Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-25

it was in her power 10 provide Thanks
giving dinner for her afflicted brother.
While thus thinking of others. she little
knew what glad surprise these flowers
were destined to bring to herself.
The afternoon before Thanksgiving
gentleman and lady entered the same
store and saw in a conspicuous place the
lovely basket of flowers.
"Oh. Frank - said the lady. ''sea these
roses. Are they not perfect? | must
have them"
"Yes, they are beautiful, mother"
was the young mans reply.
Il wish these for my reception room,
but would like some just like them for
the church fair we are preparing for.
Have YOU another basket" she asked of
the proprietor.
Mo- but Miss Leslie, the lady who
sold it to me would be glad to prepare
another at the same price"
"MIss Leslie, did you say? Mother.
can that be Minnie Leslie, the friend lost
all trace of while was abroad ?'
Miss Minnie Leslie is the name. sir
have her address here" remarked the
pleasant shopkeeper. She left ii for
other orders"
Harold eagerly seized the slip of paper.
add there saw the familiar writing OF one
he still devotedly loved. He had been
suddenly sept to Europe by the firm he
was with, on urgent business. .On his re-
turn, he had found strangers in the Leslie
residence and all he could learn OF the
family was that the father had died sud-
denly, and to the surprise of all, instead
of being rich as be supposed, he had left
| his only son and daughter absolutely
penniless.
What had become of them in this sud-
den change of fortune he could never
learn.
Many months had elapsed, filed with
| fruitless efforts to learn something of their
whereabouts, and now he held IN his hand
the longed. for address.
Thanksgiving Day dawned, bringing a
wealth of sunshine to the coy rooms of
the small fat that gave home to the
brother and sister.
Not word had Minnie spoken of the
turkey dinner, with mince pie and ice
cream tor dessert, that she had been pre-
pairing for Harry's surprise in B, he tiny
kitchen. rn
When all was ready to be SCI ~, she
stood looking at the table set out cozily
for two. Its linen was white as the snow
drift; its china, glass and silver were
| relics saved from better times.
Il only wish had bunch of natural
flowers tor the CENTER" she sighed. 81
should have bought two or three, since it
was paper flowers that provided the
feast"
A summons to the door interrupted her
soliloquy, and there, to her surprise,
stood messenger boy, with bunch of
Jacauemnot roses, who. as he dsap-
peared, thrust them in her hand, with the
words:
"Miss Minnie Leslie, from friend"
| Surprise almost made her faint. A
glad hope darted through her heart with
the question:
Can Frank Harold have sent them p''
| Placing the blossoms, after pressing a
kiss of welcome on their glowing petals,
upon the table, she added the turkey and
vegetables, then stepped into an adjoining
room to find her brother.
Come. Harry. dinner is ready. You
must eat it with thankful heart, for
really, it is the best could do with our
small means"
"Yes. dear, know it; and while l eat
the plain beef steak, 1 promise you not
once to fret after the turkeys of other
DAYS"
They passed into the dining room as
they spoke, and there he was greeted by
seeing-could it be yes. surely-a turkey
dehciously Drowned. cranberry sauce.
celery. sweet potatoes, and everything to
make up real Thanksgiving dinner.
while the perfume of roses made the air
delightfully."- fragrant from a rare bouquet
of iacqueminots which glowed in the cen.
ter of all.
"Why, Minnie, how is thisP Am |
dreaming, or is this solid fact ?"
mo dream, brother, | earned the mon
ey for this feast by making paper flowers.
in order to give you a pleasant surprise,
and while doing this someone has pre-
pared pleasure for me. Those flowers
Just arrived anonymously. Perhaps you
know who sent them ?''
81 wish did, but do not Oh. this
is delicious surprise all around! !"
Then you do feel thankful after all ?r
said Minnie, playfully.
"Yes, do. was wickedlv migrate
full when said did not. You told me
then had not counted up nv mercies.
! have done SO since, and find have
many of the very richest blessings. Chief
among all regard my sister. the very
best that ever man possessed"
The warm kiss he gave her as he
ceased speaking amply repaid her toll
and trouble then two thankful. happv
hearts sat by that table and did Justice to
the feast
But who could have sent those flowers ?
This question was asked many times as
the day wore on; but it was not long to
remain a mystery.
When the curtains were drawn and the
gas lighted, Minnie helped her brother to
the lounge, and placing a soft pillow
under his head, she took up s.Sweet
Cicely." a book well adapted to reading
aloud, and sought to amuse him by some
of Josiah Aliens wite's mistakes and
drolleries."
After pleasant halt hour thew were
interrupted by the entrance of no less
person than Frank Harold.
Oh, what joyful greeting he received.
and what an evening those three reunited
friends spent togetherl
All their sorrows were forgotten, ex-
plantations melted away every thought of
neglect. Harold was the same devoted
friend as ever
When at length Harry retired, uuble to
bear more, and when Minnie returned to the
coy parlor. she felt that the eyes that