Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-11-19
TOMS FAIRY.

TOMS FAIRY.
A Sure-Enough Thanksgiving, and Where
1t Came From.
1t was only Aunt Mamie after all,
though Tom would have you believe it
was real fairy with wings of silver
gauze and a wand-like the one in his
story book Of Jack and the Beanstalk.
It was only Aunt Mamie, but when
/ say that say great deal. and l feel
like going back to cross out that word
osly, for fear it may seem to take from
her power
II you could see her you would laugh
at the word power in connection with
her. She was such little woman.
She looked as if you could carry her in
one hand; but indeed one must needs
have high hand to carry her. In all
disputed points she carried herself so
well that she generally carried the
day. too.
Well Aunt Nannie was planning a
dinner party for next day. She had
invited Mr.. and Mrs. Stay-at-home, Mr..
Growler and Miss Nobody 's-own to
Thanksgiving dinner:
She would have out her very best
china and silver, her snowiest cloth,
her prettiesb crystal and then such a
good dinner as she would prepare!
Her mouth fairly watered as she
thought over the dainties she would
give to these less favored friends. For
Aunt Mamie, just loved to see people
happy about her, and her kindliness
went further than that, she loved to
make them happy by her own effort.
Many a weary night her frail little
body knew, from having given too
much strength in the day to the care of
What little body she was, to DO
sure! just a patch OF goodness, if [
may call her so, but patch that
mended many torn life and made
whole many a rent in pocket-book or
heart-strings.
Somebody laughingly called her 1.-THE
little straight up and down woman
because her soft, black dress chung so
closely to her slim figure. and it was
not a bad name for her either, for, in
matters of right and wrong, she was
the most decided character ever
knew.
Well. she was this morning in one
of her happy moods and when the
door opened and Mrs. Williams, her
friend from up town, came in, Aunt
Mamie rose. to meet her with bright
welcome.
Mrs. Williams had many things to
tell and to ask.
How much cream did she use in
Charlotte Russo for eight persons? did
she clear her wine-jelIy with egg shells?
was Mrs. Proudfit coming to her din
ner? and did she know that the Smiths
had invited the new doctor to their
ho1sep and Ella just home from abroad.
Wouldn't there be grand display in
that dinner:
Well, it wasn't for her to eriticise, but
she did think if they would care for
their own relations, the Brownwells. it
would look better. They were so poor,
the Brownwells, and since Mr.. B. s ac-
cident at the mill, he had never been
able to resume his business life
IF they were as near me in the mat
ter of relationship as they are in the
matter of houses, / should feel that /
ought to help them, but they are nothing
to me except as far as common human
ity is concerned, even if they do live
next door.
So said Mrs. Williams as she chat
tered on this topic and that. and when
she rose to go it was with CHEEKY kind
ness in her pretty face and a heart
Overlooking with good will, so long as
that kindness ana good will did not cost
her any particular effort. After the
door closed upon her. visitor Aunt Nam
ME, stood thoughtful for a few moments
and them began to busy herself once
more about the, dinner preparations for
the next day.
But she moved very slowly this time,
and there were two words ringing in
her ears. Common humanity" Was
it true then that ones next door neigh
Dor was no, more than that?
Aunt Mamie had known these Brown
wells in their happier days, when the
father was a successful merchant. She
and Mrs. Brownwell had often been
thrown together in hospital work and
in their flower mission. The children
at the Brownwell house learned to love
the sweet, pure face of mamma
friend, and called her affectionately
..Aunt Mamie as if to claim some
relationship to- one 80 good and kind
so that Tom was not unknown to her;
as she stood thinking of him among
the rest, this cold morning. and plan-
ming how to bring warmth and cheer
into that home of theirs.
Their lives had only drifted apart
somewhat on account CT Mrs. Brown
wells active home life and her own
falling health. neither being free to, join
in the work for the public good as
heretofore.
..Well,' said Aunt Mamie, at length.
shaking her pretty head in a decided
way, ut shall be real Thanksgiving
dinner in the BrownweAl house, even ii
this party gets no farther than the soup
course.
Now. when that little woman made
up her mind .'there was an end on it. y
The good she willed toward others was
bound to be carried out, and you might
depend on it. Therefore it was that
an hour later found this same frai
little woman stepping into her carriage
with list in her hand as long as the
hand which held it. and basket
slowed away beneath the >coachman'.
feet, which same basket was destined
to carry many good things before i
should cry Hold! cnoughr' From
butcher to baker, from market to gro
Gerry, the carriage rolled.
There was big turkey. cen o