The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-11-25


selfP" -.f
"And why not. sirp I am past
eleven" and Nat Strengthened up
proudly, making himself look fully
two inches taller.
"Sure enough. You ought to be
able to do It, my boy" said the man,
with a sudden hoarseness in his voice.
ibid the children tell God what they
wanted for dinnerp"
eyes, sir, but you see they've never
had real Thanksgiving dinner, and
they didn't know what to ask for. !
had one once, at my grandma's, In In
diana, and know all about it That
was long time ago. before every body
died."
"Well. what did the babies ask fors'
persisted the stranger.
Nat fidgeted about in confusion.
After knocking o large chunk of mud
from the side Of his foot, he replied:
'.They just asked God for some corn
bread an molasses an an orange.
They told Him they wanted heaps an
heaps Of corn-bread, an a whole pan
full of molasses, but they could make
one orange do, cause they could vide
that a-tween them"
"How hard will you be willing to
work in order to buy the dinner for
themp" asked the man. "You must
remember that it takes great deal of
money to buy . good Thanksgiving
dinner"
"Tn work every minute until din
ner-time tomorrow" cried Nat, his
whole face quivering with eagerness to
bepin the task.
"You don't mean that you will work
all night, tooP"
"Just try me, sir. Oh, please, SIR,
do give me q chance to earn good
dinner for them"
"Here, Davis, set this boy to wort, !"
said the man, with knowing wink at
the head clerk. "Any thing" he ad-
ded in lower tone, taking the clerk
a thorough test, and II he is made Of
the right stuff, as l think he is, l will
see that he has steady employment;
and that they all have a Thanksgiving
dinner every day for the year to come, !"
he added to himself, as he walked
away.
whats to hinder us from doing
it." he mused. II need just such All
active, wide-awake boy, and Mary has
always lamented because she had no
little ones Of her own. Now If those
little ones are as bright and fine
looking as this brother. Well, we'll, I
think I will take her on the sly to wit
ness that feast tomorrow.
But the story is getting too long; so
you must imagine just how hard and
faithfully little Nat worked all that
day and away into the night-for Mr..
Leonard meant to thoroughly test the
boy-how Mrs. Leonard was induced
to take walk at just the right time,
to witness, through the uncurtained
window of the little old house. the un.
packing of basket, prepared by her.
self and her husband, and given into
Mats hands at one O clock on Thanks.
giving Day.
"Hurrah. chicks! Where are youp''
cried Nat, bursting open the door. and
swinging the basket into the middle oi
the room. Here's your Thanksgiving
dinner"
Two shivering mites crept hurriedly
out from among the blankets.
II knowed he'd send it," said Ted
ungram,natically.
Corn bread an 'lasses?" questioned
Tot, with wondering eyes.
Better than that" cried Nat, tri
umphantly, lifting the basket lid, anc
setting out pie.
''Oh. Teddie, just SMELL" exclaimed
Tot, poking her pink nose into thu
basket "What q good. good God HI
is!'
"Yes," mumbled Ted, with his mouth
full Of pie.
| A quick sob beside Mr.. Leonard drew
his attention from the little grouI
within, to his companion.
"Oh, Ralph she said, coaxingly
''it just breaks my heart to see thu
babies. Did you ever hear NOR
fervent return of thanks in your lif,
than when that wee grille said: 'Wha
good, good God He isP"
Never" replied her husband, feel
iugly. "They are such bright littl'
things. and so pretty" continued Mrs
Leonard. If they had good care. ant
plenty of love sprinkled into thei
lives, they would be very interesting
children"
VERY" emphatic..Ily.
''Iwould be perfectly happy if ha,
q little boy and girl like them. and it i
q shame to have them neglected SO
Ralphp''
swell, Marya"
Cant you guess what I would lik'
best of any thing in the world. thi
Thanksgiving DayP''
~ brought you here for the YER
purpose of interesting you into makini
that request, Mary" he said, gently
"God has blessed us abundantly i
worldly things. but has denied US chill
dren. Here are two homeless littl
ones who are without parents. Gu
duty is plain enough to Inc. Shall W
do it?"
"Yes, oh, yes. i long to cuddle ther
in my arms, the darlings. And tn
other boy, Ralph9"
~ need him, and you need the littl
ones. l propose to adopt the wh6l
family at once.
That night two golden heads lay sid
by side in snug, cozy bed at MIR!
Leonard's. over which she bent with
/ loving face, thanking God for "he
children" and for a whole week after
ward Mats jacket seemed too small t
afford space for the happy throbbine
of the glad heart underneath. .-R0s
Hartaoick Thorpe, IN Interior.
A Faithful Nurse.