Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-12-04
A Thanksgiving Story.

a8f c&aNT TTNaRbv &M
Country Gentleman.
The times were very hard, and
they had been very rough and jost-
ling with John Burton. He was an
industrious man, a carpenter by trade,
but a long illness had taken him from
labor, and the doctor had been paid
out of the little hoard in the savings
bank.
On his feet again, he looked for en-
ployment, but trade was slack and
had more laborers than it wanted.
Week after week ne walked up and
down, offering his services in any
employment that would provide
bread, as he always thought ofhimself
last. He obtasned Todd jobs" but
not enough to stay the dwindling of
the remnant left after paying the doc
tors bills. l..
On the day before Thanksgiving
the end had come; that is, John Bur-
ton had less than a dollar, and the
rent was overdue, and there was no
prospect of employment. Before the
children were up, he started out
again to look for work, refusing
breakfast because there was little
food in the house barely enough for
the children through the day.
About eleven o'clock, unsuccessful,
faint from hunger, sick at heart, he
stood at a street corner, staring va
cantly before him. Where should he
go next! What could he do more
Twas no time to get work-just be-
fore Thanksgiving. Everybody seem
ed busy with preparations for the
morrow. Men, women and children
were hurrying hither and thithel
with arms full of bundles-with pack.
ages from which the tell-tale turkey
feet and chicken legs protruded.
While waiting, thinking, despair
ing, a farmer drove up to the side
walk near, and looking searchingly
at John, exclaimed:
"Hullo, my man! Are you going
toFbe here a few minutes? Well, i
you'll get in here and hold these
horses, I'll make it all right with yol
when come back. / won't be gone
mora than five minutes"
John took the reins, and the farme
"a large, elderly man, in an i'm
mense ulster-disappeared in an alley
way near by, taking with him pal
of plump chickens which he tool
from lot more like them in tn
wagon. The farmers absence length
ened to a half-hour. Evidently h
was delayed. The clock near strucl
twelve. No farmer yet! Then on
o'clock came, then two, then three
and no farmer! What could be tn
meaning of it? John was alarmed
> The proper thing to do, of course
was to drive to the police station an
surrender the team. But as he was
stranger, he might be detained o
suspicion, probably all night at leas
until the owner was found, and tn
folks at home, especially in the
present state of restitution, would /
equally alarmed at his absence.
But something must be done quicl
ly. The horses, a spirited pair
greys, were restless, and John coul
hardly hold them. At last it occurre
to him, that if he gave the hors
rein, they would find their own we
home, wherever it was. He waite
ten minutes longer-till half pa
three-and then let the horses G
Through the streets they went at
rafting pace, and at last struck o
into the country. 1t could no long
be doubted that they were goil
home. Their ears were pricked fC
ward, and at every turn they becan
more impatient to hurry on.
In all his life, John never had SUI
ride. He was so weak and fai
that he could do little more TIL
keep the horses in the road, and tn
out for passing teams. On they wei
faster and faster, and after maj
turns entered a farm yard at gallo
and stopped at the barn door. Sc
eral persons appeared, and John W
beginning to tell his story, when tn
interrupted him.
ayes; we know all about it. Coz
in: YOU must be cold, riding withC
an overcoat."
L IL,