The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-11-28
GEn G'stslligstrrsr
once. Nos. rs and 81 Fourteenth Street.
THAT THANKSGIVING.


which was completely filled with tn
smell Of spices and other delicious odon
1t was the day before Thanksgiving, an
mother sat by the kitchen table, with tn
big chopping bowl in her lap, busily cut
ting up apples 10 add to the mince.meat
which was simmering on the stove.
"No, I'll look out for that" said she
smiling pleasantly. II am having spIen
did luck with my cooking; Just see hov
nice my fruit. cake looks; and I'd like +
have you taste Of this minCe.meat and Sc
il you think it needs more boiled cider.
Nobody made better pies than mother
and, OF course, she knew twice as well as
did what seasoning they required; but
tasted" just TO please her, and suggested
that she put in dust more Of cloves, be
cause l knew she was doing her best t,
get up an extra good Thanksgiving din
ner on my account, for, you see, was ex
pecting to see Harry Carlton the next day
and he was the one man in all the world
to me then.
l kissed mothers wrinkled cheek anC
hurried off to my duties as teacher in the
public school. Father was only book
keeper in the mill, and had delicat,
health besides, so was obliged to do al
l could to support myself and "help thu
family along" Ny voice was naturally
clear and strong, and my parents had de
MED themselves many comforts that il
might be carefully trained. sang in the
choir, gave few music lessons, and, with
my school teaching, earned quite a com.
Portable little salary. But my hard work
was soon to be over, for Harry was coming
and we were to be married at Christmas.
l haven't told you about Harry, have l ?
It seems as If everybody knew about him
as well as do myself; but that is foolish,
Of course. He was big, strong bodied,
chiyalrous fellow, with handsome, intel
ligent face, and laughing blue eyes. He
was proud and sensitive, yet tender and
generous.hearted to fault. To me, who
knew all his goodness, he was perfect
idol. Four years before he had told me
in his straightforward manly way that he
loved me. But he was poor, and declared
himself OF the Irishman's opinion that, 'if
fellow hadn't anything, he had no bust
ness to ask any girl to share it with him."
Soon after q remunerative position was
offered him in Japan, and he babe me
goodbye with the words: "Be brave and
patient little woman, and, If We both live,
in few years we shall have the happiest
home in all Connecticut"
Now the waiting and uncertainty were
almost over, for had Harry's last letter
in my pocket, in which he said: ~ shall
sail on the Neptune which leaves Yoko-
hama in two weeks, and, il nothing hap
pens, darling, We shall keep Thanksgiving
together"
/ hardly know how was able to teach
at all that day; the happiness felt must
have betrayed itself in my face and rung
out in the exultant tone OF my voice. On
my way home from school l stopped at
the postottlce: hoping to get word that the
Neptune" had arrived. A group Of men
were talking earnestly together, and l
heard the name Neptune" mentioned
several times so walked straight up TO
a gentleman whom knew and asked II he
had heard any bad news.
Nothing definite" he replied the ship
was due two days ago, and the owners be-
gin to be uneasy; but that is not at all
strange, ships are often delayed at this
season OF the year"
This answer reasured me. l had never
had any real trouble, and, although l felt
grieved and disappointed that the ship
had not arrived, it never occurred to me
that anything serious could have happen
ed to her.
Thanksgiving morning dawned clear
aud cold and our folks decided to go to
church in sleigh. The frost and snow
often come before the Governors procla-
nation in New England, you know. l
stsid at home to take care OF the house
and finish getting the dinner; besides, l
should not ike to be away If Harry should
happen to come. Looking back upon
that time now, wonder how | could have
been so calm. baSted the turkeys, made
sauce for the puddinGs, arranged the
golden pippins and pound sweetings in
the glass fruit dishes and placed tiny
vases OF cut flowers by the side OF every
plate. Then l ran upstairs to put on my
new nayy-blue suit-Harry liked the color,
and it was very becoming to me. had
lust finished tying the ribbons in my hair
when mother came in. | turned round
and payly asked her II was not beauti-
full, before ! noticed her white, sad face.
"Oh, marmie," said ], "you have made
yourself i'll with hard work."
She staggered toward me, and throwing
her arms around me, trembtlngly exCtaim-
ed: "No, no, darling, l am not i'll! God
help you, my poor daughter! The 'Nep-
tune has gone down."
Ihaye been told that when soldier first
receives a bullet wound on the battle
aeId he is insensible to pain. That is
nothing like the effect that the sudden
shock Of my great sorrow had upon me.
did not weep nor cry out but stood like
one paralyzed.
It Is not possible for the soul to pass at
once from the sunshine OF hope to the
darkness OF despair. 1t will grope about
for awhile in the vain hope Of regaining
its natural atmosphere.
But the terrible awakening soon came,
and then the long and almost hopeless
struggle for submission to the inevitable.
| used to feel that my suffering could have
been more easily borne il had been per-
mitted to look upon his dead face or visit
his grave. When the wind moaued at
night, and thought Of the noble form
that | hadalmost worshipped beinglbuhet-
ed by the cruel waves, it seemed as though
I should be driven mad. But duty re.
mains when hope and love are gone, and l
gradually took up the fragments OF my
broken life and found comfort in constant
unselhsh work.
Then a new trouble came. Esther, who
had never been strong, took violent cold
and died Of pneumonia. think the sor-
row / had borne made me more tender
and considerate for the grieis OF others,
and ! felt a thrill Of satisfaction when
mother stroked my hair in her old fond
way, and called me her Sweet comfort"
Through the influence Of Mr.. Mason,
our choir leader, l obtained an appoint.
ment in fashionable New York church,
a position made vacant by the resignation
OF the principal soprano, who was further
ing her musical studies in Europe.
Mother and sold our little home, paid
ali our debts, and moved to the city in
May, where we lived In o comfortable,
0uiet way, in an questionable street. We
formed few pleasant acquaintance
among our neIghbora, come OF whom