The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-11-26
elianenus.
Our Thanksgiving.

The morning came. 1t came as other
| Thanksgiving mornings had come--Witli
fresh, trolicking winds and sunlight, and blue
skies; with merry voices, with cloudless faces
and happy hearts.
remember just how yellow and murky
the sunshine lay on the floors that morning
and how thought the wind walled about
the corners of the hOuse--to me it had no
frolic. The children came in from play while
| was at work, all flushed and eager, and hap
Ply, jostling and pushing each other good
naturedly in the entry.
Dinner time came at last and they gather
ed round the table gleefully-just as gleeful-
ly, | thought, with half bitterness, as if they
had all been there.
why, what's this for ?" asked Harry, stop
ping. Mother, you've got one chair too
many.
Hush, Harry know-dont you see ="
and then Lucy finished her sentence in II
whisper.
Why had done it 4; l hardly knew. To
lay the plates and set the chairs, and pass
that one plate by-that place that always
was by mine-it seemed hard 1t was q very
little thing; but you know how dear these
little things become 10 women sometimes
So had put it there-the empty chair !;
and with its pitiful, appealing darkness be-
side me, and sat down to the festival meal.
| remember just how everything looked, as in
picture, my husbands face, with its peaceful
smile, and the children grouped around in the
old places and feck of yellow sunlight
that had fallen in through the warm south
window upon the table cloth. | remember
everything. | know that John had just bowed
his head to ask blessing on our food, and
the chdrcns eyes were closed when | saw
i saw as distinctly as l see this paper upon
which | write these words-a shadow fall
across the empty chair.
| turned my head, and saw him, my dead
boy Willie. know it was Willie. You need
not doubt me, for | tell you l cannot be mis-
taken, Should not know him, !, his
mother? | looked deep, deep into his eyes
| saw the old, rare smile | touched his own
bright curls upon his forehead; | spoke to
him; he spoke to me.
"Willier
"Mother!'
The voice was breathless, but it was his.
willie Williew
Again the old rare smile. With one hand
he motioned silence His fathers voice
hushed the amen, and the children looked up
and began their chatter
did you speak to me, Mary ?" asked my
husband.
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tho hIaSo;nr '0-'' INV 'poNo "uilns
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uo hnu i1aO 1 81 ~, ~ cannot
nnd tho~,,,,t NV, pe' Al is Iyes sam-
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in n'any Gin %nu "S rn"' mI h aunteu e
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81 81 W., ,,,a,,, 80, % ~, hn t "'uio9
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H. I''n yO'' niJ."s. ,h,. ~,
no, mo was Wiea me- snanS goa, ana was
tba cb;,dre" tha;r ,,errinn, ;r oaod WIN WIN
nn;ro inI't aIn e WIN
feIt NV own owes on pI ,"o Asd 49, up l
Viii IT., H., hnu al que
W. I ny saw Tiy 'il"s euhPly cha,r'
oam tHo uenu.na', sun ,ace anu napPy smile
, sd" 'I' p'eaSru WIN the ou laniliaI Gus
;o 0i saw H,na iln E' u 'ne cnIGren
Ys' So" mo y 90 iuii vi 'ne,r own nome
wv" ori, ,u'm iiG"n ono " Nno'nel auu oacT
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;n, n' u ,h nu was oesl"o me- ne ioioweu US
~, .no ioGn dnu .o1N ms gu sent
~ v"s 10y ny i1 iisNeheu W his lathcr
games " amd " ;ninad .ne Gn,,uren d. lnell
SAINTS, anu Ioihou us "nen we Salhereq
neaiu ms voice' lne chilareh asked What
may T,,, lno s ,h ~. so Sleaty. ..u,,
dro aus, as , .nu snaaI i logan ~ a'i nca'ly ne
,,' W Maiua MN ny 'ho ilosI pounu
t 1870" i, lie, o,oopeu "nu Nsseu inc; ne
,oCh i'io III Ms Nils anu saiu' us he hau saiu