The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-11-19

ed her with the hopeful words which
mean so much to the Responding in
valid. Hour after hour Nanny sat, pa
tient as an old woman, beside "Aunt
Jenny watching her eye, and ready to
fly at q moment for whatever was need
ed. Even little Alice would climb the
stairs with glass of real cold'' water
a flower, kiss to make her we'll, or q
new ryhme culled from her picture
book, which she was sure would
'amoose' the dear ncighbor. These
visits were the sole cheer of those dark
days. The little seed sown in kindness
had indeed brought forth frnit hum
dredfold.
''Sure and it s pleasure you wouldn't
deny me,' Mrs. Denis would protest in
answer to Jenny fearful thanks. ''It's
always been you and you before, and
never thought I'd have the chance to
so mnch as turn my hand over for you.
It's clear pleasure, it isl
The "clear pleasure" lasted into o.
tober; then matters began to mend
Jenny could help herself little at last.
Her employers came back, and various
little kindnesses followed their return
But the once nimble fingers were stiff
and weak, and Thanksgiving found her
still unable to sew for more than a fGw
minutes at time. Mrs. Meredith was
in Europe; no one happened to think of
the little seamstress, and altogether
things were in sorry contrast to the
bright holiday of last year.
Again Jenny sat in her rockingham
on Thanksgiving-eve, idle now from
necessity, not of choice. She looked
sad, but frightened when Mrs. Denis
step sounded on the stair. 1t was a
quick glad step, and Mrs. Denis
burst in with the joyful face of bearer
of good tidings.
20. Jenny!o she painted, ''never was
anything like it! It's a turkey has
come to me myself this time! Mrs.
Read sent it, for the darling she isl
an elegant turkey, and an elegant heap
of potatoes as well. Wen have our
Thanksgiving after all; and if you re
agreed we'll eat it up here, for my
rooms but cold one, and daren't
risk you to come down.
"How nice! how pleasant! But how
very kind of you!" said Jenny, half
crying.
"Kind! Why, yourself did it, you
know. It's you last year, and me this,
that s all.
It was impossible to resist such OPEN
hearted gladness, and the feast proved
even merrier than that memorable one
of year ago. Jenny contributed some
red-cheeked apples to take the place of
the missing pie; the room was warm
and bright, the children alive with fun
and frolic. Jenny pale, but cheerful,
lay back in her chair, enjoying the jokes
and contributing soft treble to the
laughter. Altogether it was pleasant
scene. s
''Now the wiss-bone!'' cried little
Alice. NANNY pulled it last time, so
it's my turn now. Will you wiss with
me, Aunt Jenny?''
'Of course; and shall wish Just ex-
actly what did then," declared
Jenny, holding her end of the bone
with the fingers of her left hand
Uncle Jim, and may he get back safe
and sound!'
''Uncle Jim," echoed Alice.
A deep sigh followed. Jim's ship
was overdue, and Mrs. Denis had fears
in her mind which she did not like to
put into words.
Crack! went the wish bone, and, as
though the sound were signal, rap!
rap! fell upon the door.
':Come in,'' cried the whole party,
startled, they hardly knew why.
lis there. They told ME below
Mrs. Denis was here--'' began the
newcomer, but his voice was drowned
in a joyful shrek.
''Jim!'' ''Uncle Jim!' 80, Jim,
here at last!' And Mrs. Denis and the
children flung themselves upon the
stranger.
''Avast there! | can't breathe for
You all, - cried he at last. "Whatever
will the lady think of such doings? I'd
beg her pardon, only there's no speak,
ing, you throttle me so,' and shaking
aside the children, Jim-a handsome,
bronzed fellow, with merry blue eyes
made polite bow to the rocking chair
and its occupant,
''Lady!-why. that's Aunt JENNY"
explained little Alice. 1T was she
fetched you back, Uncle Jim-she and
me, with the wiss-bone, you know.
She wissed, and was just wishing my
self, and just then you came.''
Eyes, Jenny knows all about YOU,
Jim, said his sister. "And I'm glad
it is in her room you found us. She's
been the comfort of life to us all this
year back, Jim. Twas clean beat with
encouragement and trouble, when she
came and heartened us, and found me
work, and put the bread into our
mouths again. I'd have died without
Jenny, l Think
And what would l have done with
out you?" protested Jenny. They've
all been caring for me these three
months back, ever since l broke my
arm, Mr.-Jim; caring for me just as
if I belonged to them. 0, you don't
half know how good your sister is.
How shall l ever get on without her
wher you take her away?'
1--WE won't go away; we'll never
leave you, Aunt Jenny began Alice.
Jim had seated himself, with a niece
on each knee, and his eyes full on Jen-
ny, who was prettier and younger-look-
ing than ever since her illness. Sail
ors are proverbially infammable. He
stated afterward that that first ten
minutes did his business; but all he
said was in a deep chest tone: Il hope
I'll not do anything TO displease you
MISS
Why make my tale longer? Happi-
ness can be summed up in a few words.
Jim went to sea again after a while,
but he staid long enough to win and
wed his wife. Jenny and Mrs. Denis,
sisters now in law as in affection, share
little home together, and are entirely
happy. except for tendency to wake
up and listen anxious]y on windy
nights. Jim, first mate now, on hig
road to be captain, is due at home
about this time and, if not before, will
certainly appear on Thanksgiving day,
because, as little Alice says: 1.-The
wiss-bone will bring him. He came
the minute it broke, you know, Aunt
Jenny-the exact minute. Wen pull
hard this time, and make it 20 crack!
and then just as it breaks in two, Un-
Gle jim will open the door, know he
will. "-Harper's Bazaar.