Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-11-20
OUR THANKSGIVING.

Inc morning came. IL came as other
Thanksgiving mornings had come - with
fresh, frolicking winds and sunlight, and
blue skies; with merry voices, with cloIiless
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 CT the ho;.sc- TO me it had no
flolic. The children came in from play while
l was at work, all flushed and eager. and
happy, jostling and pushing each other good
naturally in the entry.
Dinner time came at last and they gathered
round the table gloefully-just as gleefully. /
thought, with half bitterness, as II they
had all been there.
stopping. "Mothcr, you've got one chair too
many.
"Hush, Harry-I know--don't you seep
and then Lucy finished her sentence in a
whisper.
Why had l done it; hardly knew. To
lay tire plates and set the chairs, and pass
that one plate by--that place that always
was by mine-it seemed hard. Il was 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, l sat down to the festival meal.
remember just how everything looked, as In
a picture-my husbands face, with its peace
full smile, and the children grouped around In
the old places; and Heck Of yellow sunlight
that had fallen in through the warm south
window upon the table cloth. l remember
nVarVfhinU L Ern kl,ak T..
bowed his head to ask blessing on our food,
and-the children's eyes were closed, when /
saw saw as distinctly as see this paper
upon which I write the words-a shadow fall
across the empty chair.
turned my head, and saw him, my dead
boy Willie. know II was Willie. You need
not doubt me, for l tell you cannot be mis-
taken. Should not l know him, l, his
mothera looked deep, deep into his eyes. l
saw the old, rare smile; touched his own
bright curls upon his forehead; spoke to
him; he spoke to me.
"Williep
"Mother" #A
The voice was breathless, but it was bis.
"Williel Williel"
Again the old, rare smile. With one hand
he motioned silence His fathers voice hushed
tho amen, and the children looked up and
began their chatter.
did you speak to me, Marysr asked my
husband. ~
"No."
"Why, I thought some one spoke during
the blessing"
So they did not see him, ! alone was
chosen. looked into his face, smiling, smil-
ing down into mine SO tenderly-you cannot
know how tenderly; but in his eyes saw
and l thought my heart would break to sec
TIA certain, sad, reproachful look, that |
had caught on his face once, years ago, when
| accused him of injustice OF some trifline.
childish fault-a look that had haunted me
in many still hour SINCE And then heard
him say distinctly. though to not another
ear was the breathless voice audible:
Il want them to be happy. want you to
enjoy the day. Did you think l should not
be with you, mothers"
He was with me, thank God, and was
happy l talked, laughed, I chatted with
the children; their merriment increased with
mine; my husbands pale face lighted up;
folt my own eyes sparkling. And all tho
while, where they saw only that empty chair,
| saw the beautiful, still face and happy
SMILE | saw him pleased with the old To-
miliar customs. I saw him mindful Of the
children's jests 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 his
old seat by the coy fire. He listened to his
fathers stories and watched the children at
their games, and joined us when-we gathered
around the piano for our twilight song.
heard his voice; the children asked what
Tuade me sing SO clearly.