in hand at once.
GO right into the parlor, mother,
and don't give another thought to the
dinner. What isn't here already will BIZ
when Liddy gets here, l expect them
here every moment"
/ shall not describe that dinner, and
| hope nobody will be disappointed
thereby, only l must say that ii is doubt
full if such roast turkeys, or chicken
pies or plum buildings were seen on
many tables that day. A half hour in
Il good hot over made them forget their
late journey, and they ticklcd the pilates
OF the ten elders and twelve youngsters
in the most approved fashion.
After the older people had eaten their
dinner and returned to the little parlor,
Mrs. Ayres tarried to supcrintend that
of the children.
"Now," said she briskly to her two
blooming daughters of fourteen and
sixteen, 81 leave things in your hands.
Don't get noisy nor II into the parlor;
we don't want to be disturbed" Then
she went to her fathers SIDE, and draw
ing up Il chair, sat down. and in her
sensible way alluded to he debt on the
old farm. spoke of thei, sympathy and
desire to help him, and before the dear
old man had thought of such a thing,
the four hundred dollars lay in crisp
new bills in his hand.
There was q moments silence.
Grandpa tried TO speak but something
choked him.
GIVE q little Gift for Grandma said
Mrs. Abram. in her pretty. graceful
way, coming forward and placing in
Grandma's lap a dress pattern of black
cashmere with q fifty dollar bank note
pinned to it.
''Well, SO have l, now that | think of
it, said Mrs. Ayres. "Hu sband do
run out to the she'd and got that roll out
Of the big sleigh"
''Husband' walked sedately out and
brought in two comfortablcs, bright and
new, while sister Lydia proudly pro.
duced a pair of soft, white, flannel
blankets, spun and woven by her own
hands. Mrs. Ezra modestiy laid her
gift of two caps of line lawn. with beau
tiful hemslitched rutlles. on Grandma S
knee.
All in all it was too much for poor
Grandma. She burst into tears. and
could hardly keep from confessine that
she had cried twice the day before be.
cause she feared their children had for.
gotten how old and poor and sad they
were.
Come, come, mother,N said Mrs.
Lydia, kissing the withered cheek.
Don't let the children see a tear, please:
they couldn't understand it at all, aad
they are going to just about swamp
you both with their little gifts pretty
soon: Teddy has brought four qusrGs
OF his cherished store of butternuts, a
little bag of %beachnuts, and Il bio BAG Of
popcorn"
"And Linnie," added Mrs. Eliza,
''insisted on bringing Grandma and
drandpa some tandy. So YOU will have
gumdrops and caramels enough to last
you all winte.."
Grandma wiped away the last teal
before the children came trooping in,
bringing pin cushions, chair cushions,
needle books, crotcheted slippers, a
shoulder shawl, a handsome work-box
and knitting basket, besides dozens OF
other useful things.
By-and-by Grandpa hushed the chat
tering throng in the kitchen. and sitting
in the doorway between the two
rooms, he read some OF the sweet prom
ises of the Savior to His sorrowing chill
dren, and such a prayer as followed,
None who heard it ever forgot the pa.
thos. the triumph of faith. the deer
thankfulness that God had given him
such loving, dutiful children.
''NNell, Welt" exclaimed Grandma.
~ WIN SOHI CACcpt Aolall
and family, who We're to remain
a few days, q don't believe there
another such a surprised but Thankful.
and happy woman in the hull State OF
New Hampshire as be: and it's all
can do to keep from feelin' proud o.
my children and grandchildren.
II amt q tryin' to-" replied Grand
pa. quietly, ''and there amt no sin in
teelin' us | do, for if a ton had been tool
OFF my back | couldn't feel no lighter
I'm too happy to say much anyway
Children just sing
Praise God from whom all blessings How
Amen."-Enuily Y. Keeuer, IN Woman
Century.
Mr.. Thomas Fowler, of this county
has recently returned from the noun
tains. In hunting for some specimen
while there, he happened to break opel
q large rock, disclosing the followin!
legend on the inside: H. Rees, 1862
How the inscription came to be on tn
inside of the stone is q mystery we ar
unable to solve. Mr.. Fowler brough
the half of the stone containing the in
scription home, and it was on exhibition
at the courthouse for several days.