Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-11-20
OUR THANKSGIVING.


blue skies; with merry voices, with cloudless
lAces 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
I was at work, all flushed and eager, and
happy, jostiing and pushing each other good
naturally in the entry.
Dinner time came at last and they gathered
round the table glcefully-just as gleefully, I
thought, with half bitterness, as if they
had all been there.
"Why, what's this forl" asked Harry,
stopping. Mother, you've got one chair too
many.
"Hush, Harry know-don't you seer
and then Lucy finished her sentence in a
whisper.
Why had 1 done it; 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 a very
little thing; but you know how dear these
little things become to women sometimes
So had put it there-the empty chair;
and with its pitiful, appealing blankness be-
side me, sat down to tho festival meal
remember. just how everything looked, as in
picture-my husbands face, with its peace
full SMILE and the children grouped around in
the old places; and a fleck Of yellow sunlight
that had fallen in through the warm south
window upon the table cloth. l remember
everything. / know that John had just
bowed his head to ask blessing on our food,
and the children'S eyes were closed, when l
saw saw as distinctly as 1 see this paper
upon which | write the 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 / cannot be mis-
taken. Should not l know him, I, his
motherl looked deep, deep into his eyes. !
saw the old, rare smile; touched his OWL
bright curls upon his forehead; spoke tc
him; he spoke to mo.
"Willie!"
"Mother!"
The voice was breathless, but it was his.
sWilhel Willie!"
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, Mary7n asked my
husband.
"No"
aWhy, thought some one spoke during
the blessing"
So they did not see him. I alone was
chosen. looked into his face, smiling, smil.
ing down into mike SO tenderly-you cannot
know how tenderly; but in his eyes l saw
and l thought my heart would break to see
ia certain, sad, rcproachful look, that !
had caught Oh his face once wears ago, when
/ accused him of injustice of some trifling,
childish fault-a look that had haunted me
in many still hour since. And then heard
hin say distinctly. though to not another
ear was the breathless voice audible:
~ want them to be happy. l want you to
enjoy the day. Did you think l should not
be with you, mother?"
He was with me- thank God, and ] was
happy. l talked, laughed, chatted with
the children: their meriiment increased with
mine; my husbands pale face lighted up;
felt my own eyes sparkling. And all the
while, where they saw only that empty chair,
l saw the beautiful, still face and happy
smile. / saw him pleased with the old ia
nliliar customs. / saw him mindful of the
children's jests. l saw his eyes full of their
own home love, turn from one to another
and back again to mel saw and was con-
tent All that day he was beside me- He
followed us into the sitting room and took bis
old seat by the coy fire. He listened to his
fathers stories and watched the children at
their games, end Joined us when we gathered
around the piano for our twilight song. ]
heard his voice; the children asked what
made me sing so clearly.