The Osceola times., 1885-11-28

strength" "u give US
Inc old mans voice ceased 10 tremb,s
S S ne began TO read the chosen cbsn,ar
TOT nearly half century he had resd
ana prayed morning and eyeping 70 in % ,ba,
,1' rooied kitchen, and now with locLs
oleAched to silvery whiteness falling
over his brow, and hands trembI;nS :
WIN age and emotion. he called aoain
on The Lord, and for the first time ox
sep. IN secret prayer, he besought helm
IN TINS great extremity. =
Let us glance into the bomes os a.,
,our children, whom this worthy connie
nad reared and sent out to iii their
unosen ' places among the worlds 3
Ezra, the oldest, was a minister in =.
Town sixteen miles from the old home
IL was to complete the payment of bis
college bills that his father had bor.
lowed money, and he always intended
70 heip pay II up, but his small salary
round" '"' yea'
Two weeks before the homely little
incidents just related took place. the
minister received a long letter from his
oldest sister, Hannah, which set him to
thinking. ' "'"i W
She had the true New England Gift
OF gong straight to the point when She
nad ANYTHING in particular to saw. She
reminded him Of his superior educa.
tional advantages directly. and of tie
cost OF the same indirectly, and then un-
folded ber plan thus:
Now | propose that we all 90 IN
fathers Thanksgiving Day, and each of
us iour carry one hundred dollars to-
ward the debt Of four hundred. and a
present besides from every child and
grsndchild. If you're short of means /
VIII lend you your part, and you can
pay me ten dollars month until paid.
and no one but US two need to know
anything about it. I've written TO Abe
and he consents, and lydia will put in
one hundred. though | expect Ii will
cost her some pinching to do 1t, as YOU
you know her husband is rather close
with money"
The minister thought long and sadly
OF the winters needs, and finally called
his sweet. patient little wife into the study
and told her all about il. She looked
sorrowful but brave as ever, and re-
piled, 1T Is only right, my dear; we
can and must trust the Lord to supply
our actual wants. | can easily give up
the new winter dress and cloak | had
planned to buy, and perhaps your over
coat Wouid last another winter"
"How many times have you given up
that self-same dress and cloak?n he
asked smiling sadly.
"Only three" she replied, "but never
mind that We've two weeks to get
ready, and we II bend all our energies
to do our part handsomely and well.
Dear Grandpa, how happy he will be-"
So an answer was speedily sent to
Mrs. Ayres, who lived twelve miles from
her early home, but in an opposite di-
rection. She was very busy, but found
time to drop them a hasty note to
make no preparations for the table.
Lydia and | will attend to all that-liv-
ing on farms as we do it will be nothing
for us, and I've written the same to Abe.
Just see that you're there with wife and
children, and we'll see to the rest"
Abram. the second son, lived in the
city hundred miles away. He had
married fashionable wife and had four
children, His wife had never met her
husbands relatives but few times, and
some way he hated to tell her about the
mortgage and "sister Hannah's" plan.
His first thought was to send hundred
dollars, but stay away from the festival.
However, he thought better of it, espe-
cially when he remembered that Mrs.
Ayres was coming soon to visit them,
and he knew it would all come up then
and be thoroughly aired in her straight
forward way. So his wife was told part
and gussed the rest The plan caught
her wayward fancy at once.
"A grand surprise on Grandpa and
Grandma Ashton!' she exclaimed show
and the children shall carry
lovely presents"
The train from the city reached the
village of Rushvlle at about 1890 a. M,
and in another hour double sleigh from
the livery stable, with scarlet lined
robes, and drawn by horses proud OF
their jingling bells, drew up at the old,
leaning gate at Grandpa Ashton's.
Grandma heard the bells and was
looking out of the window. She had
lust put the one chicken nicely stuffed
in the oven to roast, and potatoes, cab
bage and squash were on the table
dressed for cooking.
"Why, father!" she exclaimed,
"there's a big sleigh stopped here. and
the folks are gettin' out Who can
they bep"
Grandpa hurried out to see, but be-
fore they had reached the door Grandma
recognized her son. After the first sal
utations were over, and the two older
almost young ladies, critically
examined through spectacles to see
whom they favored" poor Grandma
could conceal her anxiety no longer.
ii do wish you'd written, Eliza. |
didn't expect anybody and we haint got
much of a Thanksgiving dinner can
get more vegetables ready, to be sure,
but guess one chicken will seem rather
small for eight Of us, but | haint time
to-"
Never miud, mother" replied Mrs.
Ashton sweetly, knowing more than she
wanted to tell, 1--WE came more to see
YOU than to eat fine dinner"
A loud laugh from the children at the
window and clapping of hands
"A load from that way; see Anna, see!
Yes, and see, one from that way too;
both got to the gate at once!'
Grandma was bewildered as they
came trooping in dressed in furs and
heavy cloaks, for all had taken long
ride. Worse and worse! that poor
chicken peacefully roasting in the oven
wouldn't furnish mouthful apiece.