Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-12-11

holder OF the mortgage had told Grand
pa that he was going to foreclose on it
the next week and the property would
be sold at auction to tho highest bidder.
81 wrote to Ezra and Abram about it
some time ago and l 'spose you've told
Hammer and Liddy. but they haint got a
word to say, it seems. don't expect
they'll let us suffer, mo.her-don't cry
so-but it'll be kind of hard to be de-
pendent ever on a child of your own
and I'm awful afraid they don't none of
'em want us, they're all so silent lately,
Wal, taking down the old family Bible,
''the Lord never has forsookus. mother,
and His promises is certaisa. We've got
Il dreadful load of trouble to carry, but
we'll ask Him to help us, and give us
strength
The old mans voice ceasad to tremble
as he began to read the chosen chapter.
For nearly half a century he had read
and prayed morning and EVENING" in that
low rooted kitchen, and now with locks
bleached to silvery whitaness falling
owe his brow, and hands trembling
with age and emotion. he called again
on the Lord, and for the fast time, en-
cept in secret prayer, he hasought help
in this great extremity.
Let II glance into the ZONES of the
four children, whom this worthy couple
had reared and sent out TO fill their
chosen places among tile worlds
workers.
Ezra, the Oldest. was a minister in a
town sixteen miles from the old home.
1t was to complete the payment of his
college bills that his father had Dor
rowed money, and he always intended
to help pay it up, but his small salary
was just sufficient to s'bring the year
round.n
Two weeks before the homely little
incidents just related took place, the
minister received q long letter from his
Oldest sister. Hannah. which set him to
thinking.
She had the true New England Gift
Of going straight to the point when she
had anything in particular to say. She
reminded him of his superior educa-
tional advantages directly. and of the
cost OF the same indirectly, and then UNI
folded her plan thus:
"Now | propose that we all 90 to
fathers Thanksgiving Day, and each of
We 1Soi u olS ltlllIlCtl tclIuIS To-
ward the debt of four hundred. and u
present besides from every child and
g%randchild. If you're short of means l
will lend You your part. and you can
pay me ten dollars u month until paid,
and no n 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 l expect it will
cost her some pinching to do it, rs 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 it. She looked
sorrowful but brave as ever. and re-
piled, at is only right, my dear; we
and must trust the Lord to supply
actual wants. | can easily give up
the new winter dress and cloak ! had
planned to buy, and perhaps your over
coat W0ul0 last another winter.H
How many times have you given up
that self-same dress and closk?" he
asked smiling sadly.
mind that. We've two weeks to get
ready, and we Il bend all our energies
to do our part handsomely and well.
Dear Grandpa. how happy he viii be-
so an answer was speedily sent to
Mrs. Ayres. who lived twelve miles from
her early home, but in an opposite di-
r%ection. She "a very busy, but found
time to drop them q hasty note to
make no preparations for the table.
Lydia and | will attend to all that-liv-
inc on farms as we do it will he 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 a hundred miles away. He had
married a 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 q hundred
dollars, but stay away from the festival.
However, he thought better of it, espe-
cially when he remembered that Mrs.
A4yrcs was coming o to visit them,
and he knew it would all com up then
and be thoroughly aired in her straight
forward way. SO his wife was told part
and guessed the rest. The plan caught
her maynard fancy 1T once.
"A grand surprise on Grandpa and
Grandma Ashton:' she exclaimed chow
delightful! and the children shall carry
lovely presents.
The train from the city reached the
village OF Rushville at about 1890 a. M,
and in another hours 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
just 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!n she exclaimed,
''there's a big sleigh stopped here, and
the folks are q gettin' out. Who Can
they be?'
Grandpa hurried out to see, but be.
fore they had reached the door Grandms
recognized her son. After the first sal
utations were over, and the two Older
children. almost young ladies, critically
examined through spectacles to Sc,
whom thnv ssfoyora6 - moor EranIm.