The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-12-23
MAKING OTHERS THANKFUL

You need not try TO hide thost
papers, Bessie; l know what they are, ,
SAID Walter Eyre, with sad little smile
as he watched the motions of his wife
Mrs. Eyre had just taken the bill!
from the pcstman at the door, and as
she stood before the bureau mirror fast
enlng her hat, she had tried to slip the
ugly yellow envelopes out of her sick
husbands sight.
''Yes," sighed Mr.. Eyre again, 81
know very well what they are--but how
they are to be paid, or when, l don't
know, l am sure" and he clasped his
white hands over his eyes with moan.
His wife was at his side in a moment.
Don't be disheartened, dear" she
said, cheerily. "You are getting we'll
so fast now, and after a little while |
know we shall get out of these ditiicul.
ties. why" she added playfully, II
am going TO collect bill of my own
this morning, to the va ue of twenty
dollars. You ought not to have looked
about so curiously, and then you would
not have known of these unwelcome
visitors"
Until you had found some way of
bowing them out, ehW said Walter,
smoothing the fair head bent over his
chair. And l know very well your ex-
pected twenty dollars is all spent. You
are brave woman, Bessie, but | can
not see how we shall stem the tide much
longer. have n notion of writing to
sister Sybil. dislike to do it, but there
seems just now no other way"
"Wait until after Thanksgiving, Wal
ter" said his wife.
Thanksgiving 1t is near at hand,
is it not2 l fancy we shall not feel par
ticularly grateful, what with debts and
duns to think Of" said Walter, Bit
Serly.
81 am thankful, dear, that you are so
Tar recovered, and, above all, that you
were spared to me-" And here Bessie's
voice faltered, and she hid her face on
her husbands shoulder. and both were
silent as they remembered the empty
crib in the next room, and the little
grave whittier the baby boy had been
laid lo rest only few months ago.
'Yes, dear" said Mrs. Eyre, rousing
herself, 1--WE will be thankful we have
each other and dear Ethel. And when
/ am tempted to despond, say to myself
over and over that have never seen the
righteous forsaken nor his seed begging
bread, and then | am thankful for the
memory of pious parents and ancestors.
And now must go and see Mrs. Wilton
about my work"
'That seems like begging bread to me,
or very near it,"
''Mrs. Wilton don't think so, l can
tell you" " said Bessie, brightly. 81 get
very good prices for my work, and you
are not to underrale me, can tell you,
sir"
Walter looked at the bright, brave
face, the tim, energetic but graceful
figure before him, and sighed again, but
Bessie pretended not to hear. She stirred
the fire into blaze, arranged the books
and papers on little stand within her
husbands reach, shook up the lounge
cushions and made the rather bare room
look as cosy as possible; aud with a kiss
to little Ethel and an injunction to stake
good care of papa" Bessie went out into
the wintry air.
She was brave woman, as her hus-
band had said; in spite of her cheerful
ness there was heavy weight on her
heart this November morning. By some
of those sudden turns of business so
often occurring in our cities, Walter Eyre
had been thrown out of employment.
Then came the illness and death of the
baby, quickly followed by the tedious
fever which had brought the husband
and father almost to the verge of the
grave, and though now convalescent he
was still weak and helpless. Under the
occasional drain their slender means had
become painfully less, necessaries were
sadly needed, and debts were calling for
payment.
AS soon as her husband needed less of
her constant care, Bessie Eyre had
bTavely tried to assume the place of
bread winner. She and her husband had
both wealthy relatives, but the poor and
struggling easily fall out of notice; and
the Eyres had a full measure of pride
and called on none for assistance. Bessie
considered herself fortunate to obtain
Iewing and fancy from several
aides, and, as she said, her work re
seived good prices But there was so
much needed, though she trimmed her
little household strictly TO the needful,
and so many bills caused by that long
illness, that, strive bravely as she would,
= weary look had crept into her soft
brown eyes, and lines of care were gath
sring round the sweet mouth, that vet
had always hopeful words for the invalid.
~ must pay one of those bills" said
Bessie, as she passed along the busy
street. II think Mr.. Morris will wait
awhile, but / am not so sure of White &
Co. Twelve dollars out of my money to
20 to the grocers; they have waited so
long on us. l shall have TO see what
can get on my watch.