The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-28

see, and he coOldnt get one he was ter. ribly disappointed and sent about bushel ot messages to yeu-they're somewhere about in my pockets"
 Leaving him to deliver them 10 Millie, the mother slipped quietly out to prepare supper for him. These mothers know ust what soldier needs mostl
 ln an incredibly short space Of time a supper, such as Jehn Gray had not even caught glimpse of for two years, was ready for him.
 Then with hts mother opposite to serve his tea, and Millie and Allie on either side, anticipating every want "he would not exchange places with a king" he said, for he did not believe any of them knew how nice 1t was 10 get home and sit down to a meal of mothers vicsuals after living ca hard-tack and hoTse-beef for twenty-Six months"
 five seen the time," he said in his droll good humored style, "when for a piece of mothers bread and butter | would have given everything possessed, except my honor, and I'm not sure that l wouldn't have let little piece of that go, only l never had much ts spare, you know"
 Don't no one in the army make bread and butter good like mother doesr'
 Why, bless your dear little heart, no one in the world does P
 Did not all the soldiers think so too!
 Thanksgiving day came. and all the morning Millie had been as busy as bee assisting in the preparations for good old fashioned dinner. It was pleasant to see her now ohm was there to partske of it-and Amy Harper, Johns bride elect vas that not enough to make her happy y2-except-an her thoughts flew of1 to a camp in old Virginia, as she pu' the 6nish,ng touches to the bountifuly laden table. One would have thought 10 have gl lnced at the generous supply of provision with which the table was sup oiled, that Mother Gray was provid,n s for regimen, instead of her small family circle. The lordly turkey, k,ng ot the feast, roasted to a rich golden brown, crowned the cente-, flanked on either side by rich, daky chicken pie and roast spare-rib, while scattered here and there along its length were vegetable dishes with shapely mounds of mealy potatoes delicate yellow turnips, and white globes of onions, swimming in milk and butter for no Connecticut Thanksgiving, feast would be considered complete without its accompaniment of WetheFs6eld peaches. The plates of wheat and rye and Indian bread. the pats of golden but ter, the dishes of pickles and glass plates of crimson cranberry jelly, helped to fill the table in every part, while the side hAl NlA af pumpkin and spicy mince pies, with their accompaniment of cider and cheese the whole making feSst fit for the old Olympian gods, but with little too much of the seeds of dyspepsia for merely human stomachs. But Thanksgiving comes but once year, and soldiers come less frequently, so even feast like th at could not q lite ruin their digestive organs Millie glanced with a satisfied eye over the goodly show before going to the par Tor to summon her guests. She paused moment at the door to watch the group within. There was certainly very little reg ard for the rules of etiquette either in the position or employment cf the par ties. John was lying la1ily on the sofa watching Amy Harper, who, seated in Millie low sewing chair by the south window, was busily engaged in dressing a doll tor Allie, while she sang softly to herself When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
 Amy was a wee bit of a body, and looked when standing by John's tall form as he always told her, {" like a wren aud a goose" No matter" she would retort, so long as every ono knows you are the goose, John."
 Uoless one were we'll skilled as a physi- ognimist, they would have called Amy simply very pretty girl, without much free Of depth of character but John Gray knew what few casual observers ever dreamed, that underneath Amy Har- per careless exterior of childish gaye,y beat a woman's heart, brave, true and strong. Perhaps he was thinking of this now, for his eyes were full ofloviug admi- ration, even while his lips uttered only careless remarks
 Nov, Amy" he was saving as Millie entered, I'm going to get jealous of that doll if you don't pu, it away. It's of more consequence to your ladvship than am, isn't n2"
 "Oh, If fcourse, Amy replied, with an dI(u SIdDSS OSCt HCt SuOuiuCT dt uttu 1t is good and sensible, and never leases me when don't want to talk and she proceeded with her work, still singing softly:
 And we'll all be gay
 When Johnny comes marching home.
 "That does very well for yoa, said Millie smiling her eyes shone through tears "you can feel gay now your Johnny has come marching home but where my Johnny?"
 Here ]" said a clear manly voice behind her.
 She turned with quick cry of surprise, which changed to one of joy as she recog nlzed the intruder. John was of the sotA and across the room like fash.
 "Why Hal Miller, my dear boy, where did you drop from ?" he exclaimed, slap ping the newcomer familiarly on the nhnn1AMv