Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-11-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Missing Thanksgiving Loaf.
BY ELLA EDWARDS.
IFrom Peterson,s aEnrazIno.l 1

tFrom Petcrson's SGagazinc.I
1t was Wednesday, the day before
/ Thanksgiving. 1 had just finished
my baking: half dozen pumpkin
pies, three loaves of currant cake.
two loaves of brown bread, six of
white.
g Yes" said to myself, ''if 1 bake
a pan of rolls for supper, l will have
enough of bread to last until Satur-
day." For, as my family consisted
Of but six persons, I could tell pre-
ciseiy how much bread they would
consume in any given time. Then
took q look at the turkey-a noble
specimen-which was hanging ready
for the morrow's dinner, and, feeling
its fat sides, said to myself: a. On,
how the children will enjoy him -
1 was very tired, so 1 did not carry
my bread to the cellar, as 1 usually
did rs soon as it was done. l had n
long white table, out on the back
porch, and here L turned my bread
out, arranging my cakes and pies in
a row on the other side. l then pro-
ceeded to lay the cloth for supper.
! VAS SlpIISS Wis. IL lIlIlC DlTe-
foot girl came to the kitchen-door,
and, looking in and hesitating, said,
at last, very timidly:
Please, ma am, could YOU give
me a loaf of your white bread? jim
is real sick, and"
I did not give her time to finish. I
was cross, as I always am when tired.
{" a loaf of white bread?" 1 cried.
" Why don't you, as we'll, ask for n
lot OF cakes, or a Thanksgiving tur-
key? Do you think bread and tur-
keys grow on trees, and costnothing?"
And ! turned to push her out of the
door. But, before 1 could do this,
the child was gone.
Very soon my husband came in
He was in haste for his supper. %
have to meet aman downtown, to ar
range some business. So hurry up,
dear-hurry up" he said.
We sat down to the meal, and my
bread and cake were forgotten until
supper was over, and, by this time,
it was quite dark. Then, when /
went to take my bread to the cellar,
one loaf of the white bread was miss
ing. l could hardly believe my eyes.
counted the loaves, over and over,
three times but, every time, the re-
suit was the same: there were only
five Ioaves.
That impudent little bcggar has
stolen one" [ cried, at last, the whole
thing suddenly flashing on me-
" Well, L might as well have given
her one, and saved her the sin of
stealing. There is no use, however,
in grieving over split milk" So l
carried my bread to the cellar, washed
my dishes, put the children to bed,
and then seated myself in my low
chair, with my Bible in hand for /
always read a few verses of Scripture
before retiring. 1 read a double
quantity that night, because the
morrow would be Thanksgiving.
Suddenly. my eyes fell on this pas
sage: a. was ahungered, and We
gave me no meat. :" l read no far
ther. My conduct, that afternoon,
rose before me in all its cruelty.
What have l done?'' I cried. {" 1
have turned a little child from nv
door empty-handed, and she, per-
haps, starving; for, now that / think
of it, she did Aot look like n beggar.
She was clean, even If ragged and n
shy timid little thing. And tomorrow
is Thanksgiving. Oh, oh, my wicked
temper. Even if tired. had no right
to be cross" Bat, alasl could not
undo what had done.
All through that Thanksgiving Day
my conscience kept reproducing me.
l could hardly give my attention to
the sermon, for voice within me was
saying: - You pretend to be thanking
God for His mercies, this past year.
He has kept you from sickness; has
spared your loved ones from death; /;
He has blessed you with plenty, while
others have been starving. And vet
and yet, you turned poor little
child from your door, who said she
had sick brother, and who only
asked for loaf of bread. Do YOU
think the All-Merciful Father believes
in the sincerity of thanksgiving from
one like you?''
Atdinnerit was the same. When the
great succulent turkey came in almost
floating in its rich brown gravy, and
when l saw the children's eyes fixed
on it so expectantly, L could not help
thinking ofthe wan, wistfuI face had
seen the day before, and conjuring
up the face of the sick brother, still
more wan and wistful, no doubt.
And the text of Scripture eemed
suddenly to blaze out, in letters of
fire, from the opposite wall 'sInas-
much as We did it not to one of the
least of these, ye did it not to me. -
l Thought the meat would choke me.
L said to myself: % Ali how happy
your little ones are, while the Others
probably are famishing." And 1
seemed to see, also in letters of fire {:
" was ahungered and ye gave me